Auburn improves to 2 and 0 with win over Ball State

September 6, 2025 – AUBURN, AL – The Auburn University football team rolled past Ball State on Saturday at Jordan Hare Stadium with a convincing 42 to 3 victory over an outmatch Ball State team that had previously lost to Purdue 38 to 0.

Auburn's defense completely dominated the ball game throughout. Ball State never got anything going offensively and was held to just 68 total yards on the day, The only reason that Ball State got any points at all was due to a controversial fumble call by an Auburn tight end within field goal range.

Auburn quarterback Jackson Dart proved that he was a potent runner of the football in the opener against Baylor. Against Ball State he showed that he was a supremely accurate thrower of the football and behind an offensive line who protected him all day can slice and dice a defense at will in the passing game. Arnold completed 24 of his 28 pass attempts for 251 yards and three touchdowns. Dart is a transfer from Oklahoma. He had an up and down tenure last year with Oklahoma; but that did include an impressive win over Alabama for Oklahoma to become bowl eligible and eliminating Alabama from playoff contention.

Auburn fans got their first look at five-star freshman quarterback Deuce Knight in the fourth quarter. Knight was off target on most of his throws – likely from a combination of nerves and not being on the same page with his receivers yet – but he threw the ball with a lot of zip and he showed what he can do with his legs in an impressive run for a first down on a quarterback draw play. Knight did lead the Tigers down the field for a touchdown drive.

Auburn could run the ball with ease against Ball State's horribly outmatched front seven.

Starting running back Jeremiah Cobb rushed for 121 yards and two touchdowns on just 11 carries. The coaches pulled their bell cow tailback early to get some work for the other backs or he could have doubled those numbers.

Auburn finished with 224 yards on the ground including a 54 yard scamper for a touchdown by Durell Robinson Jr. Robinson is a redshirt sophomore who played previously at Charlotte and Connecticut before transferring to Auburn in the offseason. He brings 15 games, 897 yards and nine touchdowns in experience to the plains.

Freshman running back Omar Mabson – a standout from Auburn High School – made his Auburn debut late in the fourth quarter where he contributed 4 rushes for 24 yards, including a 13-yard run to move the sticks and work the clock.

Wide receiver Eric Singleton Jr. had four catches for 64 yards and two touchdowns. Cam Coleman contributed seven catches for 77 yards.

Auburn's offense was not perfect. It did not score on its opening possession and it did not score on its first possession coming out of the halftime – two areas that Freeze likes to emphasize – but the offense finished with 495 yards on the night.

The defense was statistically perfect. Ball State is committed to the run. They are a run first team that will run even when it isn't working. Ball State ran the ball 33 times for -3 yards on the ground. Ball State was held to just six first downs in the game and 1-of-14 on third down conversions.

Linebacker Xavier Atkins had five tackles, four of them for loss, and two of them sacks on the quarterback. Safety Sylvester Smith had a game-high six tackles.

"We held them to negative rushing yards, which is the first time since 2001 that an Auburn team has done that," said Auburn head Coach Hugh Freeze. "Fourteen tackles for losses, six sacks... our defense really played physical and set the tone for the night."

Coach Freeze complimented Arnold's accuracy throwing the football.

"I thought he had an excellent night of taking what they gave," said Freeze. "He used his legs when he needed to. I thought it was a really solid night."

Freeze noted that Arnold went 24-of-28 passing, and said he might've gone 28-for-28 if Freeze hadn't called a few aggressive downfield shots.

Auburn plays South Alabama Saturday for homecoming.

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