Hugh Freeze reaffirms belief in Jackson Arnold before Week 1 matchup vs. Baylor

Jackson Arnold is poised to make his debut for Auburn. Ahead of the Tigers’ showdown against Baylor on Friday, Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze reaffirmed his confidence in his starting quarterback.

“I’m a big believer in him, obviously,” Freeze said. “That’s who he went after, and I loved him out of high school and I love him even more today. I just want to help him as much as I can. Get him off to a fast start where his confidence just grows and grows because he’s a talented kid, and one who we believe in.”

Arnold transferred to Auburn this offseason after spending two seasons at Oklahoma. Arnold tallied 1,421 passing yards and 12 touchdowns for the Sooners last season while only throwing three interceptions. Arnold was also a formidable threat in the ground game, recording 444 rushing yards and three scores.

Alas, Arnold never reached his full potential at Oklahoma. Injuries ran rampant through the team’s offensive linemen, leading to weak protection for Arnold in the 2024 campaign. Oklahoma allowed 50 sacks last season, the most in the country.

In turn, Arnold faced injury issues himself throughout the season. To make matters worse, when Arnold was healthy, the team’s best receivers weren’t, often forcing the sophomore QB to face the SEC’s toughest defenses without viable weapons out wide.

Now, Arnold will have a fresh start with a staff that believes in him. He’s thankful for the opportunity and excited to lead the Tigers to new heights.

“I’m super excited, and obviously going back to Texas and playing under Friday Night Lights means a lot to me,” said Arnold, who is a native of the Lone Star State. “I played all four of my high school years in Texas so I understand what Friday Night Lights means out there. So, it’s cool to be out there, being an hour and a half from home, having a bunch of friends and family come support me.”

The Tigers are under pressure to perform. Auburn posted a combined 11-14 overall record in Freeze’s first two seasons at the helm, along with a 5-11 mark in conference play. The Tigers can’t afford to start the 2025 campaign on the wrong foot.

Jackson Arnold won’t have to wait much longer to take the field. On Friday, Auburn and Baylor will kick off at 8 p.m. ET. The game will air live on FOX.