Auburn Tigers News: Hugh Freeze says QB1 job is Payton Thorne's to lose plus Mississippi State hoops rematch

In today's edition of Auburn Tigers News, head coach Hugh Freeze says the QB1 job is Payton Thorne's to lose and Auburn basketball prepares for a rematch with the Bulldogs.

The Auburn football team is back on the field for spring practices, and as has become typical over the past few years, a quarterback competition is underway. This year, the competitors are incumbent starter Payton Thorne, sophomore Holden Geriner, redshirt freshman Hank Brown, and true freshman Walker White.

Throughout the offseason, head coach Hugh Freeze seemed to go back and forth about whether or not Payton Thorne would be the guy in 2024, but after the Tigers failed to get a quarterback from the transfer portal it seems that the question answers itself. After all, Thorne is the only QB out of the four to have played meaningful snaps and the only newcomer to the battle is true freshman Walker White.

However, the competition truly is wide open, especially with all the newcomers on the staff. The offense is changing, too, and there will be opportunities for some of the new guys to show their skills. For now, though, Freeze believes Thorne will be the starter this fall, per Auburn Undercover.

“Well, every spot is wide-open in my mind right now,” Freeze said Thursday. “Now, let me be clear: I think Payton has done an incredible job since January of taking a leadership role and setting the standard. Do I think it's his to lose? Yes. But he's gotta go earn it every day. We're not in a position where we can just say that it's given to somebody."

Auburn basketball prepares for a rematch with the Bulldogs

Tonight, Bruce Pearl and the Auburn Tigers will take on the Mississippi State Bulldogs for the second time this season, this time in Neville Arena. In late January, the Tigers lost to the Bulldogs in Starkville right after having lost to Alabama in Tuscaloosa. It was a tough one to swallow, but now Auburn has the change to redeem themselves on their home turf.

The Tigers will be playing to secure a 4-seed in the SEC Tournament after the loss to Tennessee on Wednesday effectively knocked Auburn out of the race for the SEC title. Watch Auburn basketball take on Mississippi State this afternoon at 3:00 p.m. on ESPN2.