Auburn Tigers News: Hugh Freeze reacts to Iron Bowl loss, new NCAA rule benefits Auburn football

In today's edition of Auburn Tigers News, Hugh Freeze reacts to the heartbreaking Iron Bowl loss months later, and a new NCAA rule will benefit the Tigers

No doubt about it, the 2023 Auburn football season ended on a sour note. The Tigers went on a losing skid that extended from New Mexico State through the Iron Bowl and into the post-season in the Music City Bowl.

New Mexico State was inexplicable, and the Music City Bowl was embarrassing, but no 2023 loss stings as badly as the Iron Bowl loss. It was a game that Auburn should have won, but a bad play for the Tigers made a miraculous play for the Tide, and just like that the game was lost. For head coach Hugh Freeze, it isn't a memory that has gone away over the past few months.

"My stomach just turned and rolled because we should be 1-0 in the Iron Bowl," Freeze said, per Auburn Undercover. "And that means something to me and our people and our players. It's sickening that we didn't get it done in that game."

New NCAA rule will benefit the Tigers

Late last month, the NCAA Division I council passed a rule that would eliminate restrictions on how many coaches can provide instruction on the field during practice and games. Now, instead of only 11 on-field coaches — the head coach and 10 assistants — there are no limits to the use of analysts, graduate assistants, and other coaches.

For Auburn football, this means that 15 additional support staffers will be able to play a bigger role for the team and assist on the field. According to Hugh Freeze, the rule change is a major plus.

“With the new rule now that guys can assist in technical instruction for our players, I think it’s a good, good rule,” Freeze said, per AL.com. “I think it’s going to assist us because I think I have some of the best ones in those roles in the nation.”