Auburn’s head coach, Hugh Freeze, openly addressed the difficulties his quarterbacks faced during their 24–14 defeat to Arkansas on Saturday. Both Hank Brown and Payton Thorne struggled, leading to key turnovers that cost the team dearly. Brown, who started the game, was pulled after throwing three interceptions. Thorne stepped in during the second half, managing to score two touchdowns but also threw an interception between those scoring drives. To add to Auburn’s offensive woes, running back Damari Alston fumbled the ball in the first half.
In his post-game remarks, Freeze didn’t mince words when evaluating the team’s performance, especially the quarterbacks. “I know there are open receivers, and I know we’re running the football effectively,” Freeze said. “We’ve got to find a quarterback who won’t give the ball to the other team and running backs who can secure the ball. The scheme is similar to what a lot of teams run, but no system works without a capable quarterback.”
This wasn’t the first game Auburn has struggled with turnovers this season. Their previous loss, a 21–14 defeat against California two weeks earlier, also saw Thorne turn the ball over, throwing four interceptions and fumbling twice. As a result, Freeze benched Thorne from the starting position in recent games. Auburn now faces a tough challenge next Saturday against No. 15 Oklahoma as they aim for redemption.
