The Auburn Tigers defeating the Arkansas Razorbacks 33-24 this past Saturday in Fayetteville may end up being one of the all-time butterfly effect moments in college football. Had AU lost, it's possible Freeze would've been dismissed on Sunday.
Now, with the LSU Tigers firing Brian Kelly, the head coaching job market may be too oversaturated. Freeze may have to stay on the Plains as a de facto option for at least another offseason after the 2025 campaign. And frankly, if Freeze is staying, then talks of him being fired at all hold no weight until we see what the 2026 product looks like.
Or if there's a mutiny and irreparable damage done via the transfer portal this offseason. But Tiger fans are more confident in 8-4 than 4-8 at this point. Defeating the Kentucky Wildcats and Vanderbilt Commodores would create a very irresponsible narrative from the Auburn family.
Like maybe the College Football Playoff Committee can forgive a four-loss resume, when two of them were so crooked that referee Ken Williamson was fired over it. And maybe Ashton Daniels could lead this team to four of five wins, maintain his redshirt, and return to the team last year and start if Deuce Knight still isn't ready. Although presumably, Daniels will have become the consensus QB1 favorite among the coaching staff and fanbase.
It all sounds preposterous, while also faintly possible.
If Freeze is sticking around, this team may be a late-season standout by simply ignoring all the hiring noise. Mark Stoops is also on a hot seat in Lexington, and there's far less talent on the Wildcats' roster than the Tigers. Vanderbilt's Clark Lea will hear his name connected to LSU, the Florida Gators, and other jobs, and the noise will grow in that Commodores locker room. Who knows where Kalen DeBoer's Alabama Crimson Tide locker room's psyche will be at in five weeks. One more loss between now and then could send the good vibes spiraling.
AU could operate in the shadows as everyone else is caught up on the hoopla in Baton Rouge.
And maybe, just maybe, Freeze will get this thing right after all in that flow state.
Either way, the Tigers don't have many options now that the Bayou Bengals have put their job on the market. Auburn fans better hope things go well with Freeze, because another year might be the only dish on the menu.
As long as that talented roster is kept, why not? Again, there may be no other choice.