Hugh Freeze sends worrying statement about NCAA doing away with NLIs

Hugh Freeze didn't send the most inspiring message in regards to the NCAA doing away with NLIs in favor of a new financial aid department that will handle revenue-sharing. Freeze feared that there was nothing keeping his recruits bound to their commitment now with no Early Signing Day.

“Extremely hard,” Freeze said on the difficulty of making yet another adjustment (h/t On SI). “I don’t know how people keep up with things because I’m not on any news right now. I just heard all of this in our staff meeting and I have no idea. When you say there’s no more National Letter of Intent, what binds the kid to us in December?

“It just made our world even more complicated.”

The one thing Freeze has done well as Auburn's head coach is recruiting. But if he has lost confidence in the process, how will Tiger fans feel good about the future? The present certainly offers little to feel good about.

There's talent in the 2024 class and there's been quality recruiting pickups in the years prior -- yet Auburn sits at the bottom of the SEC and doesn't look poised to climb too high out of their hole barring borderline miracles taking place.

Auburn football will have to give NIL raises to keep elite talent on the roster

When you look at Auburn's returning players, there aren't many guys on too-good-to-leave NIL deals. Jarquez Hunter is, but he's out of eligibility. Same for Payton Thorne.

Freeze cannot lose any of the "Freeze Four," or any of the 2025 flips -- including the latest, ex-Georgia Tech WR commit Sam Turner -- he's been able to nab on the recruiting trail. All of the fanbase's confidence is in the 2025 basket and after years of suffering, there needs to be a payoff next year.

4-8 will get Freeze through the rest of this season and into the next. Anything less than a winning record could have AU's brain trust considering whether three seasons is enough.