Hugh Freeze and the Auburn Tigers’ football team are 3-0 after three consecutive non-conference games — none of which were perfect wins.

The UMass game saw alignment issues. The Cal game saw, well, issues aplenty on offense. And Saturday’s Homecoming win over Samford still left plenty to be desired.

But midway through September, the Tigers are one of just five teams in the SEC that are undefeated — including the only SEC team in the state of Alabama to be undefeated.

“Obviously to get another win… They’re always sweet,” Freeze said Saturday night after Auburn’s 45-13 dismantling of Samford. “I thought there were some really good things tonight, and obviously some things we’ve still got to work on and clean up, but congratulations to our kids and staff for becoming 2-0 at Jordan-Hare and 3-0 on the season.”

All that said, the test that lies ahead Saturday morning at Texas A&M’s Kyle Field isn’t at all one the Tigers have seen yet.

And Freeze is perfectly aware of that.

“We’re going to get tested here real quick with A&M, Georgia and LSU coming up,” Freeze said Saturday night. “It’ll test all of us.”

Here’s everything Freeze said ahead of the first part of that test during his Monday morning press conference:

— Freeze opens his press conference by expressing his appreciation for being 3-0 to open the season, as well as the support he and the team have received, especially at home at Jordan-Hare Stadium.

— In terms of addressing issues, Freeze says taking care of the football in the red zone is first on his list. He adds that the Auburn defense has continued to impress.

— On Auburn’s run game vs. Samford: Says Auburn didn’t run the ball as well as he wanted, but thought Samford really committed to stopping the run game Saturday night. Adds that Auburn will continue to utilize the advantages that come with a deep running back room.

— Freeze says Keionte Scott “did not receive a good report” after being injured on Saturday. Says he will have surgery today and the Tigers will be without him for a considerable amount of time.

— When looking ahead at Auburn’s schedule, Freeze said the Tigers are about to play three of the nation’s top teams in terms of recent recruiting cycles. “It’s a tall, tall challenge for us in year one to stand toe-to-toe… but that’s what reality is. We’ve had about eight months to recruit half a class and these others have been stacking it.”

— Hugh Freeze says many of Auburn’s young guys will have to “get baptized into the SEC” Saturday after coming away from Saturday’s game against Samford pretty banged up.

— On Jaylin Simpson: “He’s going to be really, really valuable,” Freeze said, especially as the defensive secondary thins. In terms of fielding punts in Keionte Scott’s absence, the Tigers will work on that this weeks and throw a couple guys back there.

— “I love early kicks on the road. I think our kids will. I don’t think it’s a huge challenge, truthfully,” Freeze said of kicking it off against Texas A&M at 11 a.m.

— On Payton Thorne’s turnovers in the red zone on Saturday: “I don’t mind the first one, didn’t like the second one.”

— On Texas A&M’s talent in the defensive secondary: “We’re still learning who we are, truthfully, in the wide receiver room… You’ve gotta keep yourself in third and manageable (against Texas A&M).”

— Freeze is hopeful that Donovan Kaufman will be available to replace Keionte Scott at the STAR position in the defensive backfield. Says Auburn will have to play lots of rotations in the secondary to get to a two-deep chart.

— “The other night, we were pretty efficient in the RPOs,” Freeze said of Auburn’s offense running a lot of run-pass option Saturday night.

— On Auburn freshman defensive end Keldric Faulk: “He had his best game, for sure. We’re going to need him to keep improving moving forward.”

— “We haven’t done really well rushing the passer with just the front,” Freeze said of Auburn’s pass rush. Says some of that is due to Jalen McLeod’s absence. “It would be a great challenge for us to keep them from having them explosive plays, particularly plays that lead to points.”

— Freeze said Saturday’s game vs. Samford wasn’t the best showing from the offensive line. Adds that he thought the line’s pad level was high and felt that losing Kam Stutts midway through the game had a factor in that.

— On sticking with one quarterback: “That’s the plan as long as we’re playing well… I thought (Thorne) threw it really well the other night… We hope we build on that and gain confidence.”

— Freeze reiterates that Robby Ashford will continue to have a role, especially against a talent-heavy Texas A&M team.

— On freshman running back Jeremiah Cobb: “He’s probably the fastest in that room and speed is good.” Adds that everyone in the running back room brings something different.

— “Two of the three games, we’ve played a lot of kids. It’s good to get lots of reps. Will it be different against A&M? Yes… But we’re forced into it, truthfully. So they’ll have to grow up fast.”