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This is an opinion column.
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If Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze starts quarterback Payton Thorne at quarterback after all those interceptions, then we’ll know that Freeze isn’t too concerned with results on the field this season.
Thorne was arguably the worst quarterback in the SEC in 2023. Based on everything we witnessed in Auburn’s 21-14 loss to Cal, he unfortunately hasn’t improved.
Don’t blame Freeze for Thorne’s lack of development. It’s tough to squeeze water from a stone. Blame Freeze for not being able to land a better quarterback in the portal two years ago and then refusing to make an upgrade in the offseason.
There was never any mystery about Thorne’s limitations as a passer. He had already played for two whole seasons at Michigan State and thrown 24 interceptions. He averages about 10 picks a year. He’s a tough football player, and he plays with a lot of heart, but is he capable of leading a comeback at Georgia?
Is he capable of leading a comeback against Auburn High School?
It’s not that Freeze doesn’t have a better quarterback on the team this season. It’s just that Freeze is refusing to play Walker White as a true freshman. Personally, I can’t blame him, and I hope Freeze’s big gambit for Auburn pays off. But make no mistake about it. Freeze is taking a chance with his career this season.
Freeze has a plan for Auburn. He’s playing the long game. It’s a gamble in team building in this modern age of college football. What’s the alternative? Auburn, for example, needed one season with senior transfer quarterback Cam Newton to win a national title.
But what happened to Gene Chizik after that?
Chiz got canned two years later.
Freeze wants to build Auburn slowly with incoming freshmen. He had a great class in 2024 and Auburn is projected to have another excellent group in 2025. It’s a solid plan if Freeze can keep everyone around, continue recruiting elite talent without anything to show for it and, oh, by the way, keep fans fully lubricated for this long trek through the desert.
It’s a good thing the tailgates are always fun because at this point Auburn doesn’t have much else.
Freeze is betting that Auburn was so terrible at football when he showed up that the school now has no other choice but to let him slowly build a program over several years. Let’s face it. He’s right. Most fans already realize that this season is going to be another phase in the rebuilding process.
I’ve been writing about Auburn’s quarterback problem since before the season, so no one should really be surprised at this point. Freeze has three choices for Saturday’s game against New Mexico.
Option One: Freeze can once again go with white-flag Thorne, which would signal Auburn’s surrender before this season’s real fight even begins.
Option Two: Freeze can start either backup quarterback Hank Brown or third-stringer Holden Geriner and see if they can protect the ball a little better.
Option Three: Freeze goes with true freshman White, who is the most talented quarterback in the room.
Freeze likely will start Brown, the redshirt freshman backup from Nashville. Brown played high school football for current UAB coach Trent Dilfer. If Freeze is going to make a change at quarterback — and, really, he has no other choice after Thorne’s four-interception day against Cal — then it has to be this week.
If Auburn’s offensive line can’t protect the quarterback any better than what we saw against Cal, then playing White as a true freshman feels like too big of a risk. Auburn is a 28.5-point favorite against New Mexico. That means two things. One, the Lobos are really bad at football, and, two, Auburn is a lot better than what it showed with Thorne at quarterback against Cal.
This Auburn team can still win games. There’s talent on the roster. Starting Brown against New Mexico will give him a game to build some confidence before Arkansas, Oklahoma and Georgia.
Gotta be completely honest, though. With Auburn’s game against Georgia less than a month away, I’m really beginning to worry about the safety of whoever ends up playing quarterback for the Tigers. Freeze should have the same concerns. For that reason, he’s not going to play White unless it’s absolutely necessary.
Go back to SEC Media Days with Freeze.
Auburn’s football coach was at the microphone and I only had one question. What was going to be Auburn’s No.1 strength this season?
Would Freeze say quarterback? With all those new receivers, would Freeze say the passing game? Freeze went with option No.3, and said he hoped it would be the rushing attack.
“We return a lot of experienced offensive linemen,” Freeze said. “That running back room and tight ends are very solid. Our quarterbacks can run it enough that it makes people have to worry about that also. You would hope it’s that because when you can do that, you have a little control over the clock and the game and kind of how things are going.
“It may be me wishing that and hoping that. But I like our running back room. I like our O-line and our tight ends. Hopefully it’s that. As you know, it will hopefully lead to some explosive pass plays also because of us being effective in running the ball. That’s probably what I would say should be our strength with the guys we have returning.”
It turns out that Freeze wasn’t completely wrong. As far as offense goes, Auburn’s running game looks like the strength of the team. With a new quarterback, that might be enough for six wins.
MAILBAG
Got a question for Joe? Want to get something off your chest? Send Joe an email about what’s on your mind. Let your voice be heard. Ask him anything.
Rasta and David in Lower Alabama writes …
My dog, Rasta, sent this out last night…
“Dear Coach Freeze, I am begging you to bench Payton Thorne, I can’t take my owner yelling at this overpaid “student-athlete” anymore. At this rate I’ll be hiding under the bed for the next three months. It’s a scary place under here and the Wifi sucks too!! I can’t wait until December comes!!! (Don’t have to worry about a Bowl game this year.)
ANSWER: I’ve always wondered what pets think about their excitable humans during sporting events. Now we know. Give Rasta extra treats after Auburn games this season.
Jeff in Dothan writes …
I am so over this Auburn BS, man. Losing is one thing, but this embarrassing group we put on the field has got to change. I had a similar thought to yours yesterday. Just how much are we paying some of these clowns? What a s-show! My gosh…only Week Two! Ok then.
ANSWER: More people should end their thoughts with, “OK then.” Such an underrated sign off. Guess we’ll watch the New Mexico game and hope for the best. OK then.
Joseph Goodman is the lead sports columnist for the Alabama Media Group, and author of the book “We Want Bama: A Season of Hope and the Making of Nick Saban’s Ultimate Team.”
