In a major move for Auburn football, head coach Hugh Freeze has decided to bench team captain Payton Thorne in favor of redshirt freshman Hank Brown for Week 3 against New Mexico. This change comes after Auburn’s unexpected loss to the Cal Golden Bears, where Thorne struggled significantly. The senior quarterback completed just 14 of 27 passes, throwing for 165 yards, one touchdown, and a disheartening four interceptions. He did manage to add 43 rushing yards and a touchdown on the ground, but his performance left much to be desired.
Freeze explained his reasoning for the switch, as reported by Justin Hokanson of Auburn Live, expressing the need for higher standards at the quarterback position.
“After reviewing the film, there’s very little tolerance for how poorly we played at that spot,” Freeze said. “It’s not always on the quarterback. One interception came from bad protection, and another was a deflection off the receiver’s hands.”
He added, “I understand quarterbacks take a lot of the blame, and it’s not always their fault, but there were key plays Payton needed to make, and we missed those opportunities. He’s got to perform, no doubt. Hank’s been solid in practice, and with the reps coming his way, I’m eager to see how he handles it.”
Following the game against New Mexico, Auburn heads into SEC play, beginning with a Week 4 showdown against Arkansas. After that, the Tigers face a challenging slate, with home games against No. 15 Oklahoma and road tests versus No. 1 Georgia and No. 6 Missouri.
What Hank Brown Brings to Auburn’s Offense
Freeze initially hesitated to make the change immediately after the Cal loss, choosing to review game film before reaching a decision. Brown’s limited experience includes playing in last year’s Music City Bowl, where he went 7-for-9 for 132 yards in the second half. This season, during Auburn’s blowout win over Alabama A&M, Brown completed 3-of-5 passes for 96 yards and two touchdowns in garbage time.
Now, with a crucial role ahead, Brown will look to lead Auburn’s offense as they navigate a tough upcoming schedule.
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