Many Auburn football fans on social media are off the Hugh Freeze bandwagon after a 24-14 loss to Arkansas in Week 4; one that moved the Tigers to 2-2, with losses to Cal and the Razorbacks as a favorite.
In fact, "Fire Hugh Freeze" was a popular search on Twitter before the score even went final.
Fire Hugh Freeze. Fire Hugh Freeze Fire Hugh Freeze Fire Hugh Freeze Fire Hugh Freeze. Fire Hugh Freeze Fire Hugh Freeze Fire Hugh Freeze Fire Hugh Freeze. Fire Hugh Freeze Fire Hugh Freeze Fire Hugh Freeze Fire Hugh Freeze. Fire Hugh Freeze Fire Hugh Freeze Fire Hugh Freeze
— NashTiger (@615AuburnSports) September 21, 2024
Last year, we beat Cal 14-10 and Arkansas 48-10, both on the road.
— bitter aubie (@bitteraubie) September 21, 2024
This year, we lost to Cal 21-14 and Arkansas 24-14, both at home.
🥶🤡🥶🤡🥶🤡 Fire Hugh Freeze
To the "first year doesn't matter crowd" this is why it matters. This team is so poorly coached and just not ready to play then and now. Fire Hugh Freeze.
— Chris J. Velasquez (@auburnredwing) September 21, 2024
FOR THE LOVE OF GOD FIRE HUGH FREEZE NOW!
— Andy Palys 🇺🇸 (@AndyPalys) September 21, 2024
Fire Hugh Freeze
— Sauve (@ItsTimmyBaby__) September 21, 2024
Auburn is gonna have to fire Hugh Freeze
— Brian Barney (@bbarney22) September 21, 2024
Should Auburn actually pull the trigger, though?
Hugh Freeze can't be fired unless Auburn football's recruiting falls off a cliff
Given the less-than-bang-up job Bryan Harsin did as Auburn's head coach from December 2020 to October 2022, Freeze has a longer leash than he would've had otherwise.
So no firing Freeze. Yet.
Freeze's saving grace is his continued success on the recruiting trail. Having a top-20 class in 2023 with a limited window to recruit, a top-10 class in 2024, a top-five class in 2025, and the No. 2 class in 2026 will keep him in charge. Firing a guy who's been stacking top recruiting classes year after year is not the proper way to build a program. Not after firing Gus Malzahn -- with no backup plan lined up -- in 2020 when he had great classes lined up.
But if losses continue piling up on the field, Auburn will lose these recruits. And once those recruits go? Then there is a conversation to be had.
As of now, Freeze should be safe. But the lack of success on the field could catch up to him very soon in this new-and-improved Texas.