Auburn Tigers HC Hugh Freeze reveals key to beating Oklahoma as Jeremiah Cobb and Damari Alston finally both healthy
Auburn’s strength on the ground will have to defeat Sooners’ dominant run defense
The Auburn Tigers are off to an undeniable heater to open the 2025 college football season. 3-0 record. Nearly 40 points scored per game. Seven different skill players with double-digit touches and a touchdown already. The defense allowing the lowest rush success rate of any FBS team in the nation. All great things.
However, Hugh Freeze and company face off against their toughest challenge yet this week in the Oklahoma Sooners. How can Auburn continue their impressive momentum this week against Brent Venables’ top notch squad with a possible Heisman favorite at quarterback? Coach Freeze shared exactly how, and perhaps more accurately “who”, the Tigers will need to succeed if they hope to beat one of the best teams in the country when he met with the media this week.
Jeremiah Cobb and Damari Alston will need to beat Sooners’ run defense if Auburn wants a win
The number one area where the Auburn Tigers will have to prove successful against the Oklahoma Sooners will be with their rushing attack. Jackson Arnold has been “fine” as a passer, but the real strength of this Auburn team has been on the ground. If that strength runs into a brick wall, and fails to find success, the entire offense could stall.
Oklahoma ranks fifth among all FBS teams in rush success rate allowed. They’re averaging eight tackles for loss per game already this year. Auburn running backs Jeremiah Cobb and Damari Alston (finally healthy) will have their work cut out for them if they want to take down the Sooners’ run defense. Hugh Freeze said as much, but he also expressed just how happy he’s been with the running game as well:
“Yeah, we’re pleased number one. [Our running backs] are taking care of the ball thus far. And Oklahoma harasses the ball really well. It It’s shocking that they haven’t gotten a turnover yet, because they really, they do go after the ball. And I think it starts with [Jeremiah] Cobb and Damari [Alston] and the others taking care of the ball. And I think they run behind their pads well. They’ve gotten the dirty runs. We need to stay ahead of the chains. I don’t care if it’s three yards. They find a way to do that. We’ve had very few negative runs, which Oklahoma has caused a bunch, but I’m pleased with that room thus far. I’m glad Damari is is back. He obviously hasn’t been hit yet, but he practiced full go yesterday and today. So good to have him back for this opener on the road.”
It is great to have Damari Alston back in the mix at running back, but Jeremiah Cobb has been absolutely dominant so far this season. Nearly seven yards per carry. More than 3.4 yards after contact per tote. Six huge runs of 10+ yards already. A first down on over 40% of his carries. Cobb has been exceptional thus far.
Adding another running back who should be just as good to that mix should in theory given Auburn exactly what they need to take on one of the top defensive units in the country this week.
Damari Alston has of course been out with a shoulder injury that he suffered in Week 1 against Baylor. He too was off to a great start for Auburn, but was quickly derailed and dinged up. Hugh Freeze has been excited and confident in Alston’s return, but he also hasn’t hesitated to share just how much the Sooners defense stresses him out in preparation:
“First, I need some Pepto and some Tums, because your stomach starts turning. Because their first three games–it’s just they’ve dominated, I mean really dominated. They allowed [just] one touchdown and it was really on a bust[ed] coverage. [Oklahoma’s defense] is physical. They’re fast. They do a lot of things that present you issues in both protection and run game. Brent [Venables] does a great job and he’s got great players. It’s a great challenge. I do think they’re one of the better defenses I’ve seen in the last few years.”
The Sooners defense has been even better at stopping their opponents’ passing game than they have the run this season, so leaving this game up to Jackson Arnold and his arm is not going to be the answer–despite how fun that would be for the “revenge” game narrative.
Yes, wide receiver Eric Singleton looks back and ready to go this week. Cam Coleman is a great wide receiver. The Tigers will have to convert some passing plays against a tough unit on that side of the ball. But the strength of Auburn is still the ground game, and if they’re going to find any advantage whatsoever it’s going to be there this week.
We’ll be back with more Auburn Tigers coverage here at A to Z Sports soon! Follow me (@FF_TravisM) and A to Z Sports (@AtoZSportsNFL) on X for all the latest football news!