Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze finds his seat getting hotter by the week. Following a 20-10 loss to Georgia, the Tigers now have a 3-3 record, and Freeze is facing the possibility of a second straight losing season. The pressure is mounting with a crucial game against Missouri on the horizon, and his future with the program could be on the line.
Is Hugh Freeze Under Pressure Following a String of SEC Losses?
With the Auburn head coach’s name appearing on the college football hot seat, conversations have naturally turned to his contract and potential buyout. Freeze signed a six-year deal in 2022, estimated to be worth over $39 million. If Auburn were to move on from him, the coach’s buyout would reportedly be $15.4 million.
“The buyout, it’s only $15.4 million, which for Auburn is nothing if they really want to make a change,” the hosts of CBS Sports’ ‘College Football Insiders’ revealed on the latest episode of their show.
However, one significant factor favors the Auburn head coach. Unlike his predecessor, Freeze has cultivated strong relationships with the program’s key financial backers.
“Freeze is one of those guys who has the most moneyed support amongst the Auburn boosters,” the show’s hosts explained. “Flash forward to where we are now, clearly it has not been successful, but he has had the support of some of these power players, Brian Harson had none of those guys.”
Despite the boosters’ support, Freeze is not entirely safe. According to a report from ON3’s Pete Nakos, the upcoming game against Missouri has become vital, especially after the loss to the Bulldogs. Before the loss to Georgia, Nakos highlighted the danger facing the coach.
“Auburn is at risk of falling to 0-4 in the SEC if it can’t pick up wins over Georgia and Missouri in back-to-back weeks at home. Starting the season winless in the SEC will have Freeze squarely on the hot seat,” Nakos wrote.
MORE: Things Spiraling Out of Control for Hugh Freeze as Auburn HC Handed Georgia Ultimatum
The team’s inability to close out games has been a recurring theme. In recent weeks, Auburn lost one-score contests to Texas A&M and Oklahoma, even after taking a late fourth-quarter lead against Texas. The Tigers also made numerous defensive stops late in the game against the Sooners, but it wasn’t enough to secure a victory.
“I think it’s very clear that we find ways to not win football games, and that’s what has to change,” Freeze shared from the lectern following Auburn’s loss to Georgia.
Now, with PFSN’s playoff meter projecting them to finish 6-5, the Tigers’ clash against Missouri could potentially decide Freeze’s fate at Auburn. Missouri currently stands at 5-1, its first loss coming in a narrow defeat to Alabama over the weekend, setting up a high-stakes matchup for the embattled coach.
