Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze previews the Tigers’ 2025 season at SEC Media Days in Atlanta, Georgia.

The 2025 season is shaping up to be one of the most pivotal in the history of Auburn football, and Head Coach Hugh Freeze is fully aware of the stakes. At SEC Media Days in Atlanta, Georgia, Freeze took the stage, outlining the challenges, opportunities, and expectations surrounding the Tigers as they look to make a statement in one of the most competitive conferences in college football. After a whirlwind first season at the helm, Freeze is optimistic about the future and has a clear vision for how Auburn can rise to prominence in the SEC.

Auburn’s 2025 season marks a critical point in the program’s trajectory under Freeze’s leadership. After inheriting a team in need of both talent and direction, Freeze has brought a renewed sense of energy, discipline, and structure to the program. With a combination of key returning players, standout recruits, and a revamped coaching staff, Auburn has the potential to be a serious contender in the SEC. However, Freeze is quick to acknowledge that the road to success will require hard work, consistency, and the ability to rise to the occasion in high-pressure moments.

“Every season in the SEC is a challenge,” Freeze said during his opening statement. “We know that. But we also know that Auburn has everything it takes to be a championship-caliber program. It’s just about putting the pieces together — on and off the field. I’m excited about where we are and where we’re headed.”

Freeze’s words were not just a reflection of the optimism surrounding the Tigers, but also a recognition of the hard work that remains to be done. The Auburn faithful are eager for a return to prominence, and while Freeze’s first season provided glimpses of the potential within the team, the 2025 season is seen as the year where that potential must translate into tangible success.

Auburn’s 2024 season was a year of growth, transition, and development under Freeze’s guidance. While the Tigers had their ups and downs, there were numerous bright spots that showed the foundation for long-term success. Freeze was tasked with rebuilding a program that had endured several years of inconsistency, and 2024 was a critical year for finding stability, culture, and identity.

“We learned a lot in 2024,” Freeze said. “There were moments when we took big steps forward, and there were moments when we had to regroup. But every single player, every coach, and every person involved in this program is focused on taking another step forward in 2025. It’s about consistency now. We have a much better understanding of what we need to do to compete at the highest level in the SEC.”

Key players from the 2024 squad are set to return, providing a solid core for Freeze to build around. Quarterback play, which was a question mark for much of the 2024 campaign, is expected to stabilize with the development of talented signal-callers who have spent a year in Freeze’s system. Additionally, Auburn’s defense, under the guidance of defensive coordinator Ron Roberts, showed flashes of brilliance last season and is expected to take another step forward in 2025.

For Freeze, the 2024 season was more than just wins and losses — it was about setting the tone for the program’s future. Now, heading into 2025, the challenge is to build on that foundation and take the Tigers to the next level.

Perhaps the most pressing question surrounding Auburn football heading into 2025 is the play at quarterback. Under Freeze’s tenure at Auburn, the Tigers have struggled to find stability at the position. In 2024, Auburn used multiple quarterbacks as they worked through the development of their signal-callers. Freeze emphasized that finding the right quarterback would be a top priority, and he believes that the Tigers are on the right track with several promising options vying for the job.

“We’ve got a competition at quarterback, and that’s healthy for our program,” Freeze said. “We’ve got a few young men in that room who have great talent. It’s about who can make the most consistent plays, who can lead, and who can execute the game plan when it matters most.”

One player who will be closely watched in this quarterback battle is sophomore signal-caller [Player Name], who had flashes of brilliance in his freshman year and showed great potential in both passing and running the ball. He will compete with a highly-touted freshman recruit [Player Name], who brings a different set of skills to the table, and a couple of experienced upperclassmen who have shown promise in practice but have yet to prove themselves in live-game situations.

Freeze is known for his ability to develop quarterbacks and build offensive systems that maximize their strengths. In his previous coaching stops, Freeze helped elevate quarterbacks to new heights, and he’s optimistic that his quarterbacks at Auburn will follow suit.

“We’ve got to play smart, efficient football,” Freeze said. “We can’t afford to make mistakes. We want to push the ball down the field and be explosive, but it’s just as important to protect the ball and take what the defense gives us.”

The development of the quarterback position will be pivotal for Auburn’s success in 2025. With the right leader under center, the Tigers have the weapons on offense to be a formidable force in the SEC. However, it will be up to Freeze and his staff to ensure that the quarterbacks are ready to take on the immense challenge that lies ahead.

While the quarterback position remains a focal point for Freeze and his staff, Auburn’s defense will play a crucial role in the Tigers’ success in 2025. Under the direction of defensive coordinator Ron Roberts, Auburn showed significant improvement in 2024, particularly against the run, an area that had been a major weakness in previous years. The Tigers’ defensive line was stout, and they showed glimpses of the dominant, aggressive defense that has defined some of Auburn’s best teams in recent memory.

“Defensively, we’ve got to continue to improve,” Freeze said. “We’ve made strides, but we’re not where we want to be. We’ve got to be more consistent. We’ve got to win the battles up front and stop the run on first and second downs. But we’ve also got to generate more turnovers. If we can do that, we’ll be in great shape.”

Auburn’s defensive line is expected to be a strength in 2025, with several key returnees, including [Player Name], an All-SEC candidate who is known for his disruptive play in the trenches. The linebacker corps, led by veteran players such as [Player Name], should also provide stability and leadership. The secondary, while a work in progress, has shown signs of potential and could become a strength with continued development.

One area of focus for Freeze and Roberts will be improving the depth and consistency across all three levels of the defense. With the competition in the SEC as fierce as ever, Auburn will need to be able to rotate players without losing a step.

“We want to be a defense that flies around the field, that plays fast, and plays with passion,” Freeze said. “We want to be aggressive, but also disciplined. The goal is to get off the field on third downs and create negative plays for the offense. We have to set the tone on defense.”

The defensive line’s ability to put pressure on opposing quarterbacks will be key to Auburn’s success. Freeze acknowledged that the SEC is home to some of the best quarterbacks in the country, and putting pressure on them will be essential for winning games. In addition to the line, Freeze expects Auburn’s linebackers to play a significant role in coverage and run support.

Special teams play is an often-overlooked aspect of college football, but Freeze emphasized the importance of building a strong unit in 2025. With several key players lost to graduation and the NFL draft, Auburn will need to rebuild its special teams depth, which has been a strength in the past. Freeze is confident in his special teams coach,, and believes that the Tigers will be able to continue to play at a high level in this area.

“We’re going to make sure special teams is a big priority,” Freeze said. “It’s an area where we’ve got to create explosive plays and win the field position battle. We can’t afford to leave any points on the board, and that means being solid on every phase of special teams — from kicking to coverage to returns.”

The success of the Tigers in 2025 will depend heavily on the ability to create big plays in the special teams game. Auburn has the potential to be dangerous in this area with players who can break through for touchdowns on returns or block kicks when the situation calls for it.

Looking ahead, Auburn’s path to the SEC Championship is not an easy one. The Tigers will face tough competition from perennial powerhouses like Alabama, Georgia, and LSU, all of whom will bring formidable teams to the field in 2025. However, Freeze believes that the Tigers have the tools and the mentality to compete with anyone.

“I know how tough the SEC is. But I also know what we’re capable of,” Freeze said. “We’ve got to stay focused on our goals, take it one game at a time, and keep pushing to get better every week. If we can do that, we’ve got a chance to be right there at the end.”

For Auburn, 2025 will be a season of proving themselves. It will be a year where Hugh Freeze and his team will aim to show that the Tigers are ready to return to the elite ranks of college football. While there’s plenty of work to do, there’s

a sense of excitement and optimism in the air, and Auburn fans are eagerly awaiting what promises to be a thrilling season ahead.

Auburn’s 2025 football season is full of promise, but the road ahead is challenging. With a mix of returning talent, new faces, and a coach with a clear vision, the Tigers are poised to make noise in the SEC. Hugh Freeze, in his second full year at Auburn, knows that the key to success is consistency, discipline, and the ability to rise to the occasion when the stakes are at their highest. For Auburn fans, the 2025 season is about more than just the wins and losses; it’s about the return to championship contention and the renewal of Auburn’s football legacy.