The nightmare just came true. The Auburn Tigers are on a four-game losing streak. Their latest embarrassment came against the Missouri Tigers (17-23). Moreover, the fatigue was evident in Hugh Freeze’s voice in the post-game presser. “I know we’re close, and I know we’re gonna get over the hump,” said the Auburn head coach. Surely, a massive chance is looming for Freeze and his boys to clean their slate this weekend against Arkansas. That’s when Josh Pate dropped in his take on his Jackson Arnold decision. 

The host created the ultimatum for Freeze on the October 21st episode of Josh Pate’s College Football Show. He said, “Ideally, you have a plan that would upgrade you from your previous situation. Now, I know if you’re new to college football or you’ve been watching it your whole life, this sounds common-sensical.”

Jackson Arnold, against Missouri, took a costly sack in overtime, missing Cam Coleman flying open on a left-side post against man coverage. However, Freeze took some time to decide on Arnold. 

But the head coach is finally ready to leave his comfort zone. As Pete Thamel reported, Freeze will play Arnold and backup Ashton Daniels to get reps as they prepare themselves for the Razorbacks face-off. “If we’re struggling to create positive vibes offensively because of QB play, we wouldn’t hesitate to try Ashton. I believe in him strongly,” assured the head coach. 

As Auburn’s season slows on The Plains, so does Arnold’s performance. Once a dual-threat spark, Arnold’s season stat line reads steady but unspectacular: 63.6% completions, 170 yards per game, five TDs, and one pick through the air, plus seven rushing scores. But Freeze’s numbers hit a nosedive when the SEC gauntlet hit. Arnold’s accuracy dipped to 60%, and his ground game vanished to 17 yards per contest. 

This might have left a thought in Freeze to give Daniels a chance to make his debut. His stats? Transferring from Stanford, he has racked up 3,986 yards passing, with 21 touchdowns and 20 interceptions. As the quarterback scene brews in Auburn, Pate comes with a wake-up call for Freeze. 

“So, if that happens Saturday against Arkansas, I think you’re going to see those wheels in motion. And then I think you’ll probably hear Jon Sumrall’s name. You may hear James Franklin’s name mentioned there,” said Pate.

But for that, Auburn will have to arrange for Freeze’s fat buyout check worth $15.4 million. Recently, the program paid almost the exact figure to eliminate Bryan Harsin in 2022. So, as Pate said, “Win, and it silences all of this. Lose Saturday, and I think it’s actually in motion, and I think it’s going to happen.” Now, what does the Auburn AD think about Freeze’s time?

Auburn AD’s cryptic comment on Hugh Freeze’s tenure

When the discussion is about Freeze holding the seat in the long run, Auburn AD John Cohen has tapped into the “never say never” mindset. It will be challenging if we are given the task of naming one way Freeze has elevated Auburn since it hired him to replace Harsin. The recruiting has also hit a stop. Fans believe Auburn has taken on a culture of losing under Freeze.

Since taking the reins at Auburn in 2022, Freeze has posted a 14-18 record. His résumé against ranked teams has been downright brutal, just 1-12. So, by now, the Auburn squad has bought into the narrative that the Tigers deserve someone better. Without saying it aloud, Cohen stirred Freeze’s pot. 

“I don’t know if I’m going to walk outside and my car is going to start or not. I think it is, but if my car doesn’t start up enough, then I will evaluate that and make decisions about my car. But that’s not my expectation at this point about our football program,” came the AD’s reply.

Hugh Freeze had already been walking on eggshells. The four-game losing streak just made things worse for the Auburn head coach. So much so that even his believers have started to turn into doubters. As the Auburn insider, Kyle Rush, said, “To me, that was the first time I felt like Hugh [Freeze] feels like he could be on extremely thin ice.” Saturday decides it all, redemption or ruin for Freeze.