Auburn will take a unique approach to play-calling this year.
The Tigers have an offensive-minded head coach in Hugh Freeze as well as accomplished assistants in offensive coordinator Derrick Nix and quarterbacks coach Kent Austin on staff. So how will Auburn split up play-calling duties?
It depends on what down it is, evidently.
That’s what Nix told reporters earlier this week. Auburn’s system evidently allows Nix to call plays on 1st down while Austin handles those duties on 3rd down. Here are the details via On3’s Justin Hokanson:
Hokanson later added in another post that Freeze is expected to handle 2nd down calls. Freeze also has the right to overrule anything Nix or Austin call.
Both Nix and Austin were on staff in 2024, but it’s unclear if Auburn also deployed this play-calling strategy last season. In 2024, Auburn averaged 6.67 yards per play — good enough for second in the SEC.
Auburn is hopeful its offense will take another step forward this season. The Tigers struggled at quarterback last season, but brought in former 5-star prospect Jackson Arnold this offseason to solidify that position. Five-star freshman Deuce Knight and former Stanford starter Ashton Daniels are also on the depth chart at QB for Auburn in 2025.
Auburn will open the 2025 season against Baylor on Aug. 29.
Spenser is a news editor for Saturday Down South and covers college football across all Saturday Football brands.
