Auburn Is Making A Switch At Quarterback

ESPN's Pete Thamel reports that Auburn redshirt freshman quarterback Hank Brown will start vs. New Mexico on Saturday and replace senior Payton Thorne.

Thorne started the first two games for Auburn but struggled in last week's 21-14 loss to Cal.

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Brown, a former three-star passer in the 2023 class, will make his first career start in the wake of Auburn's 21-14 home defeat to Cal last week. Thorne, who started each of the Tigers' past 15 games, completed 14 of his 27 passes for 165 yards with a touchdown and a career-high four interceptions in the loss.

Auburn coach Hugh Freeze initially hinted at a possible quarterback change during his Monday news conference. He remained vague on the situation later in the week but hinted at his willingness to take action after the Tigers were held under 10 points by an unranked opponent for the first time since 2018.

"There's a very, very short leash on us playing as poorly as we did in certain moments in that game at that position," Freeze said Wednesday during the SEC coaches teleconference.

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