Despite not having a game to prepare for, the Auburn Tigers didn't let the bye week go to waste.
After being out of action on Saturday due to their second bye week of the season, the Auburn Tigers took advantage of the bye week and did everything possible to improve.
Interim head coach DJ Durkin was pleased with the way the Tigers used the bye week and believes the team put itself in a position to finish the season on a high note.
“It’s good coming off a bye week with our team," Durkin said. "I want to commend our guys, they did a really good job of practice and preparation through the bye week. I think those weeks are so important to continue to improve and get better. Obviously, when you have one late in the season like that, sometimes those things can go either way. I thought our guys did a great job. We got a lot of work done, worked on some specific things in all phases of the game, and I feel like we got better."
One thing Durkin did during the bye week was make sure his team knows that the Mercer Bears — the opponent they will play on Saturday — is not a team to take lightly.
Durkin knows Mercer will show up to play and give Auburn the best game it possibly can during the second to last week of the regular season.
“On the game week here, we’re looking forward to being at home against a very good opponent," Durkin said. "Mercer does a tremendous job. They’re really well-coached. Mike Jacobs, their head coach, is a guy I’ve known for a long time. He’s an Ohio guy. He’s won at all places he’s been, extremely successful. They just clinched their conference again, back-to-back years. They’re 9-1."
Kickoff for Auburn's game against Mercer is set for 1 p.m. CT on Saturday, and the broadcast will be livestreamed on SEC Network+.