AUBURN, Ala. – Johni Broome, a leading contender for National Player of the Year, is taking advantage of the opportunity presented to No. 2 Auburn this week with back-to-back SEC games on the road at Neville Arena.

“If you want to be one of the best teams in the country, you have to be able to win on the road,” said Broome. “We wanted this to test ourselves again. Going to Texas and South Carolina will be a good test for us.”

The first part of that test comes late Tuesday in Austin, Texas, when the Tigers visit one of the SEC’s newest members.

“They have a really great squad,” Auburn center Dylan Cardwell said. “It will be a challenge to win there in Texas. What stands out to me is the depth of their squad.”

Texas earned nonconference wins over Syracuse and North Carolina State before losing its SEC opener at Texas A&M 80-60, in a game that ended in a tie at halftime.

“We’ve had a lot of big games and I think this one absolutely qualifies,” Auburn coach Bruce Pearl said. “It qualifies for both teams. This is a quad one opportunity for us. Texas is a well-known name in the world of intercollegiate athletics. Everything they do in Texas is big and they do it pretty well.”

Because of Auburn’s No. 2 ranking, a win over the Tigers would boost the resume of any team that can achieve it.

“They are looking for a very special victory,” Pearl said. “One they could hang their hat on. This is their first chance in the league at home. I would imagine they will be excited to play against the second-biggest team in the country in their building.

“The price that awaits us is significant. If you can beat teams that are ranked, that’s a separator. We have to do our best to win.”

A win over the Longhorns would push Pearl past Joel Eaves for the most wins in program history.

“It means to me that the world is connected to history,” Cardwell said. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to be part of something so special.”

“This is important to us,” Broome said.

At practice Monday before the Tigers flew to Texas, Pearl gathered his team for a question-and-answer session.

“One of the questions I’ll ask the team in preparation is: ‘Tell me what you say about teams that can win away from home.’ What are they saying about her?’” Pearl said. “We’ll fill in the gaps and see if that’s us.”

That process begins Tuesday at 8 p.m. CT at the Moody Center in Austin when Auburn (13-1, 1-0) plays Texas (11-3, 0-1) on ESPN2. Andy Burcham and Randall Dickey will bring the action to Auburn Sports Network listeners.

Jeff Shearer is a senior writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on X: @jeff_shearer