Auburn football: Hugh Freeze shares ‘vital’ takeaways from Arkansas win

The Auburn football team did the damn things this weekend. The Tigers went into Fayetteville and demolished the Arkansas Razorbacks before heading home with a 48-10 victory and their third SEC win of the season.

As expected, the defense played at a high level, absolutely suffocating KJ Jefferson and the Razorback offense. And it appears that quarterback Payton Thorne’s road woes are in the rearview mirror after putting on a dominating performance, totaling 251 yards and four touchdowns.

The offense was firing on all cylinders and put the Tigers in a great position early in the game, leading by 21 points in the first quarter. According to head coach Hugh Freeze, this was key to Auburn football’s victory, per Auburn Live:

"“It’s O-line, tight ends and running backs. I thought they were dominant today,” Freeze said. “I thought we were punishing in the run game and it takes all those. I’m proud of them, too. The first drive, we set the tone. Getting out to a fast start was vital.”"

But the win wasn’t just any win for the Tigers. It was win #6, which means that the team is bowl-eligible in Freeze’s first year on the Plains. Having the opportunity to play in the post-season is extremely valuable, and it has been Freeze’s primary goal for the team for a little while now.

"“It’s vital in our rebuild that we get the extra practices,” Freeze said, “our seniors get to experience a bowl game, our young kids get extra practices. We check that box and let’s go get a win at home.”"

For the first time since 2021, the Auburn football team will be going bowling, and with only New Mexico State and Alabama left on the schedule, the Tigers have the opportunity to get up to eight wins. It won’t be easy to take down the Crimson Tide, but anything can happen when the Iron Bowl is in Jordan-Hare Stadium.

If the team continues to play at the level we say in DWR Razorback stadium this weekend, the sky is the limit for Auburn football.