Auburn's final availability report came as a stroke of good fortune in a time when Hugh Freeze needed it the most. Amid all the pressure on Auburn heading to Oklahoma this Saturday, star RB Damari Alston's injury update came as a sigh of relief.
After nursing his shoulder injury for two weeks, Alston finally has the green flag for the next game. The timing couldn't have been better, as Alston will now play a key role in putting up a challenging fight against Oklahoma's dominating defense.
The running back room has been a core ingredient of Auburn's offensive line's success three games into the season. So has been Alston, who injured his hamstring in the season-opener vs. Baylor.
"Yeah, we’re pleased number one," Freeze announced Thursday. "[Our running backs] are taking care of the ball thus far. And Oklahoma harasses the ball really well. It’s shocking that they haven’t gotten a turnover yet, because they really do go after the ball. And I think it starts with [Jeremiah] Cobb and Damari [Alston] and the others taking care of the ball. And I think they run behind their pads well. They’ve gotten the dirty runs,."
The Sooners' defense has been Brent Venables's secret sauce in taking down their previous opponents, even the tough ones like Michigan.
ESPN ranks Oklahoma's defense the best in the SEC and the third-best in the country for allowing 181 yards per game and a mere 6.3 points per game.
Freeze needs a bulletproof strategy to put up a real challenge against a formidable defense like this. The Tigers head coach shared how he plans to do so.
"We need to stay ahead of the chain," he said. "I don’t care if it’s three yards. They find a way to do that. We’ve had very few negative runs, which Oklahoma has caused a bunch, but I’m pleased with that room thus far. I’m glad Damari is back. He obviously hasn’t been hit yet, but he practiced full go yesterday and today. So good to have him back for this opener on the road."
Alston playing should be a point of contention for Venables. It gives Auburn a much-needed offensive backing they need.
And let's not forget Cobb, Freeaze's favorite candidate to have a breakout year in 2025. Cobb has seamlessly handled the RB position in Alston's absence. While doing so, he has made a serious reputation for himself.
Add QB Jackson Arnold's revenge plot to all this, and the Tigers have a solid reason and resources to match the Sooners, and with enough execution, take them down in the process, too.