Hugh Freeze Stresses Turnover Reduction Ahead of 2025 Season
As the 2025 season approaches, Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze is well aware of the pressure he’s under. His first two years haven’t met expectations, and a major issue has been turnovers — especially from the quarterback position.
Ball security was a major problem for Auburn last season, and Freeze believes it played a significant role in their struggles. He’s looking for a more disciplined and efficient team this fall, starting with smarter decision-making from his quarterbacks.
“Turnovers really tell the story of how last year went,” Freeze said. “It wasn’t just one person. Coaches, players — a lot of factors were involved. But when you consider our yards per play, it doesn’t make sense we didn’t win more games — until you realize we led the league in turnovers.”
The Tigers threw 13 interceptions and fumbled 15 times, losing nine — costly mistakes in a tough SEC schedule.
Freeze isn’t obsessing over the turnovers publicly, but he’s making it clear they can’t continue. He believes focusing too much on the issue won’t help — the priority is simply fixing it.
“I don’t want to keep bringing it up,” Freeze said. “We emphasize the ball is the top priority on offense. We’re coaching quarterbacks to make better decisions. Sometimes, using your legs or punting is the best option. Every drive needs to end with a kick — a punt, field goal, or extra point.”
The philosophy is clear: protect the ball, avoid unnecessary risks, and don’t give the game away.
“That’s the only way I know to fix it,” Freeze added. “We’ll start to see who truly understands that message Friday night.”
Auburn opens the season against Baylor on Friday night, with new starting quarterback Jackson Arnold leading the effort to cut down on turnovers. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. ET on FOX.
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