A pair of former Auburn QBs make debuts with new teams

In a bid to introduce new talent to their programs, Auburn football saw two of its former quarterbacks make their debuts for their new teams this season. Ashton Daniels, who was the starting quarterback at Auburn last year, made his debut for the Florida State Seminoles on Saturday. The Seminoles emerged victorious, defeating New Mexico State with a score of 34-17.

On the other hand, Jackson Arnold took the helm for UNLV, the team he joined just days before the season opener. UNLV lost to Memphis in their season opener at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

Both Daniels and Arnold faced significant pressure during their debuts, much like they experienced during their time at Auburn. According to Pro Football Focus (PFF), Daniels was under pressure in 12 out of his 27 passing attempts on Saturday, leading him to make questionable passing decisions. FSU Wire's JD McCarthy reports that the pressure Daniels faced caused him to hold onto the ball for too long at times, resulting in an interception.

He finished the day with a passing accuracy of 17-27, which included one touchdown and one interception, as well as a rushing touchdown.

Arnold, too, had a tough day as he faced constant pressure during the Rebels' 27-21 loss to Memphis. He was pressured 18 times and sacked seven times, including two sacks that occurred during the Rebels' final drive of the game. Despite the pressure, Arnold managed to complete 25 passes for 291 yards and two touchdowns without any interceptions.

However, the high number of sacks significantly reduced his net yardage on the ground to just 58. Both quarterbacks will continue to develop and improve to find success with their new teams, hoping to achieve what they couldn't at Auburn - leading their team to a postseason game. Auburn will open their 2026 season on Saturday against the Baylor Bears at the University of Texas in Austin.