Auburn's offensive woes put Hugh Freeze in familiar spot at quarterback

Arnold has five passing touchdowns and one interception, along with seven scores on the ground. Though the stat line looks solid, he has been sacked 26 times this season. For now, Arnold will remain the starter, but Stanford transfer Ashton Daniels will be on standby.  

"We're going to get he (Arnold) and Ashton a lot of reps and see where it goes from there," Freeze added.

Auburn faced a similar QB situation in 2024

Freeze’s allusion to a possible quarterback swap draws a similar comparison to the situation they were in last year. After a rough outing from Payton Thorne in a loss to California, Freeze turned to redshirt freshman Hank Brown for the following game in hopes of rejuvenating the offense. 

Brown tossed four touchdowns against New Mexico before struggling when SEC play began, throwing three first-half interceptions against Arkansas. Thorne replaced Brown in the second half and remained the starter for the rest of the season. This midseason swap could have possibly cost Auburn momentum and a potential bowl berth. The Tigers finished 5-7, one win short of bowl eligibility. That decision could weigh heavily on Freeze this time around.

Daniels' experience as a starter makes him a viable option if Freeze decides to make a change, as opposed to the shot in the dark with Brown a year ago. What the Tigers want to avoid is a change for the sake of doing it. Last season, when Freeze switched quarterbacks, it was before conference play began. This year is a different story.

Heading into Week 9, Freeze will need to be cautious about the situation. With how things are currently playing out, the Tigers cannot afford to play musical chairs at quarterback. While a change at the signal-caller position may give the team some newfound energy and confidence, it can also throw the offense further out of sync. If Freeze pulls Arnold, he’ll likely need to stick it out with Daniels and allow him to demonstrate all that he can offer. 

The Tigers still have a chance at making a bowl game, but a revolving door of quarterbacks could further complicate things. Freeze’s decision could determine whether the Tigers can salvage their season.