This weekend, Nov. 1, the Auburn Tigers will host the Kentucky Wildcats at Jordan-Hare Stadium in a matchup between two SEC programs looking to regain traction.
Auburn enters the game with a 4-4 overall record and a 1-4 mark in the SEC, fresh off its first conference victory of the season — a 33-24 road win over Arkansas. A key question is who will start at quarterback for the Tigers.
“I don’t think there’s any greater motivator than competition," said head coach Hugh Freeze. "That’s what it is. It’s an open competition to see who prepares and plays the best. They both will split reps, and then we’ll make a decision. There’s a lot of good things that both did."
"I thought Ashton (Daniels) showed an incredible amount of poise," Freeze said. "I really only graded him on two minuses, but I thought he showed great poise and leadership at a difficult time to come in the game when the momentum had totally shifted the other way, and I thought he gave us a spark.”
He added that Jackson Arnold has played really well up until his interception, and that the decision of a starter remains open.
Additionally, Freeze announced that running back Durell Robinson is expected to play this week. However, it was a different story when he was asked about Cam Coleman.
"We’re hopeful, but obviously don’t know just yet," Freeze said. "The great thing is it’s not a high ankle sprain, it's down in the lower part. Those tend to heal quicker, so we’re hopeful, but again don’t really know at this point."
Kentucky enters the game with a 2-5 overall record and a 0-5 mark in SEC play. Despite the record, the Wildcats’ offense has shown promise. Freshman quarterback Cutter Boley has emerged as a bright spot, throwing for more than 300 yards in each of his last two starts, including a five-touchdown performance against Tennessee. His ability to stretch the field has brought new life to Kentucky’s passing game, while sophomore receiver Barion Brown continues to be a consistent playmaker on the perimeter. Running back Ray Davis also remains a steady presence in the backfield, ranking among the SEC’s top rushers in total touchdowns. As Kentucky looks to end its four-game losing streak, maintaining that offensive rhythm will be key against an Auburn defense that thrives on forcing turnovers.
Historically, Auburn has dominated the series between the two programs, holding a 28-6-1 record. The Tigers have also won 19 of the last 20 meetings, including the most recent match-up.
Both head coaches, Mark Stoops at Kentucky and Hugh Freeze at Auburn, face pressure as their programs struggle — Stoops for Kentucky amid an 0-5 SEC start, and Freeze as Auburn seeks sustained success.
Saturday’s matchup carries weight for both programs. For Auburn, a win would mark back-to-back SEC victories and push the Tigers above .500 heading into the final stretch of the season — a crucial boost for Freeze. For Kentucky, the game represents an opportunity to regain confidence and salvage the second half of its season. The two SEC programs in similar situations will kick off at 6:30 p.m. CST, with the game airing on SEC Network.
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Sarah is a sophomore majoring in public relations. She started with The Plainsman in the spring of 2025.
