The football program at Auburn University has consistently elicited high expectations yet has yielded disappointing results. Hugh Freeze’s tenure as Auburn HC was expected to bring significant changes. Yet, the harsh realities of SEC football collided with the grand promises of revival. Freeze’s high payroll couldn’t justify losses to teams like New Mexico State and Vanderbilt. It seemed as if Auburn’s schedule was sponsored by the Upset-of-the-Week Club. Auburn’s offense has become a routine of turnovers and quarterback roulette instead of a promised fireworks show.
Auburn has always been a school that’s made firing coaches a biennial tradition. This season, the SEC’s liability deals with paying handsomely for disappointment. Just like Hugh Freeze’s $20.3 million buyout. The buyout, at 75% of Freeze‘s remaining contract, doesn’t allow Auburn‘s power brokers to dream about greener pastures without the immediate financial headache.
When it comes to the 2025 season, can the Tigers’ fans expect improvements? Well, Cousin Shane and SEC Mike wondered whether you’d take a bet of 7.5 games and above on Auburn in 2025. “If Auburn would have had a successful season that we thought it should last season then maybe this could have been a hold situation, but because last year was so bad, I think naturally you’re going to see an uptick,” Cousin Shane told SEC Mike on That SEC Football Podcast show.
The Auburn Tigers opened the season by dominating Alabama A&M 73-3, which made the fans book hotel rooms for Atlanta. However, they had a tough run at 2-4 in the SEC, finishing the season 5-7 overall and 2-6 in the SEC. Fans began to doubt if “War Eagle” was truly a cry for help.
“I’m a little more excited about Auburn. I feel like they’ve got some pretty exciting pieces,” Shane points out that with a head coach like Hugh Freeze, who has a $20.3 million buyout, the team excels in recruiting but lacks coaching proficiency. However, Auburn can do with some hope, and one player provides them with that hope
Now, let’s talk about Deuce Knight. Knight, with impressive high school stats, aims to excel in college football with his passing and rushing capabilities. “Their new quarterback, Deuce Knight, yeah, apparently he’s incredible, Shane, so the true freshman. We may already have a quarterback controversy down here, but he is apparently the real deal,” says Mike for freshman Knight.
That isn’t all. The quarterback can do for Freeze what DJ Lagway did for Billy Napier last year. “I think what that’s going to do is buy Hugh Freeze another year.” Hugh Freeze might secure a coaching role at Auburn for another year due to the strong endorsement of recruiting a top quarterback, Deuce Knight.
If Knight excels, Freeze has a shiny new quarterback to show promise on the Plains, offering hope for more seasons in the SEC. However, that also means that Knight is stuck with the head coach.
Hugh Freeze facing an axe?
Hugh Freeze is in the hot seat for the 2025 college football season. After an 11-14 record and a very underwhelming performance, Freeze faces pressure for a winning season amid fans’ high expectations. Patience wanes as results fall short despite promising talent. Freeze’s $20.3 million buyout looms as a costly precaution amidst these issues.
Auburn fans felt bitter last year due to Hugh Freeze’s Tigers repeatedly losing games they could have won. Freeze blamed his quarterbacks for turnovers, especially after they threw four interceptions in an Arkansas loss. Another coach who is facing a similar situation is LSU’s Brian Kelly. However, Kelly has produced far better results than Freeze. But is it playoffs or bust for the LSU head coach?
On the contrary, Hugh Freeze is facing lesser expectations. The Tigers fans just want the hope back. A better showing in the SEC would do it for them. Add a win against Alabama, and it’d be a cherry on the cake.
Entering the 2025 season, Freeze faces a complete do-or-die situation at Auburn. The message is clear: achieve a breakthrough year with at least eight wins, or his coaching era will likely come to an end, and this time, no fellow quarterbacks can save him.
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