AUBURN, Ala. — Auburn freshman quarterback Deuce Knight will make his first career start against Mercer on Saturday.

Interim coach DJ Durkin made the announcement Thursday, three days after saying Ashton Daniels would skip the game to preserve a year of eligibility. Daniels is expected to return to the starting lineup next week against No. 10 Alabama in the rivalry known as the Iron Bowl.

“He’s earned it,” Durkin said of Knight. “He’s done a great job, and we’re excited to see him go play.”

Knight hasn’t seen much action this season but did take a handful of snaps against Ball State. He completed 2 of 5 passes for 20 yards and added 16 yards rushing.

Knight got the nod over Jackson Arnold, who has played in nine games this season, throwing for 1,278 yards, with six touchdowns and two interceptions. However, both are expected to play.

“They’re both going to play in the game, and they’re both going to play well,” Durkin said. “They’re both prepared, and we have a good plan for both of them.”

The possibility of Missouri quarterback Beau Pribula returning on Saturday at No. 8 Oklahoma is increasing.

Pribula was upgraded from doubtful to questionable on the SEC availability report on Thursday night, a key step in his potential return for No. 22 Missouri. He dislocated his left ankle against Vanderbilt on Oct. 25, a gruesome injury that somehow did not result in a fracture.

Pribula is medically cleared to play Saturday, sources told ESPN. The decision on his return will be made by the Missouri coaching staff, with input from Pribula on how the ankle is feeling.

A final decision on Pribula’s status isn’t expected to be made until after Missouri practices on Friday, sources said. Missouri has a walk-through on Thursday and runs a so-called “Fast Friday” practice, which will be the final data point on whether Pribula returns.

In Pribula’s absence, Missouri has started true freshman Matt Zollers, who began the season as the third-stringer. He played well in relief against Vanderbilt (14-for-23 passing), struggled at home against Texas A&M (7-for-22 for 77 yards) and played more efficiently against Mississippi State on Saturday. In that game, a 49-27 blowout, he was 8-of-15 for 112 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.

Pribula, a Penn State transfer, began the season in a battle with veteran Sam Horn Jr. for the starting job. With both players expecting to split snaps in the opener, Horn suffered a fractured tibia in his right leg in the opener against Central Arkansas. He had surgery in early September and is expected to miss the season.

Pribula worked out on the field before Missouri’s game against Mississippi State last week, a sign that a return could be soon.

Pribula has emerged as an effective dual-threat quarterback in the SEC, completing just under 70% of his passes. He has thrown for 11 touchdowns and seven interceptions and run for 220 yards on 71 carries. He has scored five rushing touchdowns.

Pribula’s best game of the year came against Kansas on Sept. 6, when he threw for 334 yards and three touchdowns on 30-of-39 passing.

Baylor on Thursday announced the departure of athletic director Mack Rhoades, effective immediately.

Rhoades, who had been the AD at Baylor since July 2016, suddenly took a leave of absence from the position for personal reasons last week. He told ESPN’s Heather Dinich at the time that he initiated the leave.

“I find myself in a season of life where I need to prioritize my faith and my family with an intentional focus that requires me to move on from my role as caretaker of this great athletics program,” Rhoades said in a statement on Thursday night.

Along with stepping away from Baylor, Rhoades also left his role as chair of the College Football Playoff selection committee.

After Rhoades began his leave on Nov. 12, the private Big 12 school said it was investigating unspecified allegations against him. The status of that investigation, or if it is still ongoing, was not immediately clear after he left the job.

The school, without giving further details, said last week that allegations against Rhoades did not involve Title IX, student-athlete welfare or NCAA rules violations, and did not involve the football program.

In a letter to the university announcing the move, Baylor president Linda Livingstone did not give a reason for his departure.

“Since joining Baylor in 2016, Mack has led our athletics program through a period of remarkable rebuilding and achievement,” Livingstone said. “During his tenure, Baylor claimed numerous Big 12 championships, made countless postseason appearances and earned national titles in several sports, including historic wins that will forever be etched in our collective memory. These victories were not just about athletic excellence — they were moments that brought the Baylor Family together, united in joy and spirit.”

Livingstone also commended Rhoades’ influence “beyond the scoreboard,” adding: “Within the Big 12 Conference and across the country, he is widely recognized as a defender of the important role athletics plays on college and university campuses.”

Rhoades is a veteran in the athletic director space, with prior stops as the AD at Missouri, Houston and Akron. His tenure includes the hiring of Matt Rhule and eight national titles, including one for Scott Drew’s men’s basketball program.

The ability to retain Drew and build the proper infrastructure and support around him has been a hallmark of Rhoades’ tenure.

“The incredible community that is the Baylor family is the absolute best of the best,” Rhoades said in his statement. “Together, we won national championships, established records in academics and fundraising, and built world-class facilities. I will forever cherish the memories and friendships I made as a Baylor Bear.”

Rhoades’ tenure included stabilizing the athletic department on the field after the tumultuous and litigious tenure of former football coach Art Briles. The hiring of Rhule pulled the program out of the depths, and current coach Dave Aranda went on to win the Big 12 title in 2021 and beat Ole Miss in the Sugar Bowl that year.

Rhoades’ predecessors as athletic director, Ian McCaw and Tom Stanton, left amid issues surrounding Briles and former basketball coach Dave Bliss, respectively.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.