Can Year 3 be the charm that Hugh Freeze and Auburn need? Year 2 proved to be worse than his debut season, finishing with one less win (5) and the same number of losses (7). “We could have won more games last year,” Freeze said ardently. It’s hard to picture Auburn with their 2010 National Championship title when you look at the program’s recent history. 2025 is going to be the year for Freeze. But the HC’s recent comments about the Tigers’ campaign are catching fire. The community thinks Freeze isn’t dreaming big enough.

When asked about his expectations for the Tigers’ 2025 season, Freeze said, “I’m not a fool. I think we have to go to a bowl game.” That’s the bare minimum that every program aims for, right? And Auburn has been to bowl games even in their poor recent history. But the last time Auburn won a bowl game was in 2018, against Purdue, and under Gus Malzahn. But in 2024, Freeze and his team put forward a disastrous show. And rubbing more salt into fans’ wounds was the Tigers failing to qualify for a bowl game. So yes, making it into one this year has to be a priority. But people have been misconstruing those words, thinking it to be Freeze’s only priority.

The War Report’s Mike Gittens tried clarifying the issue further. “Hugh Freeze understands Auburn fans expect a ‘leap’ in year 3, which is certainly not him implying just making a bowl game is acceptable,” he wrote on X. “There’s no way in the world that anyone can sit in this chair and think that our fans should expect anything more than a leap in year three,” Freeze told Gittens in a video shared by the latter.

“I think reasonable expectations in year one were something. I think reasonable expectations in year two were something. I don’t think we met them […] Year three, I think there should be even more expectations,” Freeze said, setting the record straight.

Hugh Freeze’s record stands at 11-14 at Auburn. He’s got a new team once again and is hoping for the best this season. “I inherited a program that didn’t have a Top 25 recruiting class for four years. … We’ve had now two full recruiting classes, both of them ranked in the Top 10,” he said. This is an area where the trajectory is going up for Auburn, as the 2025 roster stands in the 8 position in the country. But fans are agitated anyway, considering that Freeze’s initial comments set a pretty low bar.

Freeze’s bowl game comments taken out of context

“A bowl game? I’ve never been so insulted by my own team’s coach before,” wrote one disappointed fan on Reddit. Auburn has been in a slump for a long, long time now. The last time the program finished with a season in double digits was in 2013, which was Gus Malzahn’s debut year. Hugh Freeze looks like he can set a higher record this season. At least that’s what another Reddit user thought. “I know Auburn’s had a rough 2 years but with the returning talent I think they should be aiming for at least 8 wins with that schedule.

However, here’s where fans are getting it wrong. Freeze said, “[We’ve] got to make sure we’re excellent in those areas that cost us, that put us in a position to be at least bowl-eligible if not more. I see no reason that we shouldn’t do that. Those are expectations that our fans should expect.” Failing to make a bowl game is beyond embarrassing for any program and coach, especially with a 5-7 finish. And the Tigers downplayed on every front.

The offense, in particular, disappointed fans so much. Quarterback Payton Thorne did finish with 2,713 yards and 21 TDs. However, his flaws in decision-making and failure to protect the ball will be a stinging memory for fans. The worst highlight of Freeze’s second campaign was the special teams. Rookie Towns McGough finished 5 of 12 on field goal attempts. The defense was the department that finished respectably, rising to the 31 position in total defense from its 43 position last year. “You can say it’s humbling, frustrating,” Freeze said after the season.

But in no way is Freeze taking things lightly for the Tigers’ 2025 campaign. He also added further in his comment about his upcoming season’s expectations, “I’m a competitor and I want to deliver to the Auburn people. It’s time for us to start doing that.” Can Hugh Freeze publish a better finish this season while also making a bowl game appearance as a side quest?