AL.com sends damning message on Auburn football's season if they don't beat Kentucky

AL.com's Jerry Humphrey III believes Auburn football's season is over if the Tigers can't take down Kentucky in Week 9 -- giving them a minimal chance of making a bowl game with Vanderbilt, Texas A&M, and Alabama making up three of their final four games.

"Is the season over if Auburn loses? Yes," Humphrey wrote. "The Tigers could only wish to be in the conversation for a bowl bid after dropping four-straight league games. A conference loss to the Wildcats would be the beginning of the end with Vanderbilt, Texas A&M and Alabama remaining on the schedule."

Truthfully, even ULM is a toss-up with Bryant Vincent elevating the Warhawks from a Sun Belt cellar-dweller to a 5-1 outfit that can punch a bowl game ticket in their seventh game. ULM has been to one bowl game in FBS history, in 2012. Vincent is on the Bear Bryant Coach of the Year Award watchlist.

Auburn has already been a lost cause this season. Losing to Cal, Arkansas, and Oklahoma put them behind the 8-ball. It looked like they'd turn a corner against Missouri, but alas, the Tigers snatched defeat from the jaws of victory after going up 17-3.

Auburn football cannot afford more lost seasons under Hugh Freeze

There are reports that Freeze can live to see another day if the Tigers are in the same position a year from now. AU may grant Freeze a fourth season if he can't deliver a single winning season from 2023-2025.

That's an all-in gamble. Freeze's recruiting success has been that prolific to potentially justify it.

On the other hand, though, if recruits start jumping ship, this thing could go south quickly. Auburn implemented a stretch provision in Freeze's contract where they can spread out his buyout over a number of years.

Freeze may have the illusion of time, but there needs to be forward progress for his program. And somehow, despite a big talent jump in 2024, there hasn't been much of it in the Freeze era.