Trailing 24-16 heading into the fourth quarter, the lights were dimming on the Hugh Freeze era in Auburn. A loss to Arkansas – a 2-5 Arkansas team – would have been the final straw.
Freeze better kiss every defensive player on his roster after the Tigers forced four turnovers, including the critical pick-six by Rayshawn Pleasant that gave Auburn the lead, in the fourth quarter as Auburn pulled away for a 33-24 victory.
Everything that had gone wrong for Freeze's team during the last four weeks seemed to be heading that way as Jackson Arnold threw a bad ball that was intercepted and returned for a touchdown right before halftime to give Bobby Petrino's side a 21-10 lead. Freeze, already having a short leash on Arnold, finally pulled the plug and inserted Ashton Daniels into the game at quarterback.
Daniels did what he needed to do —namely, not losing the game for the Tigers —but it was the defense and a gutty rebound by Alex McPherson that helped the Tigers get over the hump.
On four straight possessions in the final 15 minutes, Auburn's defense came away with the ball. After Pleasant's pick-six, Xavier Atkins, in the midst of a dominant performance, forced a fumble that Sylvester Smith recovered. It was Pleasant again on the next possession, picking off Taylen Green for the second time.
With Auburn leading by nine points and Arkansas desperate, Green was picked off by Kensley Louidor-Faustin to seal it. It was the same defense that had kept the Tigers in all our losses, but this time, the breaks went Auburn's way.
Which brings us to McPherson. No one on Auburn's roster has been through more, as far as health, than the kicker. Last week, Freeze's heart broke for the young man, who missed three kicks that ended up costing Auburn the game in a 23-17 double-overtime loss to Missouri.
In Fayetteville, he tied a program record with six made field goals, joining Daniel Carlson, who, ironically, did it in 2016 to save Gus Malzahn's job in a victory against LSU. McPherson has battled again and again, and on Saturday, it was nice to see him smile.
So, for now, Freeze's job is safe. Arkansas was the relief that he and the Tigers needed after a brutal stretch of facing four straight ranked opponents.
But the job isn't done yet. A defensive-minded Kentucky team comes to Jordan-Hare Stadium next Saturday looking to save the job of their coach, Mark Stoops. The Wildcats took Texas to overtime last week, and face Tennessee tonight.
If this is the turnaround that this program was looking for, Freeze can credit DJ Durkin and his defensive players. They came and made sure this season —and this tenure —weren't over.