With a 3-0 record entering SEC play, including a big road win at Baylor to start the season, everything was looking good for Hugh Freeze and the Auburn Tigers.
A month later, and a 0-3 start in the conference, things are bumpy again on the Plains, with a star player leaving the team to take a redshirt and offensive ineptitude on the field leading the way. The Tigers have scored a total of 37 points in three SEC games, including 10 in the 20-10 loss to Georgia, in which Auburn put up less than 50 total yards in the second half.
It wasn't the first half of the season that Freeze needed, as he came into his third year already on the hot seat. Now, after the rough start to SEC play, his job is even more in question.
USA TODAY Sports' Paul Myerberg, going over his list of first-half disappointments, wasn't about to let the Auburn coach off the hook.
"One of four teams still winless in SEC play, Auburn will need to hold serve against Arkansas, Kentucky and Mercer simply to reach bowl eligibility in Freeze’s third season.
Picked as a dark-horse contender in the preseason, the Tigers have been ruined by an abysmal offense that ranks second from the bottom in the SEC in yards per game and yards per play. The Tigers have managed just four touchdowns in three conference games.
If not to Fickell’s level, the odds of Freeze’s tenure continuing past this season are dropping by the week. Beyond a nonsensical offense, supposedly his area of expertise, Freeze has completely failed in building a roster through normal recruiting and the transfer portal."
The Tigers host No. 16 Missouri on Saturday in Jordan-Hare Stadium in a game that could go a long way in deciding whether or not Freeze will be coaching at Auburn for much longer.