Hugh Freeze debating major switch-up ahead of Auburn football's Week 12 matchup with ULM
By Brooks Crew
Auburn football head coach Hugh Freeze is reportedly debating stepping away from QB Payton Thorne ahead of the Tigers' November 16 matchup against ULM.
Freeze mentioned the "big picture" when discussing his reasoning.
“Payton’s played pretty solid, but at the same time you start thinking big picture and well, that’s a tough quandary for you as a coach when you start thinking big picture as opposed to one of your players that really hasn’t done anything wrong,” Freeze said.
This seems to insinuate that Freeze, despite what he’d like to do, has been forced to debate stepping away from Thorne, a quarterback who has been statistically decent this year despite a rough start.
The issue stands as follows: “[the Tigers] certainly aren’t winning,” according to Freeze. Despite Thorne’s statistical competence, he remains 2-5 on the season as a starter. Many speculate Freeze is grappling with the potential reality of needing to cut losses and look to next season, which would mean Brown would get the nod against ULM.
Coach Freeze has a difficult decision ahead of him -- and all eyes will look to his decision ahead of Auburn’s November 16th matchup.
Hugh Freeze faces major questions before 2024 Auburn football season concludes
Freeze has been questioned all season from a coaching perspective. The Vanderbilt, Georgia, Missouri, and Oklahoma games all featured notably bad play-calling at points that cost Auburn the game. He most recently ignored an RB who scored multiple touchdowns and generated nearly 300 yards of offense the week before.
Freeze is not off the hook with a bowl game slipping away. He needs to show he can make smart personnel decisions even with the season lost.