Payton Thorne leads Auburn into opener vs. Alabama A&M

Auburn is looking to return to national prominence in 2024, starting with Saturday night's tilt against visiting Alabama A&M.

The Tigers are coming off a 6-7 record in coach Hugh Freeze's first season, and Auburn is a middling 23-26 since the end of the 2019 season.

The Tigers dropped their last three games and seven of their last 10 in 2023, including 31-13 to Maryland in the Music City Bowl.

Auburn returns quarterback Payton Thorne, who threw for 1,755 yards with 16 touchdowns and 10 interceptions last season.

Thorne's assortment of receivers is young and led by three freshmen, including five-star recruit Cameron Coleman.

Thorne passed for fewer than 100 yards in five games, including a 44-yard performance in a loss at Texas A&M.

"I've always believed in (Thorne) and I believe in him even more today than I did in January because of what I've seen and what I witnessed and what I hear in the meeting room and in the film room when I'm with him," Freeze said. "I think he's excited to prove that to a lot of people also."

Alabama A&M named Cornelious Brown IV as its starting quarterback on Tuesday after a battle with Miami (Ohio) transfer Aveon Smith.

Brown played only part of one game last season after transferring from UT-Martin. He completed 7 of 12 passes for 38 yards in a 47-13 loss at Vanderbilt.

"He's doing the little things and moving the chains," Bulldogs coach Connell Maynor said. "It was a tight battle but we're happy with everybody."

Left tackle Carson Vinson, an NFL draft prospect, will protect Brown's blindside.

When asked about going against Auburn's defensive line, Vinson said, "They're human just like me. SEC, it doesn't matter. We've all played football. It's just another game for us. We've just got to get ready and do what we do."

Auburn easily won the two previous meetings against Alabama A&M -- 51-7 in 2012 and 55-0 in 2016 -- with both games at home.

--Field Level Media