‘It’s kill or be killed’: Auburn players talk preparation for SEC play
Auburn football begins a stretch of six-straight SEC games Saturday, starting with a home matchup against Arkansas.
The Razorbacks are coming off a shaky 37-27 win over UAB and are looking to avenge their 48-10 loss to Auburn last season.
It’s the conference opener for both teams and a chance for Auburn, led by new starting quarterback Hank Brown, to change the narrative around the team after its unexpected loss to Cal in Week 2.
SEC play means leveling up in competition, making the mindset for some players a little bit different.
“For me, it’s kill or be killed,” BUCK linebacker Keyron Crawford told reporters Tuesday. “Either we’re going to lay down or step up to challenge. And I feel like we will.”
A transfer from Arkansas State, it will be Crawford’s SEC debut. He did admit to having thought about his former in-state rival before, though, saying he’ll be tuned in for the two schools’ 2026 matchup.
Despite the rivalry with his former school, the game doesn’t carry any extra significance for him now.
“Whoever’s next. Whoever chooses to be on that platform and get killed. We’re always up for it,” Crawford said.
For Crawford and the defense, they’ll face arguably their biggest challenge yet. The Razorbacks gained 648 total yards in their loss to Oklahoma State and are averaging 587.3 yards per game, ranking fifth in the FBS.
Arkansas rushing offense is a big part of that success, a versatile attack coming from its running backs and mobile quarterback Taylen Green.
“We have different strategies to either contain them or keep them in the pocket or flush them, whatever way we want them to go,” said defensive lineman Isaiah Raikes. “It’s a different gameplan depending on certain situations.”
Having spent four prior seasons at Texas &M, Raikes is no stranger to the SEC. He’s also no stranger to Arkansas offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino, who spent last season at Texas A&M.
“It’s very beneficial just knowing indicators of when you think they’re going to pass and run and tendencies and habits that coordinators have,” Raikes said.
Arkansas will also present a much bigger challenge for Brown in his second career start.
He’s coming off a 235-yard, four-touchdown performance against New Mexico, but said he doesn’t want to change his preparation much.
“I think from the first week, I’ve tried to prepare like I was the starter. Now that I am, I will continue to prepare, obviously, in that way,” Brown said Tuesday.
Much of the talk during the week for Auburn’s offense has been maintaining the balance it had against New Mexico. Auburn had more yards rushing than passing in that game for the first time this season and wants to maintain that kind of balance going forward.
Arkansas’ defensive front will present a new challenge for Auburn’s offense, but there’s still confidence within Auburn’s offense.
“The whole front four is going to be NFL players like 5, 40 and 50. They’re going to be NFL guys,” offensive lineman Bradyn Joiner told reporters Tuesday. “But at the same time, we feel like any team you put against us, we’re going to roll ‘em off the ball.”