In the 129th edition of the Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry, Georgia dominated Auburn 31-13 as expected. Entering Week 6, KeAndre Lambert Smith was credited as Auburn’s top receiver with six touchdowns. Against the Georgia Bulldogs, KLS led the offense with seven catches for 95 yards.
Despite being statistically the most reliable receiver, KLS was targeted unsuccessfully more often than not throughout the game. Jarquez Hunter contributed with 13 carries for 91 yards and added one reception for 16 yards. Hunter scored Auburn’s lone touchdown, breaking through a tackle for a 38-yard run into the end zone.
Auburn’s offense struggled with miscommunication but miraculously avoided any turnovers. QB Payton Thorne performed as expected, completing 16 of 27 passes for 200 yards. However, this balanced effort wasn’t enough to prevent Georgia’s inevitable defensive resurgence following their Week 5 loss to Alabama (41-34).
On the Georgia side, QB Carson Beck had a strong bounce-back performance with two touchdowns and 240 passing yards, most notably avoiding any turnovers.
Hugh Freeze shares underwhelmingly obvious response following loss to Georgia
In the post-game interview, Hugh Freeze emphasized that accountability must be prioritized across the team.
“We’re not playing winning football,” Freeze began, adding, “It’s time to expect more from coaches and players.”
While his remarks may be a welcome acknowledgment, it feels like too little too late at this point in Week 6. Auburn fans demand and deserve more from their team.
With a bye week approaching, there’s some hope for minor adjustments, but the outlook for the rest of the season remains grim. Vanderbilt now looks like a more formidable opponent, and ULM might be the only remaining “gimme” win—although New Mexico State’s surprise performance earlier in the Freeze era suggests even that isn’t guaranteed.
Reporter Lucy Rhoden speculates that Freeze’s tenure could be in jeopardy by the end of the season. The head coach can’t afford to leave room for doubt if conversations about his future at Auburn surface in the coming months.
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