Auburn Tigers football coach Hugh Freeze screwed up royally when he claimed that making a bowl game was the team's goal for the 2025 season. That's a 2020 Gus Malzahn-ian statement -- his exact statement was that 6-4 was a "successful" season after losing as a sizable favorite to South Carolina, and losing more reasonable games to Georgia, Alabama, and Texas A&M -- that could cost him his job.
Freeze can't set that standard right now. But many media outlets are keeping the receipts ahead of a pivotal make-or-break 2025 season for Freeze's tenure.
"Auburn football coach Hugh Freeze seems to be setting rather modest expectations for his team this year, if his appearance on the 'Next Round Live' podcast Friday is any indication," AL.com's Creg Stephenson wrote.
The Next Round Live's Lance Taylor got the quote of the offseason so far when he asked Freeze how many games would suggest his team had a successful season.
“I’m not a fool. I think we’ve got to go to a bowl game," Freeze said in response.
Freeze was once deemed a shoo-in to return for the 2026 season. His recruiting chops were undeniable, and the team was showing enough each season, particularly from the defense last year, hence DJ Durkin's massive extension, to inspire optimism.
The 2025 season will challenge AU immediately. Baylor and Oklahoma on the road in the first month could determine if Freeze will be on the hot seat.
He may have already put himself there by slipping up so badly on The Next Round Live.