Oct 21, 2023; Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs quarterback Mike Wright (14) throws a pass against Arkansas Razorbacks defensive lineman Trajan Jeffcoat (7) during the first quarter at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports

Sputtering offenses collide when Mississippi State travels to Auburn

Two offensively challenged teams will hook up when Auburn hosts Mississippi State on Saturday afternoon.

After a 7-3 road win over Arkansas last week, Zach Arnett’s Bulldogs (4-3, 1-3 SEC) enter the matchup with the Tigers ranked 12th in the 14-team SEC in total offense (351.1 yards per game) and 11th in scoring offense (26.9 points per game).

With starting quarterback Will Rogers out last week due to a shoulder injury, backup Mike Wright got the first start of his career — and delivered.

The 6-foot-4, 190-pound dual threat completed just 8 of 12 passes for 85 yards and an interception, but his 2-yard second-quarter touchdown pass to Jo’Quavious Marks turned out to be all Mississippi State needed to secure a win. Wright also led the Bulldogs in rushing with 60 yards on 11 carries, proving his ability as a runner.

Whether Rogers or Wright gets the start against Auburn (3-4, 0-4 SEC), Arnett knows his team will face a challenge against a capable Tigers team despite their winless record in conference play.

“They play really good on defense,” Arnett said. “I’ve always admired coach (Ron) Roberts’ scheme. Brilliant mind coordinating the defense. Coach Freeze has always been a great offensive mind. The athleticism at quarterback jumps off. Run game is very physical. It’s a big, strong, athletic football team. We’ll have to be on our game.”

Following a 28-21 home loss to then-13th-ranked Ole Miss, Hugh Freeze’s Tigers sit 13th in the SEC in total offense (337.0 YPG), last in passing offense (151.0 YPG) and 12th in scoring (26.7 PPG).

Despite ranking fourth in the SEC in rushing (186.0 YPG) behind the running ability of quarterbacks Robby Ashford and Payton Thorne and tailback Jarquez Hunter (309 yards and five touchdowns on 72 carries), Freeze is doing everything in his power to get an air attack that ranks 121st in college football going.

“It’s obvious we can get better,” Freeze said. “We should be able to get better. That will be the goal. My focus will be on that this week.”

–Field Level Media

Oct 21, 2023; Auburn, Alabama, USA;  Mississippi Rebels quarterback Jaxson Dart (2) carries against the Auburn Tigers during the first quarter at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports

No. 13 Mississippi holds off upset-minded Auburn

Jaxson Dart threw for 202 yards and rushed for two touchdowns Saturday night as No. 13 Ole Miss pulled away in the fourth quarter for a 28-21 Southeastern Conference win over Auburn in Auburn, Ala.

Dart snapped a 14-14 tie on the last play of the third quarter with a 1-yard touchdown run, capping an 89-yard drive. On their next possession, the Rebels (6-1, 3-1) marched 68 yards and took just over five minutes off the clock before Quinshon Judkins powered up the middle for a 4-yard scoring run with 7:51 left in the game.

The Tigers (3-4, 0-4) got within a touchdown with 56 seconds remaining when Payton Thorne found Rivaldo Fairweather with an 8-yard touchdown pass. However, Dayton Wade recovered the ensuing onside kick to seal the outcome and give Ole Miss just its second win in its last 10 visits to Jordan-Hare Stadium.

Judkins rushed for a game-high 124 yards on 21 carries for the Rebels, who outgained Auburn 425 to 275 and owned an advantage of just over eight minutes in time of possession. Tre Harris caught four passes for 102 yards.

The Tigers rotated Thorne and Robbie Ashford at quarterback but neither could consistently move a struggling offense. Thorne was 9-of-13 for 100 yards with an interception, while Ashford completed 3 of 4 attempts for 22 yards with an interception.

Ole Miss initiated scoring at the 4:55 mark of the first quarter when Dart, who finished 10-of-17, hit Zakhari Franklin with an 11-yard touchdown pass. Auburn tied it less than two minutes later when Jarquez Hunter ripped off a 53-yard scoring jaunt.

Dart restored a seven-point lead for the Rebels when he kept it on a fourth-and-1 play and zipped 29 yards with 24 seconds left in the period. But his interception on Ole Miss’ next possession gave the Tigers a 24-yard field that they cashed in with Hunter’s 1-yard touchdown run 11:44 before halftime, evening the score at 14.

–Field Level Media

LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels 5 throws a pass as the LSU Tigers take on the Auburn Tigers at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023.

Auburn proves no match for No. 22 LSU, losing 48-18

Jayden Daniels passed for 325 yards and three touchdowns and No. 22 LSU blew out Auburn 48-18 in an SEC game Saturday night in Baton Rouge, La.

Daniels completed 20 of 27 passes and added 93 rushing yards. He led LSU (5-2, 4-1 SEC) to a 17-0 lead at the end of the first quarter, and Auburn (3-3, 0-3) never got closer than 10 points the rest of the way.

Kyren Lacy had 111 receiving yards and one touchdown on four receptions, and Logan Diggs added 97 rushing yards and a touchdown for LSU, which outgained Auburn 563-293.

Robby Ashford replaced Payton Thorne at quarterback for Auburn to start the second half and led a drive that made it to the LSU 18 before stalling. Alex McPherson kicked a 38-yard field goal to pull Auburn within 20-10.

Kaleb Jackson returned the ensuing kickoff 60 yards to the Auburn 39, leading to Daniels’ 25-yard touchdown pass to Lacy for a 27-10 lead.

Daniels and Lacy teamed for a 57-yard completion on the first play of the next possession, leading to Daniels’ 13-yard touchdown pass to Josh Williams for a 34-10 lead at the end of the third quarter.

Thorne, who returned after a one-possession absence, drove Auburn to a goal-to-go opportunity, and on the first play of the fourth quarter, Ashford came in and threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Frazier. The duo teamed on a two-point conversion that trimmed the lead to 34-18.

Diggs ran 5 yards for a touchdown, and Williams completed the scoring with a 1-yard touchdown run.

LSU received the opening kickoff and drove 75 yards, scoring a touchdown on a 29-yard completion from Daniels to Malik Nabers.

Damian Ramos kicked a 30-yard field goal on LSU’s second possession, and John Emery Jr. ran 2 yards for a touchdown on the third possession for the 17-0 lead.

On the second play of the second quarter. Jarquez Hunter’s 2-yard touchdown run produced Auburn’s first points, before Ramos’ 35-yard field goal gave LSU a 20-7 lead that stood through halftime.

–Field Level Media

Oct 7, 2023; Columbia, Missouri, USA; LSU Tigers quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) drops back to pass against the Missouri Tigers during the first half at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Jayden Daniels looks to stay hot as No. 22 LSU, Auburn clash

No. 22 LSU’s high-scoring offense has been more balanced over the last two weeks.

Auburn’s offense is trying to do the same as these two sets of Tigers prepare to meet in a Southeastern Conference game on Saturday night in Baton Rouge, La.

Jayden Daniels has been one of the most productive offensive players in the country for LSU (4-2, 3-1 SEC). He has been named SEC Offensive Player of the Week three times this season and leads a unit that ranks third best in the FBS in total offense (548.3 yards per game).

“The offense continues to do some great things,” LSU coach Brian Kelly said. “The offense is playing at an incredible level.”

So is Daniels, who also is the team’s No. 2 rusher. He completed 15 of 21 passes for 259 yards and three touchdowns while adding 130 yards and a score on the ground in last Saturday’s 49-39 victory over Missouri.

“I see those little things that he’s doing under duress or under pressure or getting hit after he throws a very accurate ball are starting to separate him from good to great,” Kelly said of Daniels.

The offense was pass-heavy in the first few games of the season, but running back Logan Diggs has had back-to-back 100-yard rushing games to provide Daniels with some support.

But slowing other teams down has started to become an issue, as LSU is allowing opponents to put up 445.7 yards per game, ranking 121st in total defense in the FBS.

Kelly remains optimistic, though.

“We feel there’s some light there at the end of the tunnel for our defense,” Kelly said after Missouri scored just 14 second-half points last Saturday.

After playing four of its first six games away from home, facing ranked opponents in three of those contests, LSU will play five of its last six games at home.

“We’re right in the hunt and the season is in front of us,” Kelly said.

Unlike LSU, Auburn (3-2, 0-2) has leaned on its running game on offense, which ranks 13th in total yards per game (358.2) in the 14-team SEC.

“I do think you need to be balanced to win big games,” Auburn coach Hugh Freeze said. “That’s been a challenge for us to this point. We got to shorten this game (against LSU).”

Auburn is coming off a bye week after a hard-fought 27-20 home loss to No. 1 Georgia on Sept. 30.

Freeze said he and his staff spent time during the open week “trying to make sure our identity — particularly in the passing game — matches our personnel.

“Whatever we feel strongly in that,” Freeze continued, “then let’s do it over and over and over and over and over again until we are really, really confident and are really, really good at that.”

Freeze noted that Ole Miss’ and Missouri’s approach was to let their high-powered offenses try to outscore LSU in a shootout.

“But I think their makeup is a little different offensively,” Freeze said. “I’m not sure that is the plan for us.”

As evidence of that, Auburn’s Payton Thorne is ranked last among SEC starting quarterbacks in passer rating.

–Field Level Media

Sep 30, 2023; Auburn, Alabama, USA; Georgia Bulldogs defensive back Javon Bullard (22) tackles Auburn Tigers wide receiver Camden Brown (4) during the second quarter at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports

No. 1 Georgia comes alive to avoid upset, down Auburn

Riding a huge second half from All-American tight end Brock Bowers and two touchdown runs by Daijuan Edwards, top-ranked Georgia avoided what would have been its first loss in nearly two years and rallied for a 27-20 road win over Auburn on Saturday afternoon.

The Bulldogs trailed 10-0 after the first quarter but outscored the Tigers 27-10 the rest of the way.

Bowers had two receptions for nine yards in the first half but finished leading all players in receptions (8) and yards (157) and was the only player to catch a touchdown as the Bulldogs (5-0, 2-0 Southeastern Conference) remained unbeaten. Edwards paced the ground attack with 19 carries for 76 yards and his two scores.

Despite a first-quarter interception, Carson Beck completed 23 of 33 passes for 313 yards. He connected with Bowers for the game-winning, 40-yard score with 2:52 to go in the game.

Georgia wideout Ladd McConkey suited up for the first time this season and had four receptions for 38 yards. Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint (two catches for 44 yards), Dominic Lovett (three grabs for 25 yards) and Rara Thomas (two receptions for 24 yards) were also productive in the Bulldogs’ passing attack.

Payton Thorne (team-high 92 yards) led an Auburn rushing attack that ran for 219 yards. He added 82 yards passing, as well. Jarquez Hunter added 19 carries for 59 yards and a score for the Tigers (3-2, 0-2).

Running back Brian Battie (85 all-purpose yards) and tight end Rivaldo Fairweather (four receptions for 44 yards) were also productive for the Tigers.

Auburn jumped out to a 3-0 lead with 6:04 to play in the first quarter after kicker Alex McPherson capped an eight-play, 84-yard drive with a 27-yard field goal. A 61-yard run by Thorne sparked the scoring march.

The Tigers increased their lead to 10-0 with two minutes left to play in the opening quarter when Hunter scored on a 5-yard touchdown run seven plays after a Jaylin Simpson interception near midfield.

An Edwards 2-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter helped trim Auburn’s lead to 10-7. A key 10-yard pass to Thomas on third-and-7 from the Tigers’ 15-yard line set up Edwards.

Georgia tied the game at 10-all after kicker Peyton Woodring capped a 10-play, 61-yard drive with 5:57 left to play in the second quarter with a 37-yard field goal. A 26-yard reception by Rosemy-Jacksaint helped get the Bulldogs inside the red zone.

Following a fumble by Georgia tight end Oscar Delp on the first play of the second half, Auburn took a 17-10 lead when Robby Ashford scored on a 9-yard run. An 18-yard run by Ashford and a 5-yard run by Hunter set up the scoring play.

Having not lost since Dec. 4, 2021, against Alabama, the Bulldogs tied the game at 17-all with 1:03 to play in the third quarter when Edwards capped a 10-play, 98-yard drive with a 13-yard scoring run. Two key third-down receptions by McConkey and Thomas helped keep the drive alive.

Fourth-quarter field goals by Woodring and McPherson had the game tied at 20-all before the Bowers touchdown with less than three minutes to play in the game.

–Field Level Media

Georgia wide receiver Ladd McConkey (84) looks on during warm ups before the start of the Bulldogs' game against UAB in Athens, Ga., on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023.

Auburn vs. Georgia: Preview, Prop Pick and Prediction

On a Saturday lacking heavyweight matchups, count on the SEC to kick up some intrigue.

Two-time defending champion Georgia hits the road to meet the Auburn Tigers and the No. 1-ranked Bulldogs are leaving Athens for the first time all season.

Top-ranked and favored to three-peat, Georgia has been largely untested through four weeks.

First-year Tigers coach Hugh Freeze doesn’t have nearly the weapons held by his counterpart, Kirby Smart, but his team presents another measuring stick for the Bulldogs.

Georgia cruised to a 49-21 home win over UAB last week. But the Bulldogs were not particularly dominant in a 24-14 victory over SEC foe South Carolina the week prior.

Is there betting value on 14.5-point underdog Auburn, or is Georgia about to put together a complete effort and rout the Tigers?

We have news, trends and quotes — along with our spread pick and a prop pick for good measure.

–Kickoff: 3:30 p.m. ET
–Television: CBS
–Location: Jordan-Hare Stadium, Auburn, Ala.
–Point Spread, Total: Georgia -14.5, Total 45.5

QUICK PICK

If Auburn wants to bring more than a scare on Saturday, the ground game must be efficient against a Georgia defense that has allowed opponents’ rushing attacks success.

Auburn will try desperately to create first downs with an early run game. Unfortunately, that is an open secret and, with the Tigers’ one-dimensional offense, the plan could be scuttled before halftime.

Not good, given the limited resources from the Auburn air attack, which ranks among the worst in SEC passing metrics.

Auburn (3-1) tries to dominate on the ground, but Georgia likely will stifle the Tigers rushing attack and force a shift to the passing game.

Georgia’s defense is allowing only 87 rushing yards per game this season.

Tigers quarterback Payton Thorne managed only 44 passing yards in last week’s 27-10 loss at Texas A&M.

How are the Tigers expected to deal with a Georgia defense that is getting healthier?

Georgia has all the capability to bury poor passing teams, and should be able to turn this into a rout.

Add the fact that Smart motivates his team in hostile environments. When favored on the road, Georgia is 25-2 straight up and 19-8 against the spread.

Let’s eat.

The pick: Georgia 34, Auburn 14.

THE NEWS

Georgia (4-0) aims to push its winning streak to 22 games.

This matchup offers Georgia quarterback Carson Beck an opportunity to firmly announce his presence as a leader as he makes his first career road start.

The junior has completed 72.7 percent of his passes, throwing for six touchdowns and only one interception.

Beck had a career-high 338 yards and three touchdowns last week.

The Bulldogs have won five straight regular-season games over the Tigers since a 40-17 loss on Nov. 11, 2017. Just weeks later, Georgia beat Auburn 28-7 in the SEC title game.

Georgia scored touchdowns on all six visits to the red zone last week when it rolled up 582 yards of total offense despite three turnovers.

When Auburn faces similar talent (Power Five games, for example), it tends to struggle. The Tigers barely beat a middling Pac-12 team, Cal, 14-10, and then were dominated on the stat sheet and on the field by Texas A&M, gaining only half the Aggies’ yardage amount.

In those two games, Cal and Texas A&M, Auburn failed to reach 230 yards of total offense.

Thorne has thrown four touchdowns and three interceptions in four games and was replaced by Robby Ashford last Saturday.

Freeze was leaning toward giving Thorne another start.

The Bulldogs, meanwhile, are far from one-dimensional — as one would expect when their recruiting classes are consistently filled with future NFL players.

Running back Daijuan Edwards averages almost six yards a carry and all-everything tight end Brock Bowers already has 22 receptions for more than 250 yards.

THEY SAID IT

“It’s not all Payton, but sometimes it is and he owns it. We had a good meeting (Sunday) night and we just got to try this week to get a plan in place that we can all execute and all understand. And that falls on (offensive coordinator) Philip (Montgomery) and his staff and ultimately on me.”

— Auburn coach Hugh Freeze on starting quarterback Payton Thorne.

PROP PICK

Let’s guard against a nasty back-door cover by teasing the margin to Georgia -9.5 and using that in a BetMGM same-game parlay with Georgia to score more than 27.5 points.

The prop: Georgia -9.5 with Georgia over 27.5 points scored (-115).

–Field Level Media

Georgia tight end Brock Bowers (19) heads to the locker room after winning a NCAA college football game against UAB in Athens, Ga., on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023. Georgia won 49-21.

No. 1 Georgia seeks latest win at offense-challenged Auburn

No. 1 Georgia will set out to extend its winning streak to 22 games Saturday afternoon when it hits the road to take on Auburn.

The Bulldogs have won five straight regular-season games over the Tigers since their 40-17 loss on Nov. 11, 2017, while they were No. 1 in the College Football Playoff rankings and No. 2 in The Associated Press and coaches’ polls.

Georgia got redemption over Auburn three games later when it downed the Tigers 28-7 in the Southeastern Conference title game.

After struggling in the red zone through the team’s first three games, Georgia (4-0, 1-0 SEC) went 6-for-6 inside the 20 in a convincing 49-21 win over UAB on Saturday. The Bulldogs had 582 yards of total offense despite three turnovers.

Quarterback Carson Beck passed for a career-high 338 yards and three touchdowns in the win. Tailback Daijun Edwards added 66 yards and two scores, while Sevaughn Clark ran for 32 yards and a TD.

All-America tight end Brock Bowers had season-highs in receptions (nine) and yards (121) and scored twice. He currently has 2,080 career receiving yards and 22 career touchdown catches, which ranks No. 3 all-time in Georgia history. Bowers is one of only 10 players in Bulldogs’ history with at least 2,000 receiving yards for their career.

Kirby Smart didn’t know Bowers’ true potential until he arrived on campus as a true freshman after not watching him play his final year of high school during the pandemic.

“Not until I saw him run and catch, and then I could,” Smart said. “Hard to tackle, man.”

Smart is 85-15 as a head coach, which is the best mark for any coach in SEC history through 100 games.

Auburn (3-1, 1-0 SEC) enters its matchup with the Bulldogs with serious question marks on offense after failing to find the end zone against Texas A&M.

Quarterback Payton Thorne completed just 6 of 12 passes for 44 yards and was sacked five times before being benched in the third quarter. Robby Ashford replace Thorne and completed just one pass for 4 yards.

Head coach Hugh Freeze said Thorne would “probably” be the starter in the upcoming game against Georgia. Freeze also admitted that Thorne isn’t the only one to blame for the Tigers’ inconsistent play on offense.

“It’s not all Payton, but sometimes it is and he owns it,” Freeze said Monday. “We had a good meeting (Sunday) night and we just got to try this week to get a plan in place that we can all execute and all understand. And that falls on (offensive coordinator) Philip (Montgomery) and his staff and ultimately on me.”

Auburn is banged up in the secondary. Starting nickel/punt returner Keionte Scott is out indefinitely after ankle surgery. Donovan Kaufman and J.D. Rhym, Scott’s backups, have both been dealing with nagging injuries.

Starting safety Zion Puckett left the A&M game with a shoulder injury. Safety Marquise Gilbert played 27 snaps against the Aggies after totaling just 15 in Auburn’s first three games. Second-string running back Damari Alston (dislocated shoulder) is also out indefinitely.

Starting right tackle Amarius Mims (ankle), running backs Kendall Milton (knee) and Roderick Robinson II (ankle), wideout Ladd McConkey (back), safety Javon Bullard (ankle) and defensive end Mykel Williams (illness) did not play for Georgia against UAB.

–Field Level Media

Sep 23, 2023; Athens, Georgia, USA; Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Carson Beck (15) reacts after a touchdown against the UAB Blazers in the second half at Sanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

No. 1 Georgia braces for Auburn in Carson Beck’s first SEC road test

No. 1 Georgia handed out a travel itinerary for the first time this season as the Bulldogs begin marching toward their first road game of the season on Saturday at Auburn.

All-SEC wide receiver Ladd McConkey hasn’t played this season due to a back injury. He could be on hand for the first time this season to assist quarterback Carson Beck in his first career start away from Athens.

“You’ve got to practice. You’ve got to be able to practice. How he does in those things will determine whether or not he’s able to play. He had kind of a two-week advised shutdown,” head coach Kirby Smart said on Monday.

Smart hasn’t coached against Hugh Freeze, in his first season at Auburn, since 2016 in Freeze’s final season at Ole Miss. While film reveals some of the offensive concepts are the same, Smart doesn’t see the same scheme with the Tigers using multiple quarterbacks.

“People evolve. They’ve evolved,” Smart said. “They’re really hard to defend. There are so many options to it.”

Georgia beat UAB to stay perfect this season. SEC play begins on Saturday and Smart knows many of his players are being measured in a road game for the first time in their current roles.

“Road SEC tests are always difficult. There’s no way around it,” Smart said. “It’s always a test of focus, endurance, composure — all the qualities you need to be a good team.”

Part of going on the road in the conference is being willing to simplify the game plan to counter crowd noise to control those variables. What that looks like, Smart said they’ll know when they get to Auburn.

Georgia has used crowd noise since spring practice not to simulate the decibel level in away games but to force players to communicate precisely while executing assignment football.

Beck has never started a game on the road with Georgia, which relied on two-time national champion Stetson Bennett the previous two seasons.

Is Beck ready to win on the road in the SEC?

“I think that’s something that we’re going to find out. I don’t think you know. He’s been through some ups and downs. He’s certainly been against good defenses, like Auburn has … he goes against our guys. It’s different when it’s live. So you’ve got to find out how he responds to that.”

Experience in the Bulldogs’ system gives Smart a bit of ease about how Beck will react and communicate.

“You only get good at these situational football things by playing football. This is his first chance to do it on the road,” Smart said.

–Field Level Media

Sep 16, 2023; Auburn, Alabama, USA; Auburn Tigers quarterback Payton Thorne (1) celebrates with teammates after scoring a touchdown against the Samford Bulldogs during the second quarter at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports

Payton Thorne powers Auburn past Samford

Behind 405 total yards and three touchdowns from quarterback Payton Thorne, Auburn rolled to a 45-13 win over Samford on Saturday night in Auburn, Ala.

Thorne completed 24 of 32 passes for 282 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions. He also added a team-high 123 yards and two touchdowns on the ground.

Jay Fair had team highs in receptions (seven) and receiving yards (93) for the Tigers (3-0). Tight end Rivaldo Fairweather added five receptions for 57 yards, while receiver Shane Hooks added three receptions for 47 yards and a touchdown. Quarterback Robby Ashford added two TDs (one passing, one rushing).

Samford quarterback Michael Hiers passed for 141 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions. He also had a rushing TD. Wideout Chandler Smith had three receptions for 80 yards and a score for the Bulldogs (1-2).

Auburn had a first-and-goal at Samford’s 1-yard line on its opening drive, but Thorne was intercepted in the end zone on third-and-goal after a false start backed the Tigers up to the 6-yard line.

Auburn took a 7-0 lead with 9:31 to go in the second quarter when Thorne connected with Hooks on a 32-yard touchdown pass. The play was set up by a 40-yard pass to wideout Omari Kelly.

After an interception by cornerback Jaylin Simpson set up Auburn at the Samford 22-yard line, the Tigers took a 14-0 lead on a 5-yard scoring run by Thorne with 3:04 remaining in the first half.

Auburn entered halftime with a 17-0 lead after a 22-yard field goal by Alex McPherson. The scoring drive was set up by a terrific 41-yard reception by Fairweather.

Ashford put the Tigers up 24-0 on a 1-yard rushing touchdown with 8:30 to go in the third quarter. But Samford finally got on the board on its ensuing possession when Hiers connected with Smith on a 36-yard touchdown pass with 6:35 to go in the third quarter to make it 24-7.

Hunter’s 1-yard rushing touchdown capped a five-play, 58-yard drive to put the Tigers up 31-7 with 4:29 to go in the third quarter.

–Field Level Media

Sep 9, 2023; Berkeley, California, USA; Auburn Tigers quarterback Payton Thorne (1) prepares to pass the football during the second quarter against the California Golden Bears at California Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Neville E. Guard-USA TODAY Sports

Auburn looking for QB improvement, will face Samford next

Auburn’s Payton Thorne came up with the winning touchdown pass midway through the fourth quarter to beat Cal last week, but his coach wasn’t pleased with the quarterback’s play for much of the game.

It was Thorne’s second scoring pass of the game as the Tigers beat Cal 14-10 in Berkeley. On the flip side, the junior lost a fumble on the game’s opening possession, threw an interception in the second quarter and finished with just 94 yards passing, completing 9 of 14 attempts.

Auburn coach Hugh Freeze wants to see more from his veteran signal caller, starting Saturday night when the Samford Bulldogs visit.

“I don’t know that that’s exactly what I want it to look like, but we just had no juice, no momentum, and so you are kind of searching for it,” Freeze said. “We need Payton to play better, truthfully, too. Now, the last drive he played well. Prior to that, I think a few of the throws were inaccurate. I thought he left the pocket early once.

“And look, I’m not beating up Payton. He played really well that last possession, but we really do need more consistency there throughout the whole game.”

Running back Jarquez Hunter returned to action after sitting out the opener and finished with team highs in carries (11) and yards (53) for Auburn (2-0).

Freeze said Monday that Rivaldo Fairweather, who caught the game-winning 5-yard touchdown pass on a 50-50 ball in the end zone, would be more involved in the offense moving forward. The Florida International transfer led the Tigers in receptions (three) and yards (39).

Samford (1-1 overall) is coming off a disappointing 30-7 loss to host Western Carolina in its Southern Conference opener last week. The game was interrupted due to lightning and was delayed for almost six hours.

Two major issues the Bulldogs had were running the football and protecting the quarterback. Samford finished with just 46 yards rushing on 23 attempts. Jay Stanton led the team with 26 yards on seven carries.

Quarterback Michael Hiers completed 21 of 34 passes for 315 yards and a touchdown but was sacked six times and lost a fumble.

Hiers was named the Southern Conference’s Offensive Player of the Week after the Bulldogs’ season-opening 69-14 win over Division II Shorter on Aug. 31. He completed 28 of 35 passes for five touchdowns. The Birmingham, Ala., native said that playing for the Bulldogs in nearby Homewood has been a goal.

“I kind of always wanted to come to Samford,” Hiers said.

–Field Level Media