Auburn Tigers head coach Hugh Freeze made a significant misstep when he said that simply reaching a bowl game was the team’s goal for the 2025 season. The comment drew immediate comparisons to a notorious statement by Gus Malzahn in 2020, who called a 6-4 record “successful” after a disappointing loss to South Carolina and expected defeats against Georgia, Alabama, and Texas A&M — a mindset that contributed to his dismissal.
At this point, Freeze can’t afford to set such a low bar. Media outlets have taken note, and with 2025 shaping up to be a do-or-die year for his job, that statement may come back to haunt him.
As AL.com’s Creg Stephenson pointed out, Freeze appeared to signal low expectations during a recent interview on the “Next Round Live” podcast. When co-host Lance Taylor asked how many wins would define a successful season, Freeze replied, “I’m not a fool. I think we’ve got to go to a bowl game.”
That quote might end up being the most memorable soundbite of the offseason — and not in a good way.
Freeze, once considered a lock to return in 2026 thanks to his strong recruiting and a defense that earned DC DJ Durkin a big extension, now faces enormous pressure. The 2025 schedule starts with tough road games at Baylor and Oklahoma, which could set the tone for the season — and determine Freeze’s fate.
Unfortunately, his recent comments may have already put him on the hot seat before a single snap is played.