Growing increasingly in need of a win, the Auburn Tigers could be making some personnel changes before the Arkansas game.
After falling to the Missouri Tigers in double overtime on Saturday, the Auburn Tigers' need for a win continues to grow.
They will have another opportunity this week, heading to Fayetteville, Arkansas for a matchup with the Arkansas Razorbacks, another SEC team that has struggled to find its footing this season.
With getting a win being the only focus, head coach Hugh Freeze is open to making personnel changes, although there is one that won't be an optional change.
“We’re looking at everything," Freeze said. "Unfortunately the first change is at center. I know it’s been announced, many of you have already heard, Connor Lew tore his ACL. One of the toughest things about coaching is watching kids go through the way they prepare and work all year long for these 12 opportunities in regular-season play. He’s an incredible leader, too, and an incredibly smart guy that we obviously missed some in the second half."
With Lew out for the season, the Tigers' offensive line will be anchored by Kail Ellis, the youngest player in FBS.
"Kail (Ellis) battled his tail off, and Kail’s going to be a really, really good player," Freeze said. "But there’s nothing like experience of having to get up there and reset a protection based on a look, and then having to do that and snap the ball with great accuracy so that the timing of plays is good."
Another change that could be made by the Tigers involves a position they have struggled at for multiple seasons now, and is arguably the most important on the field.
“You have to start looking, as well as Jackson (Arnold) played in the first half the last two games, you have to start looking at everything," Freeze said. "Why did we not have the winning ways, and sitting here feeling like we do? We’re going to get him and Ashton a lot of reps and see where it goes from there.”
Regardless of whether or not the Tigers elect to make any of these changes, they will do everything possible to come out on top against the Razorbacks on Saturday. Kickoff is set for 11:45 a.m. CT and the television broadcast can be found on SEC Network.