Heading into the 2025 college football season, there were a lot of reasons to like this Auburn Tigers roster on paper. Hugh Freeze’s squad quietly had one of the best offensive lines in the country, a dynamic wide receiver duo of Cam Coleman and Eric Singleton Jr., and a couple of impressive defensive linemen led by Keldric Faulk. That feels like the recipe for a sneaky good season. 

While things looked solid early, this team has dropped two straight games to Oklahoma and Texas A&M. In both, the defense had some strong moments, but the offense didn’t play nearly enough complementary football to be successful. That side of the football has been stagnant in those two games, scoring just 13.5 points per game, and lacking the ability to create explosive plays. The passing game has been the biggest part of the issue. 

Former Sooners transfer signal caller Jackson Arnold has been exactly what folks remember from his time in Norman, a nice athlete that lacks consistency as a passer. Arnold is averaging just 169.2 yards passing per game, as well as a poor 6.3 yards per attempt average. The former five-star recruit has also been sacked 20 times in five games, which isn’t all Arnold’s fault, but he also plays a big role in it. Quarterback play just hasn’t been nearly good enough for the Tigers.

It is never wise to be impulsive in your decision-making, but heading into the 2025 season, there was always a thought that Arnold might be on a bit of a short leash. His experience certainly mattered behind center to begin the year, but if he is going to play this poorly, he is anything but untouchable. That is especially true when an elite talent is waiting in the wings.

It is almost Deuce Knight time

The crowned jewel of the 2025 recruiting class was five-star signal caller Deuce Knight, who was originally committed to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. It was a chaotic recruitment, and many believed Knight would end flipping one more time to Ole Miss, but the Tigers staff held on to the 6-4, 217-pound dual-threat signal caller.

From a pure talent perspective, Knight is the most talented quarterback on the roster. He is arguably the most physically gifted passer they have had since Cam Newton in the early 2010s.

Like the majority of true freshmen, Knight came to the program as a relatively raw football player. The Mississippi native always needed some time to develop, but at this point, learning on the job might be in the best interest of Knight and the future of the Auburn program. With Freeze’s seat starting to get a bit warmer, turning to the future could also prove that the best is yet to come. The move makes too much sense on paper, especially with how Arnold is playing right now.

Yes, Knight will make some mistakes. Yes, he will grow on the job. Even with those growing pains, Knight will make more big plays compared to Arnold. That is true both with his arms and legs. There is no reason to delay this era with what the offense has looked like recently.

With Auburn on a bye week, some might think that this is the perfect time to make a switch. After the bye, the Tigers are set to play Georgia at home. Even if the Bulldogs aren’t quite the defensive juggernaut they once were, there is still a psychological aspect for an 18-year-old making his first-career start against Georgia.

The week after the Bulldogs, Auburn is set to play Missouri. Even if Missouri technically has the better defense compared to the two, Knight’s mind may be clearer, given that this is his first start.

It feels like an almost certainty that Knight will make a start this year. The only question is when it will take place. Oct. 18th against Missouri would be my best guess.

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