Auburn football fans showed out in Berkeley, California, ahead of the Tigers’ Week 2 matchup with Cal, according to On3’s Justin Hokanson — who reported that close to 10,000 Auburn fans will be among the 63,000 in attendance at California Memorial Stadium.
While the Tigers have always been known to have a strong traveling fanbase, making the trek to San Francisco, with an additional 40+ minute drive east to Berkeley, is one of the Auburn family’s greatest feats.
A touchdown-favorite heading into the Cal game, Auburn could garner AP Top 25 votes if enough things break right in Week 2’s other matchups.
Cal RB Jadyn Ott sets the narrative for Auburn football matchup with trash talk
Cal’s Jadyn Ott decided to add fuel to a rivalry that essentially doesn’t yet exist due to the lack of matchups between the Golden Bears and Tigers by calling out the program for not matching up to the expectations AU’s national brand warrants.
“There’s a lot of focus on the name Auburn,” Ott told reporters. “But what I see on film is not really in comparison to what their name is. I just want to get that into my guys’ heads that a name doesn’t mean anything.”
Ott could have to contend with an AU defensive front that was already looking to make up for a lackadaisical first showing against UMass that now has extra motivation to put a hurting on him to show what the Auburn name means.
Auburn football HC Hugh Freeze on the late kickoff against Cal
September 9’s matchup between Cal and Auburn will be the latest kickoff time in nearly 50 years, and Hugh Freeze addressed that ahead of the 9:30 CT kickoff.
“I think (the late start) creates some challenges, but this will be a good test for all of us,” said Freeze (h/t Rivals). “Coaches, trainers, staff, nutritionists, drink staff, support staff, players. How do we handle if things are a little uncomfortable? Or it’s not exactly the way we want it, and I’m speaking to myself as much as anyone. You’ve gotta play a really good football team at their place when our body times are 9:30 or 10 at night and we’re kicking it off. All of that is going to be a challenge, but you know what, that’s what life is.”
As one of the final Pac-12 After Dark matchups in the current college football landscape, Freeze’s Tigers can make a statement game late Saturday night by corralling Cal.