Hank Brown, a redshirt freshman, led Auburn to a 45-19 victory over New Mexico in his first career start, completing 17 of 25 passes for 235 yards and four touchdowns. Head coach Hugh Freeze decided to start Brown over Payton Thorne after Thorne's poor performance against California, though Brown was only informed of the decision late in the week. Brown's performance, despite rainy conditions, has earned him the starting role for Auburn's upcoming SEC game against Arkansas. Auburn's offense tallied 503 total yards, with Jarquez Hunter contributing 152 rushing yards and two touchdowns. New Mexico's Devon Dampier threw for 291 yards but was intercepted twice. The Tigers' defense improved in the second half, contributing to the decisive win.