Heading into the 2025 season, the Auburn football team has a completely new-look quarterback room. After Payton Thorne exhausted his eligibility and Holden Geriner, Hank Brown and Walker White hit the portal, it was time for a rebuild on the Plains.
Head coach Hugh Freeze and his staff brought in former Oklahoma quarterback Jackson Arnold as the first transfer of the offseason to join freshman quarterback Deuce Knight. Former Stanford quarterback Ashton Daniels will be the third QB in the room.
For a lot of fans, Thorne's departure was a relief. Though he wasn't a terrible quarterback, it seemed as though he constantly took one step forward and two steps back, whether or not it was his fault or that of his teammates. It consistently felt like Thorne just couldn't figure it out, and fans are hoping that changes with Arnold.
But is Arnold the answer? Last year, in his second season with the Sooners, the offense struggled mightily, and Arnold was even benched for a couple of games as Oklahoma tried to figure things out. Ultimately, the offensive coordinator was fired midseason, and Arnold finished out the season.
That being said, here are Thorne's and Arnold's stats from the 2024 season.
Auburn football QB Payton Thorne
- Year: Fifth-year senior
- Games Played: 11
- CMP: 199
- ATT: 317
- COMP%: 62.8 percent
- Yards: 2,713
- Touchdowns: 21
- Interceptions: 9
Oklahoma football QB Jackson Arnold
- Year: Sophomore
- Games Played: 10
- CMP: 154
- ATT: 246
- COMP%: 63.7 percent
- Yards: 1,421
- Touchdowns: 12
- Interceptions: 3
While nothing about the numbers jumps off the page, Arnold has said all summer that he is switching to a system that he fits better, and entering his junior year, he still has time to continue developing and improving. Paired with a group of elite receivers and a strong offensive line, Arnold should be able to find success on the Plains.