Hugh Freeze is entering his third year as Auburn’s head coach, but his first two seasons have been marked by ups and downs.
When Freeze took over, Auburn’s recruiting was in rough shape. The program’s momentum had slowed near the end of Gus Malzahn’s tenure, and Bryan Harsin’s time brought little success on the recruiting trail. Freeze tackled those issues quickly and has since made major strides, landing back-to-back top-10 recruiting classes and significantly improving the team’s talent.
However, that recruiting success hasn’t yet translated to on-field results. Auburn finished 6-6 in Freeze’s debut season, a result many saw as acceptable. But year two saw the Tigers regress, ending with a disappointing five-win campaign.
Now, with back-to-back losing seasons, the pressure is mounting for Freeze as the 2025 season approaches. Auburn will feature an entirely new quarterback group and a receiving corps Freeze praised during spring practice as among the best he’s ever coached.
Opinions on Freeze remain divided. Some believe this could be his breakthrough year, while others remain skeptical due to the rocky start.
In a recent USA Today ranking of all 16 SEC head coaches, analysts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams differed on Freeze’s standing. Toppmeyer placed him at No. 12, while Adams ranked him No. 7, offering encouragement to Auburn fans.
“Your ranking reflects Freeze’s tough start at Auburn,” Adams wrote, “but overlooks his elite recruiting. That will pay off this season, as Auburn becomes one of the SEC’s most improved teams. I expect Freeze to climb higher on your list next year.”
Auburn kicks off its 2025 season on August 29 against Baylor.
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