Freeze faces quarterback controversy – AuburnSports: Auburn Tigers Football & Basketball Recruiting

AUBURN | Hugh Freeze made the bold move two weeks ago to replace Payton Thorne with Hank Brown as Auburn's starting quarterback.

That worked for a week, and then Arkansas came to Jordan-Hare Stadium, forced Brown into three interceptions in the first half, and left with a 24-14 victory.

Thorne came in for the second half and played better, but Freeze has no clear answers before next Saturday's game against No. 15 Oklahoma.

“I have no idea right now who's going to play against the Sooners,” AU coach Hugh Freeze said. “But I'm going back to work tomorrow and I'm going to be as focused as I've ever been to try to solve this problem.”

Brown completed 7 of 13 passes for 72 yards. Two of his interceptions came in double or triple coverage and a third came when he threw over an Auburn receiver.

“It's important to me that our players know that they are not defined by their performance as individuals,” Freeze said. “They are loved and cared for as individuals, but to me, this is a performance-based business. And that's how I'm judged.”

“You get judged on that and he didn't play well in the first half and missed open players and obviously threw the ball into coverage and we're back in the red zone and he grabs one with a double clutch and kind of floats it over the middle.”

Thorne completed 13 of 22 passes for 213 yards, with two touchdowns and an interception. He threw touchdown passes of 10 and 67 yards to KeAndre Lambert-Smith.

His interception bounced off the hands of receiver Cam Coleman.

“I thought Payton's catch was pretty solid,” Freeze said. He had another ball out of his hand that was picked, but it was the right call and I'll have to see how hard the catch was.”

The Tigers had five turnovers against the Razorbacks, giving them a total of 14 turnovers in four games, which is the best in the country. Eight of those turnovers were interceptions.

“Obviously we're not doing a very good job as quarterback coaches right now,” Freeze said.

Auburn, which has fallen to 2-2 this season, finishes a five-game home series against Oklahoma next Saturday. Kickoff at Jordan-Hare Stadium is scheduled for 2:30 or 3:15 p.m. CT.