Instant Impressions: Kentucky 10, Auburn 3

A large chunk of Auburn's student section cleared out at halftime, and boos rained down throughout the night. Though the ones that stayed chanted "fire Hugh" after the game went final.

Before many of them went to the exits, another jam-packed crowd at Jordan-Hare Stadium had to witness something they've become accustomed to, but may have hit a breaking point now: another dreadful night of offensive football by Hugh Freeze's Auburn team.

The Tigers lost 10-3 to Kentucky, failing to score a touchdown against the second-worst defense in the SEC, as Auburn's hopes of a late-season turnaround in Year 3 under Freeze appear to be doomed.

Here are Auburn Undercover's instant impressions, as the Tigers are now guaranteed to have a losing SEC record for the third straight season under Freeze, and Auburn lost a game while allowing 10 or fewer points for the first time since 1991.

PUTRID PRODUCT FOR AUBURN'S OFFENSE

Kentucky's defense entered Saturday No. 15 in the SEC in yards per play allowed and No. 14 in scoring.

And Auburn made the Wildcats look like an elite unit on that side of the ball.

With new starting quarterback Ashton Daniels, Auburn's offense was the worst version of itself, with an offensive line getting whipped, an inconsistent running game, and a passing game that looked confused and out of sorts every time Daniels dropped back.

Auburn did not cross midfield for the first time until 3:27 remained in the first half.

Auburn's first three drives all started inside its own 15-yard line, and until an interception by freshman linebacker Elijah Melendez, Auburn's average starting field position in the first half was its own 13.5-yard line. Things weren't much better after halftime, as Rayshawn Pleasant opted to return the ball out of the end zone, only getting it out to his own 9-yard line.

Even when the Tigers had the ball at Kentucky's 35-yard line after Melendez's pick, they still couldn't get it in the end zone, having to kick a short field goal after having first-and-goal at the 9.

That was after Auburn had crossed midfield for the first time on its previous drive, but Daniels was sacked on fourth-and-7 in Kentucky territory — to the tune of plenty of boos, as Auburn fans let their frustrations be heard in several moments Saturday night.

Auburn had only 117 yards of offense in the first half and was 1-of-5 on third down.

Even when Auburn strung together some nice plays, things felt doomed. Auburn's best drive of the game (to that point) was a 43-yard series in the third quarter, with first-down runs by Daniels and Cobb. But Daniels was sacked on third-and-long in Kentucky territory, and Auburn punted.

Daniels' scrambling ability was Auburn's best offense for much of the game, as he finished with 57 rushing yards, despite taking three sacks.

After back-to-back 100-yard rushing performances, running back Jeremiah Cobb was limited,

ANOTHER QB CHANGE, STILL NO RESULTS

Maybe quarterback isn't Auburn's problem.

Auburn's ineptitude on offense didn't slow up with a new QB in the game. As Auburn entered the fourth quarter still with only 3 points, Freeze had seen enough from the Daniels experiment, and went back to Jackson Arnold. At the time, Daniels was 8-of-16 passing for 59 yards.

Auburn picked up a couple first downs with Arnold at the helm and got near midfield before being sacked back-to-back times on second and third down.

But Auburn still had another chance. In a 10-3 game, Kensley Louidor-Faustin sacked Cutter Boley on third down, giving Auburn the ball back with 5:18 remaining.

But it was more of the same. Arnold was sacked on third down.

Daniels was re-inserted at quarterback with two minutes left. On fourth-and-6 from his own 40, Daniels found Cam Coleman to move the chains, as the clock ticked inside one minute. Then on third down, Daniels connected with Preston Howard for 18 yards. But after a third-down sack, Daniels' heave to the end zone was intercepted.

Daniels was 13-of-28 passing for 108 yards and a pick. Arnold was 2-of-3 for 15 yards.

Auburn finished with just 241 yards of offense. Against an offensive line that looked confused all night, Kentucky had seven sacks, in most in a game this season.

DEFENSE AGAIN GIVES AUBURN A CHANCE

No matter the circumstances — or dreadful offense — that has come Auburn's way this season, it knows it can rely on his defense to continue to play well.

Melendez's pick finally popped the bubble for Kentucky's redshirt freshman quarterback Boley, who had flirted with a turnover on a few other throws in the first half.

But the Tigers struggled to defend on third-and-long a few times. On third downs needing 9 or more yards, the Wildcats were 3-for-5 for the game.

One of those instances allowed Kentucky to take the lead in the third quarter. Louidor-Faustin looked like he was going to make a leaping interception on the sideline, but instead, Fred Farrier II came down with a 32-yard reception to put Kentucky in the red zone. Kendrick Law took a quick screen for the game's first touchdown two plays later.

Freshman safety Anquon Fegans intercepted Boley late in the fourth quarter, seemingly giving Auburn another chance, but Fegans fumbled during the return, and Kentucky recovered to retain possession.

WHAT IS FREEZE'S FUTURE?

A November home loss to a team winless in the SEC isn't the worst loss of the Freeze era, but it might be the worst defeat in conference play.

And now that Auburn's hopes of a late-season turnaround feel dashed, can Freeze survive as the head coach this season? He's just 8-17 against Power Four opponents in his three seasons, and a once menacing home-crowd advantage is long gone, as Auburn has fallen to New Mexico State, Cal, Arkansas, Vanderbilt and Kentucky under his watch, among several others.

Of course, Auburn's offense is the worst offender in all this, and Freeze was supposed to be a offensive-minded head coach. Instead, his product is unwatchable in November of Year 3, and just scored 3 points against a bad Kentucky defense.

There's no way to know what Auburn's administration is thinking, but regardless, there will be some very difficult conversations Sunday for athletic director John Cohen and friends.

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