The Auburn Tigers earned the biggest win of the Hugh Freeze era thus far on Saturday afternoon on the road in Fayetteville, absolutely destroying Arkansas by a score of 48-10.
The 6th win of the season makes Auburn eligible for a bowl game and likely secures a winning season with New Mexico State coming to Auburn next week in what should be the seventh win.
The Tigers offense started hot, scoring an opening drive touchdown for the third straight game on a 6-play, 75-yard drive that ended in a Payton Thorne 12-yard rushing touchdown:
.@PaytonThorne ran right over him for the score 🫣 pic.twitter.com/Ll4NjxkQTX
— Auburn Football (@AuburnFootball) November 11, 2023
A quick three-and-out for Arkansas led to an electric punt return touchdown for Keionte Scott. Scott took the Razorback kick 74 yards for the score and not even three minutes into the game, the Tigers were up 14-0:
KEIONTE SCOTT PUNT RETURN TO THE 🏠 @AuburnFootball pic.twitter.com/agQkW1HTlr
— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) November 11, 2023
Arkansas quickly went three-and-out once again, and an ensuing poor punt gave the Tigers great field position already up two scores. Payton Thorne and company didn’t squander it, with a six-play, 56 yard touchdown drive that ended in a Rivaldo Fairweather score on a beautifully designed play:
DO YOUR DANCE, @rivaldo_f13 💯 https://t.co/zDm1pWJfZd pic.twitter.com/rkwpqQhWj4
— Auburn Football (@AuburnFootball) November 11, 2023
Auburn’s defense held strong all half, forcing four punts, allowing just a field goal, and forcing a turnover at the end of the half, strip sacking KJ Jefferson in Arkansas territory which allowed the Tigers to put up another field goal and go up 27-3 at half.
The second half was a very similar story to the first, with the Tigers coming out just as dominant and forcing a quick punt followed by another scoring drive that ended in a Payton Thorne pass to Ja’Varrius Johnson:
How 'bout them Tigers 👀@PaytonThorne 🎯 @varjohnson1 for the score! https://t.co/rQI6pjOWdE pic.twitter.com/ksQNbk1A0i
— Auburn Football (@AuburnFootball) November 11, 2023
Just when Arkansas was driving down 34-3, Auburn forced a fumble and took it all the way back to the Arkansas 11-yard-line, where Rivaldo Fairweather scored his second touchdown of the game and Payton Thorne’s 4th total score:
Valdo lives in the end zone!@PaytonThorne 🎯 @rivaldo_f13 AGAIN ✌️ pic.twitter.com/rWiSdCiP9x
— Auburn Football (@AuburnFootball) November 11, 2023
From there, it was Brian Battie scoring from seven yards out to put Auburn up 48-3 and turn what was already a blowout into a completely shocking result:
.@battie941 will NOT be denied 😤 https://t.co/svZoVD1tZR pic.twitter.com/whKggR3h52
— Auburn Football (@AuburnFootball) November 11, 2023
Arkansas put one score on the board late to make it 48-10, but ultimately Auburn came into Fayetteville and completely dominated the Hogs from start to finish.
It’s a massive win for Hugh Freeze and the Auburn Tigers, and by far the best they have looked against SEC competition.
Up next, the Tigers will have New Mexico State as they look to secure a seventh win and a winning season before hosting the Crimson Tide for the Iron Bowl.
Michael Brauner is a Senior Sports Analyst and Contributing Writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @MBraunerWNSP
