From @JaxCrall
Coming off an ugly 37-27 home victory over the UAB Blazers last weekend, the Arkansas Razorbacks (2-1, 0-0 SEC) will look to begin Southeastern Conference play on a high note Saturday against the Auburn Tigers (2-1, 0-0 SEC) at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Alabama.
This matchup dates all the way back to 1984 with Auburn leading this series 20-12-1. Last year’s game was rough for the Razorbacks, suffered a 48-10 loss to the Tigers and first-year head coach Hugh Freeze. Offensively, Auburn totaled the most first downs, rushing attempts and yards since during Freeze’s short tenure so far.
The last time the Razorbacks went into Auburn, they won 41-27 against a Tigers team that was led by former head coach Bryan Harsin. Interestingly enough, the road team has won this matchup three of the last four times, with the only win for the home team being Auburn’s infamous 2020 victory in the “Bo Nix fumble” game.
Auburn opened its 2024 season taking down Alabama A&M, 73-3, which was the most points Auburn has scored since Freeze was named head coach. In Week 2, California went into a sold-out Jordan-Hare Stadium and pulled off a major upset, 21-14. That loss, which featured quarterback Payton Thorne throwing four interceptions, led to a Week 3 change featuring redshirt freshman Hank Brown getting the start over Thorne.
On Saturday, Brown and company took down the New Mexico Lobos, 45-19. A former 3-star recruit, Brown originally verbally committed to Freeze at Liberty in 2022. Once Freeze made the move to the SEC, Brown signed his letter of intent to the Tigers just a few weeks later. Brown was 17-of-25 passing with four touchdowns on 235 total yards in his first start against New Mexico.
“Their Quarterback they brought in, Brown, had an exceptional game,” head coach Sam Pittman said Monday. “[Brown] had four touchdowns and can really sling the ball.”
Auburn has called for a “Power Stripe Out” from fans in the stands at Jordan-Hare Stadium on Saturday. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. CT Saturday and it will be broadcast on ESPN. Below dives into what we could see from Auburn this weekend including its strengths and weaknesses.
Offensive Coordinator: Derrick Nix (1st season)
Defensive Coordinator: DJ Durkin (1st season)
2024 Record: 2-1, 0-0 SEC
2023 Record: 6-7, 3-5 SEC
Historically, Auburn is a successful SEC program with two national championships and eight SEC championships, but they haven't achieved that status since 2013. Since 2020, the Tigers have not won more than six games in a single season, but Auburn fans are witnessing second-year head coach Hugh Freeze creating change. Freeze produced the No. 8 ranked recruiting class in 2024, according to Rivals, and as it stands today the Tigers have the second-ranked 2025 class and the top-ranked 2026 class.
Looking into Auburn’s second and third games of the season, you may be right to assume Freeze made the right choice in changing the starting quarterback. Thorne threw four interceptions in the Week 2 loss against California, and Freeze thought it would be time for a change, which would pay off in Week 3. Freshman Hank Brown looked the part with his strong arm and great poise in the pocket.
The backfield
On offense, it all starts with Auburn’s running back room, specifically 5-foot-10, 209-pound senior Jarquez Hunter.
“I think they want to run the football, they should,” Pittman said. “Hunter is a really good running back and their line is big and physical.”
It’s safe to say Hunter is the biggest workhorse for the Tigers and will have lots of volume Saturday. During his three years with the Tigers, Hunter has done a lot of good for the program, as he has generated a total of 2,445 yards and 19 touchdowns in his time in Auburn. Hunter has carried the ball 36 times for 273 yards and two scores so far this season.
Junior Damari Alston has added 15 carries for 102 yards and two scores, with the majority of that production (10 carries, 80 yards, 1 TD) coming in the win over New Mexico.
Like mentioned above, Brown looked good in the Week 3 victory against New Mexico. But SEC play begins this week and Arkansas’ defense will be a lot stronger than a poor Lobos team. If Brown can stay composed in the pocket, as he's not really a threat as a runner, Auburn’s backfield could cause some major problems for the Hogs.
Rushing Defense:
This is going to be the biggest matchup of the weekend. Going into this game, Auburn is allowing only 97.3 rushing yards a game, which ranks 31st in the nation.
On the other side of the ball, Arkansas running back Ja’Quendin Jackson was the SEC leader in missed tackles forced in Week 3 with 10 total. Jackson also has the fifth-most rushing yards in the country (397), and more total rushing yards than the rest of the Arkansas football team combined.
Auburn has two impactful players in the box on defense which includes edge rushers Jalen McLeod and Keldric Faulk. McLeod earned SEC Defensive Player of the Week following the 48-10 win over Arkansas last year, as he totaled three sacks and nine tackles in the Tigers' victory. Faulk had two sacks, eight tackles and 3 tackles for loss in Auburn’s loss to California on Sept. 7.
With center Addison Nichols dealing with an ankle injury (listed as probable) and left guard Patrick Kutas still out with a back injury Saturday, it’ll be interesting to see how this trench battle goes, because whoever wins this, will most likely win the game.
Auburn is also 29-2 since the start of the 2013 season when scoring a non-offensive touchdown.
Getting off to a fast start
Although I just credited Auburn’s rush defense, both the Tigers' defense and offense have had some slow starts through the 2024 season besides the 73-3 win over FCS opponent Alabama A&M in Week 1.
In the New Mexico game, DJ Durkin’s defense let up 293 total yards in the first half. That number dropped to 155 in the second half. Auburn also went into halftime up only four points, but then ran away with the game scoring 28 unanswered.
During the loss to California, the Tigers' offense did get off to a fast start with Thorne throwing for 106 yards and one score in the first quarter, but California also started fast and kept its foot on the gas enough. If Arkansas can get out to an early lead, it'll put pressure on the Tigers' young quarterback.
Inexperienced quarterback:
I know I’ve praised Brown a lot in this article, but he has only played one full game and is still a young player going against a much more challenging opponent. Both teams are most likely looking at this game as a “must win,” and there is going to be a lot of pressure on both sidelines come Saturday.
Auburn is looking for a 10th consecutive sellout at Jordan-Hare Stadium and Travis Williams, the former Auburn linebacker and current Arkansas defensive coordinator, will be looking to expose Brown’s inexperience.
On one side, you have a threatening team in Auburn that may not be winning the SEC this year, but is looking to have a bright future at quarterback. That decision to change to the less experienced player could backfire, or it could pay off.
On the other side, you see an Arkansas team with experience all over the field, but some questionable chemistry and penalties over the past two weeks.
Wide receiver Andrew Armstrong is back and better than ever for the Hogs coming off a game with eight receptions for 137 yards. If quarterback Taylen Green doesn’t struggle with confidence early, Ja'Quinden Jackson stays on track running the ball and the bad penalties are fixed, Arkansas will leave Saturday with a win.
Arkansas 28, Auburn 24
Coming off an ugly 37-27 home victory over the UAB Blazers last weekend, the Arkansas Razorbacks (2-1, 0-0 SEC) will look to begin Southeastern Conference play on a high note Saturday against the Auburn Tigers (2-1, 0-0 SEC) at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Alabama.
This matchup dates all the way back to 1984 with Auburn leading this series 20-12-1. Last year’s game was rough for the Razorbacks, suffered a 48-10 loss to the Tigers and first-year head coach Hugh Freeze. Offensively, Auburn totaled the most first downs, rushing attempts and yards since during Freeze’s short tenure so far.
The last time the Razorbacks went into Auburn, they won 41-27 against a Tigers team that was led by former head coach Bryan Harsin. Interestingly enough, the road team has won this matchup three of the last four times, with the only win for the home team being Auburn’s infamous 2020 victory in the “Bo Nix fumble” game.
Auburn opened its 2024 season taking down Alabama A&M, 73-3, which was the most points Auburn has scored since Freeze was named head coach. In Week 2, California went into a sold-out Jordan-Hare Stadium and pulled off a major upset, 21-14. That loss, which featured quarterback Payton Thorne throwing four interceptions, led to a Week 3 change featuring redshirt freshman Hank Brown getting the start over Thorne.
On Saturday, Brown and company took down the New Mexico Lobos, 45-19. A former 3-star recruit, Brown originally verbally committed to Freeze at Liberty in 2022. Once Freeze made the move to the SEC, Brown signed his letter of intent to the Tigers just a few weeks later. Brown was 17-of-25 passing with four touchdowns on 235 total yards in his first start against New Mexico.
“Their Quarterback they brought in, Brown, had an exceptional game,” head coach Sam Pittman said Monday. “[Brown] had four touchdowns and can really sling the ball.”
Auburn has called for a “Power Stripe Out” from fans in the stands at Jordan-Hare Stadium on Saturday. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. CT Saturday and it will be broadcast on ESPN. Below dives into what we could see from Auburn this weekend including its strengths and weaknesses.
Auburn Resume
Coach: Hugh Freeze (2nd season)Offensive Coordinator: Derrick Nix (1st season)
Defensive Coordinator: DJ Durkin (1st season)
2024 Record: 2-1, 0-0 SEC
2023 Record: 6-7, 3-5 SEC
Auburn Depth Chart
Tale of the Tape
Going into this season, Auburn fans might not have expected to be 2-1 by this point, let alone having their team captain quarterback on the bench, but here we are.Historically, Auburn is a successful SEC program with two national championships and eight SEC championships, but they haven't achieved that status since 2013. Since 2020, the Tigers have not won more than six games in a single season, but Auburn fans are witnessing second-year head coach Hugh Freeze creating change. Freeze produced the No. 8 ranked recruiting class in 2024, according to Rivals, and as it stands today the Tigers have the second-ranked 2025 class and the top-ranked 2026 class.
Looking into Auburn’s second and third games of the season, you may be right to assume Freeze made the right choice in changing the starting quarterback. Thorne threw four interceptions in the Week 2 loss against California, and Freeze thought it would be time for a change, which would pay off in Week 3. Freshman Hank Brown looked the part with his strong arm and great poise in the pocket.
Auburn Strengths
The backfield
On offense, it all starts with Auburn’s running back room, specifically 5-foot-10, 209-pound senior Jarquez Hunter.
“I think they want to run the football, they should,” Pittman said. “Hunter is a really good running back and their line is big and physical.”
It’s safe to say Hunter is the biggest workhorse for the Tigers and will have lots of volume Saturday. During his three years with the Tigers, Hunter has done a lot of good for the program, as he has generated a total of 2,445 yards and 19 touchdowns in his time in Auburn. Hunter has carried the ball 36 times for 273 yards and two scores so far this season.
Junior Damari Alston has added 15 carries for 102 yards and two scores, with the majority of that production (10 carries, 80 yards, 1 TD) coming in the win over New Mexico.
Like mentioned above, Brown looked good in the Week 3 victory against New Mexico. But SEC play begins this week and Arkansas’ defense will be a lot stronger than a poor Lobos team. If Brown can stay composed in the pocket, as he's not really a threat as a runner, Auburn’s backfield could cause some major problems for the Hogs.
Rushing Defense:
This is going to be the biggest matchup of the weekend. Going into this game, Auburn is allowing only 97.3 rushing yards a game, which ranks 31st in the nation.
On the other side of the ball, Arkansas running back Ja’Quendin Jackson was the SEC leader in missed tackles forced in Week 3 with 10 total. Jackson also has the fifth-most rushing yards in the country (397), and more total rushing yards than the rest of the Arkansas football team combined.
Auburn has two impactful players in the box on defense which includes edge rushers Jalen McLeod and Keldric Faulk. McLeod earned SEC Defensive Player of the Week following the 48-10 win over Arkansas last year, as he totaled three sacks and nine tackles in the Tigers' victory. Faulk had two sacks, eight tackles and 3 tackles for loss in Auburn’s loss to California on Sept. 7.
With center Addison Nichols dealing with an ankle injury (listed as probable) and left guard Patrick Kutas still out with a back injury Saturday, it’ll be interesting to see how this trench battle goes, because whoever wins this, will most likely win the game.
Auburn is also 29-2 since the start of the 2013 season when scoring a non-offensive touchdown.
Auburn Weaknesses
Getting off to a fast start
Although I just credited Auburn’s rush defense, both the Tigers' defense and offense have had some slow starts through the 2024 season besides the 73-3 win over FCS opponent Alabama A&M in Week 1.
In the New Mexico game, DJ Durkin’s defense let up 293 total yards in the first half. That number dropped to 155 in the second half. Auburn also went into halftime up only four points, but then ran away with the game scoring 28 unanswered.
During the loss to California, the Tigers' offense did get off to a fast start with Thorne throwing for 106 yards and one score in the first quarter, but California also started fast and kept its foot on the gas enough. If Arkansas can get out to an early lead, it'll put pressure on the Tigers' young quarterback.
Inexperienced quarterback:
I know I’ve praised Brown a lot in this article, but he has only played one full game and is still a young player going against a much more challenging opponent. Both teams are most likely looking at this game as a “must win,” and there is going to be a lot of pressure on both sidelines come Saturday.
Auburn is looking for a 10th consecutive sellout at Jordan-Hare Stadium and Travis Williams, the former Auburn linebacker and current Arkansas defensive coordinator, will be looking to expose Brown’s inexperience.
Prediction
There are a lot of interesting factors going into this big conference opener, and I could see the scenario where one mistake could change the tide of the game in seconds.On one side, you have a threatening team in Auburn that may not be winning the SEC this year, but is looking to have a bright future at quarterback. That decision to change to the less experienced player could backfire, or it could pay off.
On the other side, you see an Arkansas team with experience all over the field, but some questionable chemistry and penalties over the past two weeks.
Wide receiver Andrew Armstrong is back and better than ever for the Hogs coming off a game with eight receptions for 137 yards. If quarterback Taylen Green doesn’t struggle with confidence early, Ja'Quinden Jackson stays on track running the ball and the bad penalties are fixed, Arkansas will leave Saturday with a win.
Arkansas 28, Auburn 24
