Hugh Freeze has not delivered the goods on the Plains so far, registering an 11-14 record that's ingrained in Auburn Tiger fans' heads like a migraine. Many expect improvement, including Freeze himself, but the bar for a fourth season in charge for the Oxford, Mississippi, native is being set high.
Auburn Tigers On SI's Keith Cummings believes Freeze needs to not only have a winning season, but an eight-win effort, to save his job.
"Eight wins is probably the floor for Freeze if he’s going to get a fourth season on the Plains. It’s been nearly 50 years since an Auburn coach was allowed to coach a third season after back-to-back losing campaigns (most don’t get a second season)," Cummings wrote.
That may be overshooting it. Seven wins might be enough depending on the circumstances. And given how athletic director John Cohen has handled Freeze so far, an injury to Jackson Arnold could make 6-6, or even yet another losing record, acceptable.
Cohen made it clear in January that Freeze has never been on the hot seat throughout his first two years in East Central Alabama.
"No, not at any point," Cohen told the Montgomery Advertiser. "I work at an incredible university with incredible leadership, with (University President) Dr. Chris Roberts. I have an incredible board that I serve at the pleasure of. There is constant communication in everything we do. Not just football, every one of our sports. And I really believe that all of us are on the same page. That doesn't mean you don't get disappointed. It doesn't mean that you're saying we can't do things better. ... But all the signs are there.
"Where there are top-10 recruiting classes, there is success to follow. Where there's a team of people who are saying, 'I will perform for this coach. I will work hard for this coach. I will help this coach in the recruiting process,' you have something special happening."
AU has designs to give Freeze a fourth season. More likely than not, Freeze will get the chance Eli Drinkwitz got -- he didn't bring the Mizzou Tigers a winning season until his forth year in Columbia -- unless this season is a clear example of talent being coached down and recruiting losses follow en masse.