Auburn finally stopped the bleeding. A 33-24 win over Arkansas ended a four-game skid and snapped their SEC losing streak. Yet, while the Tigers won the game, it might’ve only delayed the inevitable for Hugh Freeze. Winning buys time, not belief, and right now, he is rich in neither. For over a quarter, fans thought this was the game where their HC was axed. Auburn raced to a 10-0 lead before allowing a 21-0 Razorback run that screamed dysfunction. So national voices are still wary about his future. 

In a new episode on Josh Pate’s College Football Show on October 26, the CBS Sports analyst shared his raw perspective despite the win over Arkansas. “I don’t think anything’s changed with Hugh Freeze there,” he said. “If anyone was watching this thinking, well, if he loses, he’s fired, but if he wins, job saved. From what I hear, I don’t think anything changed.” Auburn’s 4-4 record hides the cracks.

Hugh Freeze is now 15-18 across three seasons, and while the Tigers avoided embarrassment in Fayetteville, that doesn’t mean they avoided judgment. “My guess is there will still be a change at Auburn,” Josh Pate said. He’s not guessing blind. He’s hinting at the exhaustion within that program. And one defining final game could make or break his career. 

“They play Alabama in Jordan Harris Stadium,” he added. “And it doesn’t matter if a high school team takes the field in Jordan Harris Stadium. If they’re wearing that AU helmet against Alabama, they could beat them.” But his following words painted the whole picture.

“If they beat Alabama at the end of the year, you can imagine how that might buy Hugh Freeze another year,” he said. That’s the double-edged sword of Auburn football. Every crisis comes with a lifeline, and that lifeline is called the Iron Bowl.

Every Auburn coach in modern memory has lived or died by the Iron Bowl. Gus Malzahn’s final dagger came after a blowout loss. Bryan Harsin didn’t even make it there. Hugh Freeze, standing 0-1 in the rivalry, is now staring down a November 29 date with destiny. Heather Dinich of ESPN already made her bold claim.

“I’m going to tell you right now that Auburn is going to win the Iron Bowl. Hugh Freeze has finally had enough time to bring in the players that can help him do that.” But history isn’t on her side. 

Hugh Freeze navigates Auburn from red zone triumphs to QB trouble

Auburn has lost five straight to Alabama, its worst stretch since the late ‘70s. From Bryce Young’s comeback magic to Jalen Milroe’s miracle 4th-and-31, the Tide have broken Auburn’s spirit. But if you strip away the emotion and history, Auburn’s win over Arkansas exposed the flaws holding this team back.

Against Arkansas, Auburn’s defense earned its paycheck, allowing just 38 second-half yards. But Hugh Freeze’s offense brought question marks. Five field goals and a pick-six from Rayshawn Pleasant aren’t a formula for future success. And that QB carousel won’t stop spinning anytime soon. 

Jackson Arnold started hot with an opening touchdown capped by Cam Coleman’s absurd one-handed grab. But one ugly pick-six later, Hugh Freeze yanked him for Ashton Daniels. The backup managed six completions for 76 yards and no turnovers, guiding a conservative comeback. It worked this time.

But heading into a brutal final stretch against Kentucky, Vanderbilt, Mercer, and Alabama, Auburn can’t afford QB roulette anymore. Because if there’s one truth in Auburn, it’s this. You can survive losses, but you can’t survive confusion.