Auburn turns to Ashton Daniels as starting QB against Kentucky

Auburn has a new starting quarterback. Ashton Daniels will start against Kentucky on Saturday night, taking over for Jackson Arnold, sources tell AuburnSports.

Daniels, a transfer from Stanford, entered last week’s win over Arkansas and gave the Tigers’ offense a needed spark. He completed 6 of 8 passes for 77 yards and added 35 rushing yards, helping Auburn finish drives (albeit with field goals) and play cleaner football. It was enough for Freeze and his staff to make a change heading into this weekend’s game.

“I think Daniels just, he’s got this maturity and poise about him,” Freeze said after Auburn’s win at Arkansas. “Obviously he’s a college graduate and has played in a lot of big football games, so it’s not going to be something that overwhelms him. I just thought it was time.”

Freeze said on Monday leading into a week of practice that it would be an “open competition” between Daniels and Arnold. Freeze said on Wednesday and Thursday that both quarterbacks prepared and practiced well during the week.

In three years at Stanford, Daniels threw for almost 4,000 yards, 21 touchdowns and 20 interceptions. He added over 1,100 rushing yards and nine scores on the ground.

Arnold opened the season as the starter but struggled with consistency in SEC play. His interception that was returned 89 yards for a touchdown against Arkansas was a turning point. Freeze turned to Daniels, who steadied the offense and helped Auburn snap a four-game SEC losing streak.

Arnold has thrown six touchdowns to only two interceptions this season, but is last in the SEC in yards per game (157), QB rating (122) and yards per attempt (6.1).

The decision marks another chapter in Freeze’s search for stability at quarterback, a position that has rotated through multiple players over his three seasons on the Plains. Payton Thorne manned the position in 2023 and 2024, with flashes of Robby Ashford in Freeze’s first season and Hank Brown earning two starts last season. Now this season, it’s Arnold to Daniels, so far.

Freeze is turning to Daniels hoping to bring steadiness and leadership as Auburn tries to build momentum for the stretch run. The Tigers host Kentucky before traveling to play top 10 Vanderbilt, host Mercer, then host top 10 Alabama to close the regular season.