Healthier People are Happier People Staying active keeps us healthier and socializing makes us happier. That’s why Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama is proud to sponsor athletics across the state. Learn more about getting healthier and happier at AlabamaBlue.com/Happy.Make escape part of your winning game plan. Escape every day at Wind Creek Casino and on the Casinoverse app. Aruba • Atmore • Bethlehem Chicago Southland • Curaçao Montgomery • Wetumpka (866) 946-3360 | WindCreek.com ©2023 Wind Creek Hospitality.4 TABLE OF CONTENTS 5 .................................................................... 2023 Schedule 6 .................................................................Scouting Auburn 8 ...............................................................Scouting Arkansas 10 ....................................................................Auburn Roster 12 .................................................................Arkansas Roster 14 ............................................. Opponent Outlook: Arkansas 16 .............................................................. Auburn Traditions 18 ..................................................................... Depth Charts 20 .............................................................. Stat Comparisons 22-24 ..................................... Cover Feature: Payton Thorne 28-30 ........................................... Head Coach Hugh Freeze 32-36 ........................................................ Assistant Coaches 38 .................................... University News: Facilities Updates 40 .............................................................Auburn University 42 ..................................................Auburn Board of Trustees 44 ..........................................................University President 46 .......................................................... Director of Athletics 48 ............................................. Through the Lens: Vanderbilt 50 ................ University News: College of Veterinary Medicine 52 .......................................... On the Plains: Oscar Chapman 54 .......................................... Jordan-Hare Stadium Diagram 56-57 .............................. Jordan-Hare Stadium Parking Map 60 .................................................. Heisman Trophy Winners 62 ................................................................... All-Americans 64 ....................................On the Plains: Jacob Quattlebaum 66 ..............................................Postseason Trophy Winners 68-69 .........................................................Tigers in the NFL 73 .................................................Auburn Tigers Superlatives 75 ...................................... University News: Auburn at Work 77 .................... Cheerleaders, Tiger Paws and Marching Band 79-90 ........................................................... Auburn Players 91 ............................ University News: Everybody Loves Aubie 93 .........................................................Undefeated Seasons 95 .................................University News: Alabama Extension 97 .................................................Southeastern Conference 99 .......... Olympic Sports Update: Men’s and Women’s Tennis 103-104 ......................................... Auburn Sports Properties Cover: Payton Thorne TABLE OF CONTENTS AUBURNTIGERS.COM2023 AUBURN SCHEDULE 5 AUBURNTIGERS.COM THE RIVER REGION'S OFFICIAL BROADCAST PARTNER OF AUBURN ATHLETICS IF YOU'RE NOT THERE, LISTEN HERE 9.2 UMass Auburn, Ala. Jordan-Hare Stadium 9.16 Samford Auburn, Ala. Jordan-Hare Stadium 10.28 Mississippi State Auburn, Ala. Jordan-Hare Stadium 9.9 Cal Berkeley, Calif. California Memorial Stadium 10.21 Ole Miss Auburn, Ala. Jordan-Hare Stadium 10.14 LSU Baton Rouge, La. Tiger Stadium 9.23 Texas A&M College Station, Texas Kyle Field 11.4 Vanderbilt Nashville, Tenn. FirstBank Stadium 9.30 Georgia Auburn, Ala. Jordan-Hare Stadium 11.11 Arkansas Fayetteville, Ark. Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium 11.18 New Mexico State Auburn, Ala. Jordan-Hare Stadium 11.25 Alabama Auburn, Ala. Jordan-Hare Stadium Blue - Home Orange - Away 2023 AUBURN SCHEDULE6 SCOUTING AUBURN HEAD COACH Hugh Freeze (Southern Miss, 1992) Auburn Record .........................................................................5-4 (1st Season) Career Record .................................................................80-52 (13th Season) vs. Arkansas .............................................................................................................3-3 AUBURN (5-4, 2-4 SEC) Sept. 2 ................................UMASS ........................................................W, 59-14 Sept. 9 ................................at Cal ..............................................................W, 14-10 Sept. 16 ..............................SAMFORD .................................................W, 45-13 Sept. 23..............................at Texas A&M ...............................................L, 10-27 Sept. 30 .............................#1 GEORGIA..............................................L, 20-27 Oct. 14 ................................at #22 LSU ....................................................L, 18-48 Oct. 21 ................................#13 OLE MISS .............................................L, 21-28 Oct. 28 ...............................MISSISSIPPI STATE ................................W, 27-13 Nov. 4 ..................................at Vanderbilt ...............................................W, 31-15 Nov. 11 .................................at Arkansas .......................................................3 p.m. Nov. 18 ................................NEW MEXICO STATE ...............................3 p.m. Nov. 25 ...............................#8 ALABAMA ....................................................TBA 2023 ROAD FINALE AT ARKANSAS n Concluding road action for the 2023 campaign, Auburn visits the Arkansas Razorbacks for an SEC West matchup on Satur- day, Nov. 11, in a 3 p.m. CT game played at Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The SEC Network will televise the contest. n In all-time SEC play, Auburn holds a 337-272-18 mark (.552) back through 1933. In SEC games played in Auburn, the Tigers are 145-68-6 (.676) all-time; away from Auburn, the Tigers are 192-203-12 (.486) overall in SEC play. n The Tigers are 52-71-7 all-time in the final regular season game played away from Auburn. SERIES HISTORY n Auburn leads 19-12-1 in the series with Arkansas, and the Tigers were 38-23 winners in the teams’ last meeting in Fayetteville (2021). Arkansas was a 41-27 winner last season in Auburn. The Tigers lead 9-6-1 in games played at Jordan-Hare Stadium and lead 9-5 in games played at Fayetteville. n Auburn won the only matchup played in Memphis (1984), while Arkansas won the only one at Little Rock (1995). The six-game win streak by Auburn from 2017-22 was the longest winning streak by either team in series history. KICKOFF COVERAGE n All Auburn home games have sold out in advance, the first full-season sellout of Jordan-Hare Stadium since 2015. n The Tigers lead the SEC in red zone defense (.750). Auburn is third in the SEC in pass efficiency defense (123.60). n Auburn is one of 20 FBS teams that have returned a fumble and an interception for a touchdown and is one of 45 teams with multiple defensive scores this season. n Auburn has forced a turnover in 18 straight games dating through last season, the Tigers’ longest streak since 18 straight games in 2007-08. n The Tigers lead the SEC in turnovers forced with 15 through the first nine games (11 interceptions, 4 fumbles recovered). Those 11 interceptions are tied with Vanderbilt for the most by an SEC team this season. n With four interceptions, Jaylin Simpson is among the national FBS leaders in interceptions per game this season. Simpson was named a midseason All-American by the Associated Press, ESPN, CBS, Fox, 247, The Athletic, USA Today, PFF, Sporting News and Reese’s Senior Bowl. n The Tigers rank third in the SEC in rushing offense, averaging 190.9 yards per game. IN NOVEMBER n Auburn is 246-192-20 (.559) all-time in November. Away from Auburn, the Tigers are 140-151-15 (.482) in November. Auburn is 11-4 in games played on November 11 all-time; the Tigers are 6-3 against SEC opponents and 5-2 in games played away from Auburn on that date. SCOUTING AUBURN AUBURNTIGERS.COM Nehemiah Pritchett Committed to playing with a purpose. We’re all about that gameday energy. At Alabama Power, we share your passion for the team— and your pride for where we live. We love big wins, but celebrate all victories that push our state forward. For over 100 years, we’ve been committed to proving what we accomplish together, on and off the field, makes us stronger. It’s Power for a Better Alabama. We proudly support the Auburn Tigers. alabamapower.com © 2023 Alabama Power Company8 SCOUTING ARKANSAS HEAD COACH Sam Pittman (Pittsburg State, 1986) Arkansas Record .......................................................22-23 (4th Season) Career Record ............................................................22-23 (4th Season) vs. Auburn ........................................................................................................1-2 ARKANSAS (3-6, 1-5) Sept. 2 ............................vs. Western Carolina........................W, 56-13 Sept. 9 ............................KENT STATE .........................................W, 28-6 Sept. 16 ..........................BYU ...........................................................L, 38-31 Sept. 23 .........................at #12 LSU ..............................................L, 34-31 Sept. 30 .........................vs. Texas A&M ......................................L, 34-22 Oct. 7 ..............................at #16 Ole Miss ...................................L, 27-20 Oct. 14 ............................at #11 Alabama .....................................L, 24-21 Oct. 21 ............................MISSISSIPPI STATE ................................L, 7-3 Nov. 4 .............................at Florida ....................................W, 39-36 [OT] Nov. 11 .............................AUBURN ....................................................3 p.m. Nov. 18 ............................FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL ......6:30 p.m. Nov. 24 ...........................MISSOURI .................................................3 p.m. FOUR DOWNS n Through nine games, Arkansas has scored a nation-leading four defensive touchdowns, including an SEC-best three interception return touchdowns as well as one fumble return touchdown. n Quarterback KJ Jefferson’s 64 career passing touchdowns are tied with Brandon Allen for the most by a Razorback. His next touchdown pass will give him the outright school record. n Quarterback KJ Jefferson sits alone atop the Hogs’ career touchdown responsibility list with 85 (64 passing, 21 rushing). He surpassed Matt Jones’ mark of 77 (53 passing, 24 rushing) in nine fewer games. n The Razorbacks rank second in the SEC and fourth nationally in red zone offense, converting 27 of their 28 (96.4%) red zone opportunities this season. THE RUNDOWN n After snapping a six-game losing streak by earning their first-ever win against Florida in Gainesville, the Hogs make their return to the friendly confines of Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium for a three-game homestand to close out the 2023 regular season. Kickoff between Arkansas and Auburn is set for 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 11, on SEC Network. n This weekend’s meeting between the Razorbacks and Tigers is the latest that the two programs have squared off since 1984, when Arkansas and Auburn clashed for the first time in history in the Liberty Bowl on Dec. 27. n Running back Raheim “Rocket” Sanders looked like his old self in the win at Florida, rushing for a season-high 103 yards on 18 carries (5.7 ypc) to become Arkansas’ first 100-yard rusher of the 2023 campaign. Sanders, who has missed five of the Razorbacks’ nine games due to injury, has totaled 194 yards and two touchdowns on the ground to go along with nine receptions for 72 yards this season. n Wide receiver Andrew Armstrong has solidified himself as QB KJ Jefferson’s go-to receiver this season, leading the Hogs with 46 receptions for 623 yards and four touchdowns through nine games. The Texas A&M-Commerce transfer, who is in his first year at Arkansas, has at least three catches in all nine of the Razorbacks’ games this season and has recorded at least one catch in 25 consecutive games dating back to his 2021 campaign at TAMUC. n Linebacker Jaheim Thomas is the SEC’s fourth-leading tackler this season, racking up 79 total stops with 6.5 tackles for loss, including 3.5 sacks. The transfer from Cincinnati has recorded a team-leading five double-digit tackle games this year and has six double-digit tackle games for his career. HEAD HOG n Fourth-year head coach Sam Pittman leads Arkansas in 2023 on the heels of its second straight bowl appearance. n Pittman has led the Razorbacks to at least seven wins in two consecutive seasons (2021-22) as well as bowl eligibility in each of the last three seasons (2020-22). n Pittman is the fourth Arkansas head coach in history to lead the Razorbacks to bowl eligibility in each of their first three seasons on the job, joining Lou Holtz (1977-79), Ken Hatfield (1984-86) and Houston Nutt (1998-2000). n Saturday’s game against Auburn marks Pittman’s 46th game as the head coach at Arkansas. Of those 46 games, 40 have come against an opponent from the SEC, a Power 5 foe and/or an opponent ranked in the AP Top 25 poll. n Arkansas has beat five ranked FBS teams under Pittman. Since his first season, 31 of Arkansas’ 43 FBS foes have either been ranked or received votes in the national polls. SCOUTING ARKANSAS AUBURNTIGERS.COM KJ Jefferson Please visit our website at www.vcom.edu/outcomes for a copy of our Outcomes Report. ©2023 Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine. All rights reserved. www.vcom.edu to become a physician? The Auburn campus of the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine was created with a clear purpose to alleviate the physician shortage in Alabama. VCOM-Auburn constantly works to recruit students from rural and underserved areas. It is our hope that they will return home to serve their community and improve health outcomes across the state. Visit us online to find out how we are inspired to make a difference in our communities and beyond.Next >