SEC Writer Ranks Hugh Freeze Among The Rest Of The Conference
Hugh Freeze is now a season into his tenure at Auburn.
After following a 6-7 season, the Auburn Tigers are expecting more in 2024. With a strong recruiting cycle behind them, Auburn should be in a better position than several other teams in the SEC when looking at the future.
Connor O'Gara of Saturday Down South ranked all of the SEC coaches following the retirement of Nick Saban and he ranked Freeze eight out of the 16 SEC coaches.
"One thing I like — He has taken 4 different FBS programs to a bowl game, and he improved each program’s win total in Year 1," O'Gara wrote in the rankings. He also added one thing he does not like about Freeze.
"As much as Freeze gets credit for beating Nick Saban in consecutive years in 2014-15, his record vs. AP Top 25 opponents after 2015 is 3-13," O'Gara wrote. "Those wins came against Year 1 Kirby Smart at Georgia, a 2016 A&M team that finished 8-5 and 2020 Coastal Carolina."
Freeze will have more opportunities to take on ranked teams in 2024. Georgia, Alabama, and Missouri will more than likely be ranked when Auburn plays them in 2024. Auburn will also host Oklahoma and Texas A&M as well as visit Kentucky this upcoming season where all will have a chance to be ranked as well.
Kirby Smart of Georgia headed O'Gara's list. Brian Kelly of LSU came in at number two.
The new coaches in the league were ranked low. Mike Elko, the new Texas A&M coach is ranked 10th and Jeff Lebby, the new head coach at Mississippi State, came in last on the list at 16.
