While Notre Dame doesn't play this weekend, there are plenty of games to watch that will be interesting to Fighting Irish fans. Some of those games have a direct impact on ND's path to the playoffs. Others, like Arkansas vs Auburn, could be interesting for other reasons. In the case between the two SEC also-rans, the Tigers might start former Irish quarterback commit Deuce Knight.
Auburn has had some serious production problems at the quarterback position so far this year. Head coach Hugh Freeze is looking to do whatever he can to win some games and save his job. Jackson Arnold is still the starter for now, but there are some hints that even if he gets the start against Arkansas, he might have a short leash.
Notre Dame fans could be watching familiar face, Deuce Knight in SEC clash
If Freeze does change his mind or decides to pull Arnold, it seems likely that Knight will get the call. The former Notre Dame commit hasn't played much so far this season, but he is the only other War Eagle quarterback to get any snaps at all.
On the season, in mop-up duty, Knight has completed 2 of 5 passes for 20 yards. He's also carried the ball 4 times for 16 yards.
The other option for Auburn, should they decide neither Arnold nor Knight is the best option, would be Ashton Daniels. The senior hasn't played yet this season, but he was the starter for most of 2024 and threw for 1,700 yards, 10 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. He also ran for 669 yards and another 3 TDs.
"Both [Jackson Arnold and Ashton Daniels] have looked really good, preparing well like they always do. Jackson's looked like a million bucks at the start of the last two games, and you're just hopeful that we can get a game that is consistent with that," Freeze said in the SEC teleconference on Wednesday.
"Ashton is ready to go, as is Deuce, and we'll just have to see how the game goes," Freeze added. "Hopefully, Jackson can get off to a fast start like he's done the last two games and maybe continue that."
Even if Arnold is allowed to "get off" to a fast start, he hasn't been able to sustain it in the past. While Notre Dame football fans are plenty happy with their own quarterback situation, it could be interesting to see what Deuce Knight can do in the SEC if he's given the chance.