2025 is a make-or-break year for Hugh Freeze. After going just 11-14 in his first two seasons as Auburn’s head coach, he needed to make a statement this fall and, at the very least, deliver the Tigers a winning season.
Instead, Freeze has Auburn at 3-2, and with a matchup against No. 12 Georgia on the horizon, the pressure is mounting. One analyst even issued an ultimatum for Freeze heading into the crucial showdown with the Bulldogs.
Is Pressure Mounting on Hugh Freeze Ahead of Crucial Georgia Showdown?
The Tigers started the year on a strong note, defeating Baylor and following it up with wins over Ball State and South Alabama. However, they’ve struggled in SEC play, dropping back-to-back games against Oklahoma and Texas A&M.
It’s been a rough start to conference play for Freeze, and things won’t get any easier with ranked opponents like No. 12 Georgia, No. 19 Missouri, No. 16 Vanderbilt, and No. 10 Alabama still on the schedule.
With Georgia up next on October 11, the pressure is mounting on Freeze to deliver a win. On the “McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning” radio show, analyst Paul Finebaum explained just how vital the matchup with the Bulldogs is for Freeze and the Tigers.
“It is a must-win,” Finebaum said. “Because if you have three losses sitting there on October 11, with the schedule ahead, then your chances of really accomplishing very much are not very good. And it’s pretty obvious, Georgia may be outstanding in November, they may figure some things out, but right now, they’re not a great team.”
The take may seem a bit dramatic from Finebaum, and calling Georgia “not a great team” is definitely an understatement about the Bulldogs. Still, he’s not entirely wrong about how important this matchup is for Freeze and Auburn.
If the Tigers lose at home to Georgia, they will fall to 0-3 in the SEC and 3-3 overall. As Finebaum points out, being 0-3 in conference play so early into October severely limits what Auburn can accomplish this season.
Auburn’s defense has been strong so far, holding opponents to just 16.4 points per game, the 27th-best mark in the country. Their offense, however, has struggled, averaging 27.6 points per game, which ranks 79th nationally.
To beat Georgia, Freeze must fix the offensive issues that have plagued Auburn since Freeze took over as head coach. Defeating a squad led by Kirby Smart is a tall task, but Auburn has the talent on the roster to get it done.
The Tigers have a Week 6 bye before facing Georgia in Week 7, giving them time to address their problems before the matchup. A loss to the Bulldogs wouldn’t completely derail Auburn’s season, but as Finebaum points out, it would make the climb to any 2025 success a much steeper one.
