"I'm sick of seeing that quarterback" - Hugh Freeze on high alert before high-voltage game against SEC rival

Auburn Tigers (3-5) coach Hugh Freeze doesn't like Vanderbilt Commodores (5-3) quarterback Diego Pavia taking on his team. The last time it happened was when Pavia was with New Mexico State and delivered an upset loss to Auburn in 2023.

This season, SEC's biggest dark horse team has turned out to be the Commodores, who under Pavia previously landed an upset blow to the No. 14 Alabama Crimson Tide and almost came close to beating the No. 6 Texas Longhorns last week.

“I’m sick of seeing that quarterback,” Hugh Freeze said of Diego Pavia.

Last season, Pavia led the NM State Aggies to a 31-10 win, throwing three touchdowns. The season prior, when Freeze was with Liberty, Pavia registered six touchdowns against him.

So Hugh Freeze not wanting to see him again is only fair. During Vanderbilt's game against Texas, Diego Pavia took a bad hit. However, Commodores coach Clark Lea said the quarterback will be ready to take on Auburn.

"But this is going to be Diego’s – the reality of him closing the season out," Lea told reporters. "He’s taken hits. He’s played tough. I thought he was gutsy tonight in the way he led the offense at the end. And he’s a fighter."

Hugh Freeze said the locker room is relieved following win over Kentucky

Last week, the Auburn Tigers were finally able to put a break on their four-game losing streak by winning last week's game 24-10 against the Kentucky Wildcats at Kroger Field in Lexington.

This was Freeze's first SEC win this season, and he can thank his running back Jarquez Hunter for a splendid performance. He rushed for a career-high 278 yards in the win.

Talking to the media this week, Freeze discussed the positive environment within the locker room.

"Relief, yes," he said. "I said this last week and I mean it, I’ve just never experienced a season where every single game that you, I want to phrase this right so people don’t misquote me or whatever, but every single game that we’ve had a legitimate chance to win, you’ve watched them."

Moreover, he also hailed Jarquez Hunter as one of the best running backs the program has seen.

"Jarquez (Hunter’s) performance, one of the best in school history," Freeze said via Auburn Wire. "I think it’s the most rushing yards in SEC play in Auburn history, is what I was told. Fourth-most in school history, and his second-half performance is the best in school history. That’s great for Jarquez.

"I think he took the lead in rushing in the SEC after the game. He’ll be announced as offensive player of the week today."

It remains to be seen whether Hunter can turn up good once again and give Hugh Freeze his first win against Diego Pavia.