The Auburn Tigers are off to an impressive 3-0 start, their first since the 2019 season, and have earned a spot in the national spotlight as they prepare to begin conference play this week.

As fate would have it, Auburn will open SEC play on the road against Oklahoma — the program from which the Tigers’ new starting quarterback transferred after a turbulent 2024 season.

Things did not work out for Jackson Arnold with the Sooners for a variety of reasons, but he knows he is heading into a hostile environment this week.

As Arnold prepares to give his team the best chance to win, he has a head coach who has faced similar challenges. Hugh Freeze was asked how he is helping Arnold get ready, and he said the process has been easier because he has experienced the same emotions Arnold is about to face.

“The good thing is that I had personal experience with that. I’ve had to go back on a place that I enjoyed coaching and won some games and take another team there to play,” Freeze said, referencing when he brought his Liberty team into Ole Miss. “That whole week, it was a challenge for me not to think about some of that, and I know the same will be true for Jackson. But he’s very mature, and he doesn’t give credit to any noise or talk.”

“We all understand people might cheer for him, boo him, whatever it is, but I think he’s mentally strong and focused on preparing. My advice to him is to just keep the focus on our team. And that was my advice to myself. It’s not about you, it’s not about me, it’s about our team preparing to play [Oklahoma].”

Kickoff in Oklahoma is set for Saturday at 2:30 p.m. CST on ABC.

Michael Brauner is a Senior Sports Analyst and Contributing Writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @MBraunerWNSP and hear him every weekday morning from 6 to 9 a.m. on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5, available free online.