Auburn Tigers football coach Hugh Freeze won't be let go by AU before the bye week, ala the Arkansas Razorbacks' dismissal of Sam Pittman on Sunday. For now, DJ Durkin won't slide into the interim coaching role like Bobby Petrino did in Fayetteville.
For now is the operative phrasing, there.
The Tigers' 16-0 road loss to the Texas A&M Aggies on Saturday placed Freeze on the hot seat. The momentum is building for the program to part ways with the 56-year-old with the team on a two-game losing steak in SEC and hosting the Georgia Bulldogs after the bye.
"Hugh Freeze bragged about having six guys who will get drafted on the OL. Well, the Tigers have given up 15 sacks the past two weeks, including five in Saturday's 16-10 loss at Texas A&M, and couldn't open up any lanes in the running game (2.2 yards per carry). And no, losing a one-possession game to a top-10 Aggies team at Kyle Field is not a fireable offense, but Freeze's seat is warming. Producing 177 yards of total offense is certainly a flashing red light. Even worse? The Tigers were 0-for-13 on third down. ZERO for 13 on third down," USA Today's Matthew Glenesk wrote.
Durkin's defense is making Auburn look respectable right now. Certainly, he'd be a commanding leader if he got the headman spot. Meanwhile, Freeze would command a $16.25 million buyout that can be paid out over several years, not unlike the NBA's stretch-and-waive maneuver in its CBA.
Freeze being fired would presumably mean much of the entire offensive coaching staff would be cleared out. Those were his guys with the Ole Miss Rebels and Liberty Flames. Marcus Davis could be a natural promotion to the offensive coordinator position in that case.
Things could be changing soon on the Plains. The Missouri Tigers and Arkansas Razorbacks games could determine if Freeze will survive. Some still see 8-4 as possible, with UGA and the Alabama Crimson Tide being the only two guaranteed losses, so not all hope is lost yet. And it won't be on October 11 either, after a predictable loss.
Mizzou may be the beginning of the end, just like it could've been in 2022 had Bryan Harsin's team not lucked into a win.
Or not. These next two weeks will be an excruciating wait for an Auburn family that was really hoping not to go through this same song and dance so soon after the last.