The Auburn Tigers got back on the right track over the weekend with a 45-19 victory over the New Mexico Lobos in a game that Hugh Freeze made the quarterback switch\u00a0everyone said he needed to make.<\/p>\n
Redshirt freshman Hank Brown looked solid starting in the place of now-benched Payton Thorne, throwing 235 yards and four touchdowns \u2014 and more importantly \u2014 not turning the ball over once. However, Thorne\u00a0had a huge first week as well\u00a0against an opponent not much better than New Mexico.<\/p>\n
With the Arkansas Razorbacks coming to town this week, it\u2019s time for Brown to do what Thorne could not, and that is prove he deserves the job while playing against some legitimate competition. It\u2019s not a stretch to say that the SEC opener at home this weekend is the most consequential game of the Hugh Freeze era so far.<\/p>\n
For one, Freeze\u2019s quarterback decision will play out in real time. But perhaps the biggest red flag against New Mexico was the Tiger defense allowed nearly 450 total yards to the Lobos. Arkansas, on the other hand, after being predicted to be one of the worst teams in the conference, has gotten off to an electric start on offense.<\/p>\n
The Razorbacks have put up over 1,000 yards of offense in just the last two weeks and while collapsing against Oklahoma State with a two-touchdown halftime lead was inexcusable, they still went on the road and put up a staggering 648 yards against a quality opponent.<\/p>\n
If Arkansas comes into Jordan-Hare Stadium and rips Freeze\u2019s defense apart as it seemingly worsens, despite being predicted for improvement this season \u2014 doubt will plague the hearts and minds of Auburn fans for the rest of the season.<\/p>\n
Yes, he is getting it done on the recruiting trail. But, to continue that momentum \u2014 and to retain those who have already committed \u2014 there must eventually be proof\u00a0on the field<\/em>\u00a0that Freeze\u2019s program is on the right track, not just\u00a0off the field.<\/em><\/p>\n One way or another, we\u2019ll learn a lot about the state of the 2024 Auburn Tigers on Saturday afternoon.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"