Auburn’s loss to Kentucky was the breaking point. Chants of “Fire Freeze!” echoed through Jordan-Hare before the final whistle even blew, signaling what everyone already knew. Hugh Freeze’s time on The Plains was up. Less than 24 hours later, Auburn made it official. The HC was out after a fifth SEC loss in six games and a sputtering offense that couldn’t find the end zone. But before anyone else could tell his story, the man told it himself.

In a reflective Instagram post on November 2, Hugh Freeze penned what read like both a farewell and a plea. “As I reflect on my time here at Auburn, I’m filled with gratitude and humility. Serving as the head football coach at this incredible university has been one of the greatest honors of my career.” He also credited the players for their “commitment,” “heart,” and “belief” week in and week out and the staff as well. But he still has a request. “I humbly ask you to continue to fully support these student-athletes as they seek to finish the season strong under Coach Durkin’s leadership,” he added. “It’s my fervent belief that great days are ahead for the Auburn football program.” It was a classy goodbye but Auburn’s decision had already been signed, sealed, and delivered.

CBS Sports’ Brandon Marcello, Matt Zenitz, and Richard Johnson first reported the firing, which came on the heels of yet another offensive disaster. AD John Cohen’s statement painted it as a mutual parting. “Coach Freeze is a man of integrity,” he wrote. “Our expectations for Auburn Football are to annually compete for championships.” Auburn wasn’t about to tolerate mediocrity. 

Auburn entered the 2025 season with hope. Hugh Freeze had stacked talent like Jackson Arnold at quarterback and dynamic receivers in Cam Coleman and Eric Singleton. They even started 3-0 and hit No. 22 in the AP Poll before the wheels fell off. The QB went three straight SEC games without a passing touchdown, and Auburn’s offense became allergic to the red zone. But what made this split more explosive, though, wasn’t just the timing. It was the tension behind it.

Legal tension and buyout drama for Hugh Freeze

According to reports, Hugh Freeze initially refused to negotiate a buyout after the Missouri loss, but things escalated quickly after the Kentucky defeat. By Saturday night, a deal was reached for a reduced buyout. “Working to confirm the exact numbers on what was accepted but it appears the university was prepared to litigate if need be,” the report read. Meaning, they were prepared for war if Freeze didn’t walk away quietly.

This marks Auburn’s third coaching search since 2020, another costly carousel spin for a program that’s spent more money firing coaches than most schools do hiring them. But patience has run thin. Hugh Freeze departs with a 15-19 record, including 6-16 in SEC play, the worst three-year start by an Auburn coach since 1953.

Now DJ Durkin takes the reins, and Auburn faces the same old question with a new pile of debt. Who’s next?