I was thinking about this the other day. Nothing against Thorne, I don’t think he’s proven himself to be demonstrably better or worse than Brown; but his college career is over after the Alabama game. It’s unlikely that he will go pro in the NFL, XFL, or CFL. At this point, I doubt 3 more games are going to have that much of an effect on his chances at the next level. It seems like the best thing for him, and Auburn, is to decide what’s next, and start working towards that goal. Given his experience, what I’ve heard others say about his football knowledge, and what I’ve seen of his demeanor, coaching might be a good path for him.

Unless Freeze picks up an absolute stud in the 2025 class or the portal (neither of which are crazy assumptions), next year’s starting QB is currently riding the bench. Given that I don’t think the UL-Monroe game is a gimme at this point, winning out would take a miracle that surpasses the end of the 2013 season! Barring that, this season is effectively over in terms of making a bowl game. That’s not to say it can’t happen, I just don’t think Thorne starting makes it any more or less likely than Brown. It makes sense to let those underclassmen start/continue getting in-game experience to learn and prepare for next year. More so considering that it will be Freeze’s first real “make-or-break” season. I don’t think he should be fired if next year is a bust, but that’s a much bigger discussion.