STULTZ: Freeze's decision on Portal QB explodes

Hugh Freeze took a risk this season by deciding not to bring in a quarterback from the transfer portal. The Auburn head coach put his faith in Payton Thorne despite struggling at quarterback last season.

It was believed that the sheer number of talented wide receivers the Tigers signed would make a difference for Thorne and Auburn's offense in 2024. Two games into the season, Freeze benched Thorne and handed the keys to redshirt freshman Hank Brown. After one game against underdog New Mexico, Brown was benched following a terrible first half against Arkansas that included three interceptions and 72 passing yards.

Thorne came back, but he wasn't much better. Aside from a long touchdown pass to KeAndre Lambert-Smith on fourth-and-2 that cut the Razorbacks' lead to 17-14, he was pretty mediocre. The end result was a frustrating 24-14 loss to a Hogs team that was projected to finish 14th out of 16 in the SEC.

And waiting for that passing offense are Oklahoma, Georgia (yikes!), Missouri and Kentucky. The answers aren't there, and that's largely because of Freeze's decision not to bring in a quarterback. There were some good ones out there, including Cam Ward, Riley Leonard and others who would have been an instant upgrade at the position for the Tigers. But Freeze stuck with Thorne, and now Auburn is 2-2 after embarrassing losses to Cal and Arkansas.

There would be some teething issues this season, but the Tigers' schedule before facing the Sooners called for what seemed like an easy 4-0 start. Instead, the season is hanging in the balance and the real threat of a losing season, Auburn's fifth in a row, is becoming a reality.

Freeze and his staff need to look in the mirror this week and find some kind of solution to fill that glaring hole behind center for Auburn. The quarterback's play has been so poor against Power-5 opponents that there's no reason to assume any game is a sure win this season. Teams are licking their lips and looking forward to facing Thorne or Brown, whoever will be the sacrificial lamb of the day. It comes down to the decision not to upgrade, even though there were indications it was needed.

Auburn is in a volatile situation right now, and it could get worse if recruits start backtracking on their pledges. And while there's reason to panic, the real onslaught will come if things get out of hand, Billy Napier-style, in Gainesville.

After the loss, Freeze was asked how he would now handle the quarterback position.

“I have no idea right now, but I'm going back to work tomorrow,” he said. “I'll be as focused as I've ever been to try to fix the problem.”

Fair, but there seems to be no solution to this problem.

Freeze had the option to sign another quarterback, but his decision to do so is currently coming back to haunt him and Auburn.