No. 22 Auburn’s 3-0 start that looked very promising was smashed in Norman Saturday night, where the Tigers lost their SEC opener to No. 11 Oklahoma 24-17.
On the “Matt Barry Show,” SEC football analyst Paul Finebaum’s direct comment was like a crystal ball, showing the increasing irritation with the program’s third season under HC Hugh Freeze.
Media Criticism Intensifies as Freeze’s Seat Gets Warmer
The loss to Oklahoma exposed familiar problems that have plagued Auburn under Hugh Freeze. The Tigers entered the game ranked No. 22 but were dominated in the trenches, surrendering a program-record nine sacks to the Sooners’ defense.
Quarterback Jackson Arnold, ironically facing his former team, was under constant pressure throughout the afternoon.
Paul Finebaum, speaking on the Matt Barry Show, acknowledged the growing criticism directed at Freeze.
“I’m in Birmingham today, reading some of the reaction from the media. And I mean they’re piling on Hugh Freeze, which is understandable, but here in the moment, this is, you know, it feels outrageous. But a week from now it won’t make any difference,” he said.
The controversial officiating certainly didn’t help Auburn’s cause. An early fumble return touchdown by cornerback Kayin Lee was overturned after review, robbing the Tigers of crucial momentum.
The SEC has since conceded that the match officials overlooked a foul during the disputed Oklahoma touchdown, in which the receiver used the illegal ‘hideout tactic’.
Still, Finebaum emphasized that Auburn fans have legitimate reasons for their frustration beyond just bad calls.
“The bad part is, Auburn fans are beside themselves. And how else should they be? It takes a little bit away from some of the ineptitude of decision-making and also just an absolutely miserable offensive performance,” he said.
“But unfortunately, and I know I’m bouncing around here, we have to live with this, and we can spend the rest of our lives analyzing officiating, but is that what we really want to do?” he later added.
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The timing couldn’t be worse for Freeze, who now sits at 16-14 overall in his Auburn tenure. The Tigers face a brutal upcoming schedule with trips to No. 10 Texas A&M and home games against No. 5 Georgia and No. 14 Alabama down the pipeline.
Finebaum’s message was clear: while officiating controversies grab headlines, Auburn’s fundamental issues on offense and questionable coaching decisions represent deeper problems that won’t disappear with time.
For a program that hasn’t had a winning season since 2019, patience among the faithful is wearing thin.
