No. 17 Tennessee (4-1, 1-1 SEC) defeated Auburn (3-2, 1-2 SEC), 24-14, in Week 5 at Neyland Stadium.
Saturday marked a return to Tennessee for Auburn first-year head coach Alex Golesh.
Golesh served as the Vols’ offensive coordinator and tight ends coach from 2021-22 under Josh Heupel. Golesh compiled a 23-15 (14-10 AAC) record as South Florida’s coach from 2023-25 before being hired by the Tigers.
Heupel discussed the Tennessee-Auburn game.
“I think there’s only one fitting way to start this press conference,” Heupel said. “At first, the game of breaks go against you, don’t let up, put on more steam. Proud of our team for doing that in the second half. We’re honoring General (Robert) Neyland and his legacy, uniforms, everything, it’s the right way to start this press conference. Defense held everybody in the game. Special teams, phenomenal job, Jackson Ross, punt unit, I think five (punts) inside the 11, and ultimately, offense was able to find a little bit of footing in the second half. Resilient, loved the way they came out and played, and competed. There’s so many things in the first half that offensively we got to do better, but proud of our team.
“I’m going to say this too, extremely grateful and proud of our fans that they followed General Neyland’s Maxims as well, in a game that’s ugly. Our players feel their energy. They were resilient, they were into the game. Phenomenal job by them, as well, so I don’t know if our athletic director will let me do this, but they get a game ball too.”
More: Tennessee defeats Auburn for first SEC football win
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This article originally appeared on Vols Wire: Josh Heupel recaps Tennessee’s win over Auburn football