The college football antics seem to be becoming an unstoppable soap opera drama where the quarterbacks are multitasking with their awesome ability to score touchdowns and motivate fresh talents at the same time. Arnold’s arrival at the Auburn Tigers was heralded as the second coming of Cam Newton, well, minus the laptop drama. His 2024 stats looked like a tragic comedy of SEC football. With 1,421 yards and 12 touchdowns at Oklahoma last season, his season was anything but a success. However, you can blame some of it on the Sooners’ offensive schemes. Now, new year, new start. That also comes with challenges of its own. 

Let’s face it. Auburn didn’t pay Arnold the big bucks to be a clipboard holder. Rumor has it that Arnold’s paycheck comes with an implicit mandate: win games or face the wrath. Enter Deuce Knight, whose stats read like a Hollywood audition tape for the role of ‘Future Auburn Savior.’ His senior season stats mirror his perseverance, with 2,082 passing yards, 24 touchdowns, and five interceptions. However, he tries his best not to look very envious of Arnold’s seven-figure paychecks, as he knows that this isn’t just a mentorship; it’s survival training. 

“I’ll call Jackson at night if we’re looking over a script or something to ask him a question….he’ll have the answer for me,” Knight says this while talking about Arnold in an interview on The Next Round Live show. Knight also says, “having another coach on the field” for Arnold Jackson whenever he is on the field.

Now, before you term this a PR-friendly platitude, let’s roll our eyes at the delicious unfolding irony. Jackson Arnold, the Auburn Tigers’ $2.5 million leader, carries the responsibility of swiftly elevating their national status, all while preparing for Coach Freeze’s RPO’ call. Knight must master all field strategies and handle upset fans. Arnold is the best man for the job; he is teaching Knight skills that no playbook can offer.

Now, let’s be real for one second and realize that this ‘dynamic duo’ is less of a camaraderie and more of a necessity. Arnold seizes the opportunity to demonstrate that he’s worth every penny Auburn invested in him. On the other hand, Knight gains valuable experience from Arnold while evading SEC defenses for another year. With Jackson Arnold, a transfer brimming with untapped potential, and Deuce Knight, a five-star prodigy, Freeze has crafted a quarterback room that blends talent with turmoil.

Hugh Freeze’s SEC Return Sparks More Questions than Wins

Keeping healthy competition so players play mindfully is fine, but Hugh Freeze raises questions about Auburn’s defense. Freeze’s quarterback conundrum at Auburn is a one-word ‘masterclass’ program. Precisely, it’s a delicate dance of uncertainty, which even Freeze is dancing to. Freeze has managed to create a situation where both quarterbacks are simultaneously crucial and expendable. Armed with a hefty paycheck, Arnold saves this season for Auburn while the five-star freshman impresses on the field, preparing for Auburn’s offensive future.

Freeze is eager to play quarterback roulette, highlighting Arnold’s football IQ and Knight’s offensive potential for Auburn’s future. It’s evident that if Arnold stumbles, Knight’s commitment will become their sole weapon in the arsenal.

Freeze’s future at Auburn hinges on the question, “Will Arnold be able to hold the fort for long”?  All these questions and speculations make it a break-or-make affair for Coach Freeze. Arnold is teaching his freshman mentee, Deuce Knight, the game plan and supporting his coach’s experiment, as ambiguity is often seen as “coaching genius” in the SEC.