Payton Thorne passed for 282 yards and a touchdown and ran for 123 yards and two more scores to lead Auburn to a 45-13 victory over Samford on Saturday night.
As Auburn prepares to host Samford, it’s a chance for the Tigers to get their offensive issues, especially at quarterback, resolved before Southeastern Conference play starts.
“I don’t think we could have played any uglier or sloppier on offense. I’m really proud of our defense,” Auburn coach Hugh Freeze said about the Tigers victory.
Auburn has won its last five meetings against Pac-12 schools since losing the season opener 23-0 to USC in 2003.
Alabama has risen one place to No. 3 in the latest AP Top 25 College Football poll after its 56-7 season opening victory over Middle Tennessee State.
Payton Thorne threw for 141 yards and a touchdown in his Auburn (1-0) debut.
It’s the debut for Auburn coach Hugh Freeze in his return to the Southeastern Conference.
Payton Thorne, who signed with Auburn in May, had been competing with returning starter Robby Ashford and redshirt freshman Holden Geriner.
WAKA 8 Sports Director Lindsey Bonner was in Auburn and Tuscaloosa on Thursday to cover the opening of fall football camps for the Tigers and the Crimson Tide.
Auburn has picked up a five-star WR from Alabama after getting a star LB to flip from Georgia.
