Champ Anthony injury update: Hugh Freeze reveals notable news on status for Week 2

Auburn DB Champ Anthony was one of their better defensive players in their opening win over Baylor in Waco on Friday night. However, Hugh Freeze revealed on Monday that that’ll be the last game that the safety will play for a bit of time now.

During his press conference today, Freeze revealed that Anthony broke his thumb while playing in the opener against the Bears. He’ll need surgery on that finger, which will cause him to be out for a bit starting this weekend in their second game at home versus Ball State.

“Unfortunately, Champ suffered a broken thumb that will require surgery, so he will miss some time,” Freeze said

“Champ will be out,” said Freeze.

Anthony is a fourth-year player who’s in his third season with the Tigers having been there for the duration so far under Freeze. He appeared in every game in his first season before a broken leg last year was a season-ending injury after just four games played. Add in his debut back on Friday and Anthony, in 18 games played in the secondary for Auburn, has posted 19 tackles and four deflections on their defense.

With two tackles and a deflection against the Bears, Anthony was one of the better-graded defensive players from the opener per AuburnSports’ Cole Pinkston. As a whole, though, it wasn’t the best season debut for the unit as they did allow a total of 483 yards, with most of that coming through the air as QB Sawyer Robertson threw for 419 of those yards and three touchdowns. DC DJ Durkin said as much as well when it came to the play of his defense.

Auburn should be fine without Anthony the next pair of weeks with two of their three remaining non-conference games coming against Ball State and South Alabama down on The Plains. That said, pending when he has the surgery and the official timeline on it for his recovery, the Tigers could begin missing him in three weeks’ time when they open conference play in the SEC.

Ball State at Auburn odds: Early point spread updated, How to Watch

Ball State and Auburn will meet in a non-conference matchup in Week 2. Both programs are coming off completely different outcomes in their respective season openers, as the Cardinals were shutout by Purdue at 31-0 while Auburn knocked off Baylor on the road in a massive 38-24 win for them.

Ahead of Week 2’s matchup, the early point spread and more have been revealed, with all odds courtesy of BetMGM. The Tigers have opened as a 43.5-point favorite over Ball State. The over/under is then set at 55.5.

How to watch Ball State at Auburn

Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Channel: ESPNU
Location: Jordan-Hare Stadium (Auburn, Alabama)