The Tigers’ coach made a bold statement during his weekly talk show after Saturday’s loss to the Razorbacks.
Auburn Tigers freshman quarterback Hank Brown struggled, throwing three interceptions before being replaced by senior starter Payton Thorne in a disappointing 24-14 home loss to Arkansas.
For Arkansas head coach Sam Pittman, this victory was crucial as it improved their record to 3-1 and eased some pressure on him. In contrast, Auburn’s performance raised further questions about their roster, particularly at the quarterback position.
Despite the lackluster showing in front of a packed crowd at Jordan-Hare Stadium, Auburn coach Hugh Freeze made a contentious remark on his Monday night show, Tiger Talk, while discussing Arkansas.
“I mean no offense to Arkansas or to Cal,” Freeze stated. “I admire Sam Pittman and hope he wins all his remaining games, but the hard truth is that if we played them nine more times, we’d win all nine, and that’s tough to accept.”
He added, “It’s difficult for our fans and certainly for us.”
With Auburn now 2-2 and facing tough opponents, including No. 21 Oklahoma and road games against No. 2 Georgia and No. 11 Missouri, the prospects for a bowl game under Freeze’s second season seem increasingly bleak. The schedule also includes No. 24 Texas A&M and No. 4 Alabama later in November.
With five ranked teams remaining and other challenging matchups against Kentucky, Vanderbilt, and UL Monroe, Auburn’s path forward is daunting. In the SEC, coaches often don’t have the luxury of time, so Freeze must find solutions quickly to turn the season around.
