Blame Payton Thorne and his four interceptions for Auburn’s 21-14 home loss to Cal over the weekend.

But Paul Finebaum declared Monday, during his weekly appearance on “McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning” on WJOX-FM 94.5, there is only person to blame for the upset loss on The Plains.

“There’s no one else to blame but Hugh Freeze,” he said. “If you want to pile on Payton Thorne, go right ahead. He’s the one Hugh Freeze chose. Hugh Freeze is the offensive wizard. Hugh Freeze is the head coach. … This is someone Hugh Freeze banked the entire season.”

The Tigers’ 73-3 win over Alabama A&M last week didn’t translate Saturday. Finebaum contends Saturday’s result wasn’t an outlier.

“This is a trend,” Finebaum said. “This is not an aberration. This is not a one off. This is where this program is right now under Hugh Freeze.”

Finebaum, of course, is referring to last year’s lackluster 14-10 win over Cal and the inexplicable 31-10 loss to New Mexico State.

“Hugh Freeze look like he’s in another world sometimes,” he said. “I’m not really sure what’s going on with him. But I’m not concerned about what he looks like at a press conference or an interview, I’m more concerned about what he’s doing during the week in preparation to get this team ready to play.”

Freeze, who is now 7-8 in his stint at Auburn, and the Tigers host New Mexico on Saturday, but it’s “virtually impossible to have a great season,” Finebaum said. “This one Auburn threw away.”

Mark Heim is a reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim. He can be heard on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5 FM in Mobile or on the free Sound of Mobile App from 6 to 9 a.m. daily.