Auburn’s offense was firing on all cylinders in their dominant win, scoring six touchdowns—five of which came through the air thanks to quarterback Payton Thorne. The defense also stepped up, limiting the Warhawks to just over 200 total yards. While the victory was expected, a few standout performances gave the Tigers even more reason to celebrate. Here’s a look at the winners and losers from Auburn’s fourth win of the season.
Winner: Cam Coleman
Cam Coleman had one of the best performances of the week in college football. The five-star freshman had a breakout game, catching 8 passes for 100 yards and 3 touchdowns. His trio of touchdowns more than doubled his previous season total (2), and his spectacular one-handed grab on the final score went viral on social media. The Phenix City, AL native now has 392 yards and 5 touchdowns in his first eight games on the Plains.
Loser: Penalty Flags
In a rare feat, Auburn went an entire game without committing a penalty—something that hadn’t happened in over 20 years. Louisiana Monroe was flagged for just two penalties, making it one of the least penalized games in recent college football history. In an era dominated by penalty flags and instant replays, Saturday’s clean game was a welcome change.
Winner: Payton Thorne
Auburn quarterback Payton Thorne has faced plenty of criticism since joining the Tigers, but he turned in one of his best performances on Saturday. Thorne threw for 286 yards and multiple touchdowns, bringing his season total to 18 touchdowns. He’s also passed for 2,111 yards through 10 games, already surpassing last season’s total by 356 yards.
Loser: UL Monroe’s Bowl Hopes
UL Monroe entered the game needing a win to keep their bowl hopes alive, as a victory would have put them at 6-6 and nearly guaranteed a bowl berth. However, after their loss to Auburn, the Warhawks now face the tough task of winning their final two games as underdogs if they want to reach a bowl game this season.
Winner: Jarquez Hunter
Auburn running back Jarquez Hunter became the first Tiger to rush for over 1,000 yards since Tank Bigsby in 2021, thanks to his 102-yard performance on Saturday. Hunter is now just 136 yards away from passing Ben Tate to move into fifth place on Auburn’s all-time rushing list. If he adds 183 more yards this season, he’ll surpass Joe Cribbs for fourth place.
Loser: The 2012 Auburn Tigers
Had Auburn lost on Saturday, the Tigers would have risked matching the dismal 1952 season, when the team finished with just two wins. However, the victory ensured that Hugh Freeze’s team will finish with a better record than the 2012 Auburn squad, which ended that season 3-9, marking one of the worst in program history.
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