Hugh Freeze finally does the right thing after Auburn football blows big lead, loses to Oklahoma

Hugh Freeze took full accountability of his Auburn football team's blown 11-point lead during a 27-21 loss to Oklahoma during the postgame press conference on September 28 -- claiming it wasn't Payton Thorne's fault that the gameplan shifted to clock-stopping pass-plays not riding RB Jarquez Hunter's hot hand.

"I've got to make sure that (Payton Thorne) understands the situation better, and we should've had runs there," Freeze said following the loss. "I have to be clearer with him on what we have to do there."

Freeze said everything he should've after a performance that was much better than their previous showing.

"I couldn't be prouder of the way they represented Auburn with their heart and fight today," Freeze prefaced before saying, "Me not helping them find a way to win that game, it sucks and it stings because they deserve to be celebrating right now."

Freeze blamed his skill position players for not holding onto the ball after losses and tore into his QB room after the Arkansas loss. After the unfathomable OU comeback, there was no one to blame for himself. Not only did the Tigers squander their final possession of the game by repeatedly throwing the ball to TE Rivaldo Fairweather, far from the fleetest of foot, in the middle of the field, but the clock was mismanaged during the final possession of the first half too.

To be fair, AU received a mulligan on an illegal formation penalty called on the Sooners. But Towns McGough, who had only missed one field goal all season coming into Week 5, missed a field goal that would've put them up 10 heading into halftime. He missed another in the second half.

Week 5 was just that kind of week. But that's becoming all too familiar of a refrain.

Hugh Freeze's leash will get shorter with more unexplainable losses

Freeze's seat is heating up but it's still not hot. But if Auburn goes winless in SEC play -- and with Kentucky beating Ole Miss in Oxford and Vanderbilt having New Mexico State's QB (Diego Pavia) and head coach (Jerry Kill) on payroll, it's not out of the realm of possibility -- it'll be set ablaze.

Firing Freeze would be the most JABA thing the Tigers can do. But if recruiting losses begin to accompany the repeated on-field disappointments, and the fans continue to voice their disapproval?

There won't be any other choice.