Hugh Freeze’s Auburn Tigers suffered a 10-3 loss to the Kentucky Wildcats on Saturday and fell to 4-5. It marked Kentucky’s first win over Auburn since 2009 after losing 19 of the last 20 games.
Meanwhile, the loss puts Freeze in one of the hottest coaching seats in college football, following his third straight defeat at Jordan-Hare Stadium. He has avoided the midseason firings that claimed coaches like James Franklin and Billy Napier, but questions remain about how much longer his job will be safe.
Hugh Freeze Delivers Heartfelt Message to Fans After Kentucky Loss
Freeze has yet to lead Auburn to a winning season during his tenure as head coach, and the Tigers haven’t won consecutive games in the Southeastern Conference since 2023.
In his postgame conference following the Kentucky loss, Freeze had an emotional plea to fans.
“I wish I could ask for patience, but that’s not really something that people want to give in this day and time,” Freeze said. “I understand that. I just know that we’re so dang close. If we had a few things go our way earlier in the year, I think we’re looking at a whole different deal. But it didn’t, and that’s life, and that’s the game of football.
“We’ll get up and go to work and get ready for the next one, and I know these kids will. It’s hard, it stinks, and I’d love for their patience, but I understand that you’re probably not getting patience from them because they want to see a better product on the field.”
Hugh Freeze’s message to Auburn fans who want him to be fired:
“I’d love for their patience. But I understand that you’re probably not getting patience from them, because they want to see a better product on the field and so do I. So, I understand it.” pic.twitter.com/MvKlQspcwo
— The Next Round (@NextRoundLive) November 2, 2025
Freeze’s squad is 1-5 in SEC play this season and will next face the Vanderbilt Commodores. Diego Pavia’s Vandy is 7-2 this season, including a 3-2 record in the SEC.
Vandy is fresh off a 34-31 loss to the No. 20 Texas Longhorns on Saturday. However, Freeze shouldn’t forget that he is 0-3 against Pavia.
In 2023, Pavia’s New Mexico State squad dominated Auburn 31-10. Last season, Pavia moved to Vanderbilt and once again secured a 17-7 win over the Tigers, marking AU’s first-ever loss to the Commodores at home.
“I’m sick of seeing that quarterback,” Freeze said ahead of last season’s loss to Pavia’s Vandy. “I’ve had enough of him. He moves and makes plays and is savvy and smart and tough and, again, makes everybody do their assignment on every single play or you get burned.”
Through nine games this season, Pavia has recorded 1,698 passing yards and 15 touchdowns, along with 458 rushing yards and five touchdowns. His Vandy was ranked as the No. 15 in the PFSN CFB Playoff Meter ahead of Saturday’s loss.