Auburn’s Make-or-Break Year: Can Hugh Freeze Deliver the Tigers’ First Winning Season in
As the Auburn Tigers enter their crucial 2023 season, the air around Jordan-Hare Stadium is thick with anticipation. There’s an undeniable sense that this year is a defining one for the program, one that will either mark the beginning of a promising new era or add another chapter to the growing list of frustrations that have plagued Auburn football in recent seasons. At the center of this momentous year is Hugh Freeze, the highly touted head coach brought in to resurrect a program that has struggled to find consistency and direction in recent years.
For Auburn, a school that has long prided itself on its football tradition, 2023 is more than just another season. It’s a make-or-break year. The Tigers have been stuck in a cycle of mediocrity since their last 10-win season in 2017. Over the past five years, they’ve been a team on the edge—just good enough to show flashes of greatness but not quite able to break through to the next level. For Auburn fans, this cycle of almost-but-not-quite has been maddening. And now, with a new coach in charge, the question is simple: can Hugh Freeze be the one to finally deliver Auburn its first winning season since 2017 and return the Tigers to their former glory?
The clock is ticking, and expectations are sky-high. This season could well be the deciding factor in Freeze’s tenure at Auburn, as both he and the program find themselves at a crossroads. But is he ready to answer the call? More importantly, is this Auburn team ready to break free from its struggles and finally live up to the immense talent that has been waiting to emerge?
Before we can fully assess the stakes of Freeze’s first season at the helm, it’s essential to understand the context in which he has taken over. Auburn’s football program has been stuck in limbo for much of the past decade. After a promising 2017 season under former head coach Gus Malzahn, in which the Tigers finished 10-4 and nearly made the College Football Playoff, Auburn has failed to maintain consistency. Malzahn’s tenure ended in 2020 after a disappointing 6-4 season, and Bryan Harsin’s short-lived stint as head coach (from 2021 to 2022) failed to produce any substantial improvement.
Harsin, who was hired with high expectations after a successful run at Boise State, struggled to adapt to the fierce competition of the SEC. His tenure was marred by inconsistent performances on the field, a lack of unity in the locker room, and a string of high-profile losses that ultimately led to his firing midway through the 2022 season. Auburn was in need of a fresh start, and that’s where Freeze enters the picture.
Freeze is no stranger to controversy, but his track record as a head coach speaks for itself. Known for his offensive prowess and ability to turn struggling programs around, Freeze led Ole Miss to a pair of 10-win seasons in 2015 and 2016, transforming the Rebels into a contender in the SEC West. His time at Liberty University further solidified his reputation as a skilled coach, as he turned the Flames into one of the most formidable Group of Five teams in the country, consistently competing for conference championships.
When Auburn hired Freeze, it was a move that signaled the program was ready to make a bold change. Freeze is an experienced coach with a proven track record, and his ability to recruit at a high level is one of the primary reasons Auburn felt confident in his appointment. However, there’s still a long road ahead for Freeze, and the Tigers’ struggles over the past few years have left a large hole to fill. For Auburn to make the leap back into the upper echelon of the SEC, Freeze will need to guide his team through a season of adversity, while also building a foundation for sustained success.
In many ways, 2023 feels like a fresh start for Auburn, but it’s also a year filled with significant challenges. The Tigers’ roster is in flux, with key departures and new faces filling major roles. Freeze will need to evaluate and shape his team quickly to ensure they can compete in what is widely regarded as one of the toughest conferences in college football.
One of Auburn’s biggest question marks heading into the season is its quarterback situation. The Tigers have struggled to find stability at the quarterback position for years, and with Harsin’s departure, Freeze is left to decide which signal caller will lead the offense. The team’s depth chart at quarterback remains somewhat uncertain, and while there are some talented players competing for the role, Freeze will need to ensure that his quarterback is able to lead the team effectively from the start.
Auburn has talent in key positions, but consistency has been a major issue. The offensive line, for example, has underperformed in recent years, and Freeze will need to coach up this group to give his quarterback time in the pocket. Likewise, the Tigers’ wide receivers have shown flashes of brilliance, but they’ve often been inconsistent, and they’ll need to elevate their game in 2023. Defensively, Auburn has some real talent, especially in the secondary, but the front seven needs to be more disruptive and efficient in stopping the run.
Auburn’s schedule is another factor that will make or break Freeze’s first season. The Tigers face a grueling slate of SEC opponents, including perennial powerhouses like Alabama, Georgia, and LSU. While Auburn has always been competitive in the SEC, the gap between the Tigers and the elite teams in the conference has widened in recent years. Freeze will need to find ways to match wits with these powerhouse programs and turn Auburn into a legitimate contender once again. The team’s performance in these high-profile SEC games will likely determine whether or not Freeze can keep his job long-term.
One area where Auburn fans are hoping for a significant improvement under Freeze is on the offensive side of the ball. The Tigers have been stagnant offensively for much of the past few seasons, often relying on a defense-first mindset that has left the offense playing catch-up. Freeze’s arrival brings a much-needed shift in philosophy, with a heavy emphasis on fast-paced, high-scoring offense.
Freeze is known for his ability to design explosive offenses that can move the ball quickly and score in bunches. At Ole Miss, he implemented an up-tempo attack that was both dynamic and unpredictable. He’s been known to adapt his system to fit the strengths of his players, but it’s safe to say that he’ll bring a more modern approach to Auburn’s offense, one that will be better suited to compete with the high-powered offenses that dominate the SEC today.
At the heart of Freeze’s offensive philosophy is the need for balance. While the passing game will be a key feature, Freeze has always emphasized the importance of a strong run game to set up play-action passes. This approach will be critical for Auburn, especially given the team’s struggles in the trenches in recent seasons. Freeze will need to find a way to establish a reliable running attack to take pressure off his quarterback and open up more opportunities in the passing game.
In addition to the offensive scheme, Freeze’s ability to develop quarterbacks is another key factor that will determine Auburn’s success. He has a history of working with talented quarterbacks and getting the best out of them, from Chad Kelly at Ole Miss to Malik Willis at Liberty. Freeze has the ability to elevate the play of his quarterbacks, and if he can do the same with whoever wins the job at Auburn, it could go a long way toward securing the Tigers’ success in 2023.
While 2023 is undeniably a make-or-break season for Freeze, the long-term success of the program will also depend on his ability to recruit at a high level. Auburn has a strong football tradition and a passionate fan base, but in order to compete in the SEC, Freeze will need to bring in elite talent year after year. Fortunately, Freeze has already proven that he can recruit at an impressive level, and his ability to connect with players on the recruiting trail will be critical to Auburn’s future success.
In his short time at Auburn, Freeze has already landed some significant recruits for the 2024 class, and he is expected to bring in more top-tier talent in the coming years. The ability to recruit elite high school prospects, combined with Freeze’s coaching prowess, will help elevate Auburn to a higher level of competition within the SEC.
However, recruiting success is not immediate, and the fruits of Freeze’s recruiting efforts may not be fully realized until the 2024 season and beyond. For now, the focus remains on making the most of the talent currently on the roster and putting together a competitive team in 2023. But with Freeze at the helm, Auburn’s future certainly looks brighter than it has in recent years.
As Auburn embarks on its 2023 season, the stakes couldn’t be higher for Hugh Freeze and the Tigers. This is a pivotal year for a program that has been in a state of flux for far too long. While Freeze brings hope and optimism to Auburn, the road ahead will not be easy. The team has talent, but it will take more than just raw ability to break through the SEC’s toughest competition. It will take discipline, consistency, and most importantly, leadership—qualities that Freeze has displayed throughout his career.
For Auburn fans, the 2023 season represents a chance to finally see their team return to relevance. It’s a chance to build on the promise of Freeze’s arrival and to return the Tigers to their rightful place among the SEC’s elite. The pressure is immense, but if Freeze can get the most out of his players and navigate the difficult road ahead, Auburn may just find itself back in the hunt for a winning season and a brighter future.
