Hugh Freeze finally pulls the plug on Jackson Arnold, but it might be too late

After splitting practice reps between Jackson Arnold and Stanford transfer Ashton Daniels throughout the week, Hugh Freeze has finally pulled the plug on his starting QB, benching Arnold for Daniels during Auburn’s Week 9 matchup with Arkansas. 

Arnold played most of the first half, going 7-for-12 for 73 yards and a touchdown, but his final throw of the day, a 90-yard pick-six in the final minute of the second quarter, to extend the Razorbacks’ lead to 11, may be his last as a Tiger. It’s at least likely his last of the day as Daniels entered the game on Auburn’s ensuing drive. 

Daniels, a senior transfer who spent the last three seasons in Palo Alto, had not entered a game this season before Saturday. In 2024, he threw for 1,700 yards and 10 touchdowns with 12 interceptions for the Cardinal. Like Arnold, he’s a dual-threat, rushing for 669 yards and three scores last season. 

Hugh Freeze’s QB mistakes have likely sealed his fate at Auburn

Now in Year 3 on The Plains, Freeze is on the hot seat, and a loss to Arkansas could be enough to end his tenure. Freeze has recruited at an elite level, building a talented roster with elite wide receivers and a stellar defense. However, his continued mistakes at the most important position on the field are inexcusable. 

Freeze stuck with Payton Thorne for 2024 following an uninspiring 5-7 2023 campaign. Then, he spent big in the transfer portal to pluck Arnold away from Oklahoma, and the former five-star QB hasn’t shown any more ability with Auburn than he did in Norman. Entering Week 9, Arnold had been sacked 26 times and was averaging just 6.1 yards per attempt. 

Arnold and the Auburn offense have wasted an excellent season from DJ Durkin’s defense, and may force the program to make its third head coaching change in the last six seasons. Not making the move to Daniels earlier in the season ensured that Auburn fell out of the race for the College Football Playoff. 

The only hope for Freeze to potentially save his job could be to turn the reins of the offense over to true freshman four-star QB Deuce Knight for the rest of the season. If Knight shows promise, on a talented roster, Freeze may buy himself another year. If not, rather than giving Freeze another opportunity to evaluate a transfer portal QB, something he has failed to do twice, Auburn might be better off searching for a new head coach.