Hugh Freeze was predicted by 247 Sports' Brad Crawford to do two triumphant things during the 2025 season: stave off any talk of a premature firing and lead the Auburn football program to nine wins for the first time since 2019.
"Hugh Freeze signed a number of playmakers on both sides and welcome new signal caller Jackson Arnold from Oklahoma to the huddle. This is a priority season for Freeze as well. Another losing season on the Plains might end his tenure prematurely. Auburn will be a breakout team," Crawford wrote.
Truthfully, Freeze may not be rushed out the door anytime soon even if the Tigers do slip up.
247 Sports' Phillip Marshall claimed Freeze would get a third, and likely fourth, year at the helm of the Tigers.
"He will get a third year and a fourth year," Marshall said.
"What I know is that his bosses are all in," he added. "They recognize the total cluster he inherited and the way he is recruiting."
John Cohen similarly denied that Freeze was on any sort of hot seat.
"Where there are top-10 recruiting classes, there is success to follow," Cohen said, per the Montgomery Advertiser. "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."
Now, onto the 9-3 portion.
Going from five to nine wins isn't unheard of in college football during the NIL era. South Carolina just did it under Shane Beamer in 2023 and 2024.
Freeze signing Jackson Arnold could be the move that turns it around. WR play has been elite and will continue to be with the Freeze Four maturing another year and Eric Singleton Jr. making his way from Georgia Tech. The OL figures to be better with another year under their belt and legitimate depth via the past two recruiting cycles. RB play figures to take a step back with no clear RB1 to replace workhorse Jarquez Hunter, but Arnold helps significantly in the running game.
Add in a defense that saw coaching changes at the LB and safeties coach roles but saw continuity with DJ Durkin returning, and you have the ingredients for, as Cohen alluded to, something special.
Expectations should probably be tempered, but asking an Auburn fan not to be excited about this seemingly improved football program after four straight years of losing seasons probably isn't possible.