SIGNED: 5⭐️ Defensive Lineman, Malik Autry, signs with the Auburn Tigers..

SIGNED: 5⭐️ Defensive Lineman, Malik Autry, signs with the Auburn Tigers..

today’s edition of Auburn Tigers News, legend Sonny Smith retires from radio broadcasting, and Hugh Freeze debates benching quarterback Payton Thorne

Shortly before the Tigers’ season opener on the Plains, it was announced that former Auburn basketball coach Sonny Smith would be retiring from his color analyst role for the Tigers’ basketball games on the Auburn Sports Network. Smith coached the Tigers in the 1980s and led the team to five NCAA tournaments and an SEC title.

“After years courtside as both a coach and a broadcaster, it is time to pass the mic and reflect,” Smith said in a statement, per Auburn Undercover. “That front row seat was more than a job; it was love for the game. As the color commentator, I had the privilege of bringing the game to life, going beyond the stats and scores by adding a little extra color to the game.”

Auburn assistant Randall Dickey, who covered road games in Smith’s place last season, will fill the color analyst role full-time.

Hugh Freeze debates benching quarterback Payton Thorne

It’s been a long season for Auburn football, and it seems the Tigers are still trying to figure a few things out. Though Payton Thorne was tabbed as QB1 before the 2024 season, he was benched following a disastrous performance in the Cal game in favor of Hank Brown, who started against New Mexico.

However, the keys were handed back to Thorne after Brown threw three interceptions in the first half of the game against Arkansas. But now, heading into the second and final bye week with only three games left on the schedule, Freeze is considering a change at the position again.

“Payton’s played pretty solid, but at the same time, you start thinking big picture,” Freeze said Wednesday on the SEC coaches teleconference, per Auburn Undercover. That’s a tough quandary for you as a coach — when you start thinking big picture, as opposed to one of your players that really hasn’t done anything wrong. But we certainly aren’t winning. And so we’re debating all of that this week and we’ll continue into next week debating that.”

The Tigers will sit this week out before welcoming ULM to Jordan-Hare Stadium on November 16.