Auburn is down but not out, Paul Finebaum said Saturday.

The SEC Network’s “SEC Nation” pre-game show will broadcast live from Auburn, home of the Tigers’ SEC matchup against Oklahoma on Saturday afternoon at Jordan-Hare Stadium. However, Tigers fans remain optimistic, Finebaum said, but are demanding their head coach follow through.

“I came here this week expecting doom and gloom, but what I found here, interestingly enough, is optimism,” Finebaum said. “I spoke to John Cohen, the athletic director, yesterday, and instead of saying they’re at their wit’s end, he talked about the progress this program has made when you compare it to what’s happened here before is. I actually feel better, despite all the negativity and doubt from the experts.

“But the one thing I have always learned — and I have covered Auburn on and off for more than 40 years — is that Auburn fans never lose faith. They still believe in Hugh Freeze. Now it’s up to Hugh Freeze to deliver today.”

Freeze has reportedly made another quarterback change, with Payton Thorne stepping in for Hank Brown after two games. Thorne started the Tigers’ first two games this season and then came off the bench in the second half of last week’s loss to Arkansas.

Auburn moved the ball well all season, but was undone by an FBS-worst 14 turnovers. Tim Tebow, Finebaum’s colleague on the SEC national panel, said Thorne also needed to take a step forward on Saturday.

“This offense is hungry for hope and they need Payton Thorne to be their hope,” said Tebow, the 2007 Heisman Trophy winner at Florida. “You need him to show up and inspire the rest. They need him to be infectious, and part of that is being effective and efficient enough for (running back) Jarquez Hunter to get going here. … Let’s see if (Thorne) can take the next steps. We saw it sometimes, but it wasn’t consistent.”

Jordan Rodgers, also a former SEC and Vanderbilt quarterback, added that Hunter will be a key player for Auburn vs. Oklahoma.

“This football game is about Jarquez Hunter and running the football,” Rodgers said. “So if the Auburn quarterbacks can’t throw it to the other team and you can get 27 (Hunter’s number) going, that’s a great recipe for Auburn today.”

Kickoff for Auburn vs. Oklahoma is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. on ABC.