Storylines Slept On In Auburn and Arkansas 

Weekly in sports, we find ourselves delving into the storylines within the games as we look over the slate of games. In the SEC matchup between Auburn and Arkansas, there is an odd variety of stories. While we have poked the Hog about the interim status of Bobby Petrino, Hugh Freeze is one “Vote of confidence” away from being the latest “P4” head coach to get his walking papers in the 2025 season. We will look at some storylines on the field that are being slept on in Auburn and Arkansas. We take a deeper look at some good, bad, and carousel storylines within a week nine game. 

Storylines Slept On In Auburn and Arkansas

Good On Good 

We start with the positive side of the game. For the visiting Tigers from Auburn, it is their defense. A unit that ranks nationally in rushing yards allowed, with 87.1 per game, coupled with a 225 average allowed through the air, will be tested on Saturday. Auburn defensive coordinator, DJ Durkin, has perhaps his best group of his career as they allow 17.1 points per game through seven games. This is the lowest since his 2015 Michigan unit allowed 16.4 points for the season, which was sixth nationally. 

For Arkansas, they counter this elite defense with a high-powered offense, led by Petrino. Quarterback Taylen Green leads the Hogs through the air, as they average 288 yards a game, which is 18th nationally entering the game. On the ground, the Razorbacks average 225.3 yards per game, which is 14th nationally. In total, the unit sits at fifth best in FBS in total offense with 513.4 yards on average per game. With the above-discussed Tigers defense, this unit will need to hit on all cylinders in hopes of stopping the current five-game losing skid.

Bad On Bad 

Now, we get to the bad, and this is not pretty. As good as the Auburn defensive unit is, the offense has stunk up the place with inconsistent quarterback play combined with a quartet of play callers, including Freeze. On the ground, Auburn averages 162.1 yards per game, which is good for 61st in the country. If you were to think back to previous Freeze-led units, the passing game would be prolific. In 2025, and really the tenure on ‘The Plains’, this has not been the case. Freeze hitched his wagon to Jackson Arnold as “The Guy,” and it was not pleasant to witness. 

On the other side of this inept offense is an even more dreadful Arkansas defense. While we have discussed that this unit is not the lone fault for the loss in Fayetteville, we can not ignore the pitiful stats. Arkansas opponents average 188.7 yards on the ground, ranking 119th nationally, and 255 yards through the air per game, which is the 113th worst at the FBS level. This unit allows 443.9 yards a game, which is 124th worst in the nation, which is embarrassing. 

Are Both On the Carousel?

As exciting as this matchup will be, featuring elite play callers who are both begging for success, there will be a winner and a loser at the end. Who will that be? This will be determined, but the winning coach will be bursting with happiness. There is a potential, as alluded to at the onset, that each of these programs will be searching for a new head coach. 

Which job has more cache? With the current landscape of college athletics, money talks, and Auburn has more weight from a football perspective. With the lack of understanding from Arkansas AD Hunter Yuachek, to the potential for another Kentucky-type situation “Basketball or Football” conundrum, featuring now Hogs Men’s Basketball coach John Calipari, this program is in shambles compared to Auburn. Will an Arkansas win change this? Probably not, but it will be a part of the process of change on a national and conference level. 

In closing, this game has the makings to be another classic matchup in this heated series. Thus far this season, Auburn has held its opponents under their scoring average. Can they go on Saturday in Fayetteville? We will soon find out. In the end, something has to give, we hope. Arkansas and Auburn battle in a good-versus-bad matchup, with storylines galore. What will break as we head to week ten?