Auburn coach splits reps between Jackson Arnold, Ashton Daniels

With Auburn mired in a rut through the first four games of SEC play, Tigers coach Hugh Freeze announced Monday that his team will split quarterbacks’ practice reps between starter Jackson Arnold and backup Ashton Daniels as part of a push to renew its offensive rhythm.

The decision comes after Auburn opened the season 3-4 overall and 0-4 in SEC games while scoring just 54 points in the four-game skid.

Freeze did not name who will start against the Arkansas Razorbacks this week but made clear both quarterbacks will receive meaningful reps in practice ahead of the game.

Arnold, the former Oklahoma transfer, had been the clear starter, throwing for 1,190 yards with five touchdowns and one interception this season while adding 261 rushing yards and seven scores on the ground.

Daniels, the veteran from Stanford, came in via the transfer portal with nearly 4,000 passing yards and over 1,100 rushing yards in his prior career.

“As well as Jackson played in the first half of the last two games, you still have to start looking at everything,” Freeze said. “Why do we not have the winning ways and sitting here feeling like we do? We’re going to get he and Ashton a lot of reps and kind of see where it goes from there.”

Several media outlets described the move as Freeze reopening the QB battle after Arnold’s early designation as No. 1.

Daniels’ dual-threat ability gives the Tigers a more mobile option behind center, potentially changing how Auburn structures its play calling against SEC defenses.

The Tigers’ passing offense has ranked near the bottom of the conference for much of the year, averaging under 200 yards per game.

Auburn has relied heavily on its running game and quick throws, but inconsistency on third down has stalled drives.

Arnold, despite flashes of precision, has struggled to maintain rhythm under pressure. His decision-making has improved since September, but Freeze said the competition is as much about leadership as it is performance.

The staff hopes that splitting reps can elevate both quarterbacks, bringing out the best in Arnold’s arm talent and Daniels’ poise in the pocket.

The decision to shake up the quarterback reps arrives amid additional disruptions on the offensive line.

Center Connor Lew, a senior captain who had started 25 games over the past three years, suffered a knee ligament injury in the team’s double-overtime loss to Missouri and is out for the season. Freshman Kail Ellis will step in at center.

Freeze commented: “I think he’s going to be a really good football player. But that was a huge loss to lose the leader of your O-line. He makes all protection calls and all the calls up there, run game, pass game, so that was a tough loss for sure.”

Auburn’s scoring slump and loss of veteran leadership up front have created a challenging combination for the Tigers’ offense, which now must rely on younger players and an evolving center at the line.

The quarterback decision is just one piece of the adjustment plan.

This week’s practices have placed an emphasis on protection communication and first-read throws, two areas that faltered late in recent games.

Freeze said he wants to see the offense “get back to controlling tempo” and make the defense adjust to Auburn’s speed again.

The running game remains a strength, with sophomore Damari Alston averaging over five yards per carry. But without consistent passing production, defenses have loaded the box, daring Auburn to throw downfield.

Auburn travels to Arkansas Saturday seeking its first SEC victory, just like the Razorbacks. With four straight league losses, the pressure is mounting on the Tigers to respond.