Hugh Freeze Confidently Eyes Upsets: Two Key Reasons He Believes Auburn Can Beat Powerhouses Alabama and Georgia Soon

Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze isn’t shying away from the daunting challenge ahead of him in the SEC. In a conference defined by powerhouse programs like Alabama and Georgia—two teams that have dominated the national landscape for the past decade—Freeze has planted his flag with boldness and belief. And when asked why he thinks his Auburn Tigers can soon beat both the Crimson Tide and the Bulldogs, Freeze didn’t give vague coach-speak. He offered two very real, very specific reasons: recruiting and culture.

Freeze’s arrival on the Plains in 2022 marked a pivotal shift for a program that had grown restless in the shadows of its rivals. Since taking the helm, the former Ole Miss and Liberty head coach has infused Auburn with a fresh identity, one built on aggressive talent acquisition and a foundational focus on togetherness, accountability, and belief. As fall 2025 approaches, Freeze believes the pieces are finally aligning—and the gap is closing.

Reason One: Recruiting Momentum That’s “Right There”

The first reason Hugh Freeze believes Auburn can topple Alabama and Georgia? He’s convinced the recruiting battles are swinging in Auburn’s favor—or at least becoming far more competitive.

“In this league, it all starts with recruiting,” Freeze said. “And I feel like we’re right there now. We’ve closed the gap significantly.”

He’s not wrong. Since his arrival, Auburn’s recruiting efforts have surged. After inheriting a fractured roster and limited traction on the trail, Freeze has built the 2024 and 2025 classes into top-10 caliber groups. He’s flipped recruits from major programs. He’s beaten Georgia for in-state defensive backs. He’s gone into Texas and pulled blue-chip offensive linemen. And crucially, he’s started to make Auburn feel like a destination again.

In the 2025 cycle, Auburn’s class currently ranks top-8 nationally, according to multiple recruiting services. Even more important than the ranking itself is the fact that Auburn is consistently in the final mix for elite talent. Freeze and his staff aren’t just chasing scraps or banking on developmental projects—they’re in the trenches with Alabama, Georgia, LSU, and Florida State, and they’re winning some of those fights.

“You want to compete with the best? Then you better go get the same players they are,” Freeze said at SEC Media Days. “We’re going head-to-head with Kirby and Nick—and we’re starting to win some.”

It’s a long game, Freeze knows that. But each commitment chips away at the talent advantage Alabama and Georgia have enjoyed for years. And Auburn isn’t just adding stars for show; they’re targeting players that fit what Freeze is building schematically and culturally.

Names like five-star QB commitment Malik Autry, top-tier linebacker Trevin Simmons, and recent four-star receiver pledge Jalen Crawford stand out as proof that Freeze isn’t bluffing. The foundation is real. And for the first time in years, Auburn is building a roster that doesn’t feel outclassed when compared to its rivals.

That, Freeze says, is the starting point.

Reason Two: Culture That’s Built for the Fight

The second reason Freeze believes Auburn can beat Alabama and Georgia? The intangible, often-overlooked factor that separates teams with similar talent: culture.

“You can have all the talent in the world, but if your locker room is fractured, you’re not winning big games,” Freeze said. “I’ve been around programs that had five-stars and underachieved. And I’ve been around groups that loved each other and played above their ceiling.”

At Auburn, Freeze is focused on cultivating a culture that thrives on unity, discipline, and competitive toughness. It’s a culture built not just to beat lesser opponents, but to endure against the elite.

That culture was forged during adversity. In Freeze’s first year, Auburn went just 6-7—but those seven losses were by an average margin of less than nine points. Games against Alabama and Georgia were competitive deep into the second half. The Tigers didn’t win those contests, but they didn’t fold, either. That resilience, Freeze says, is a byproduct of a locker room that believes in each other.

“We lost some tough games last year,” Freeze admitted. “But what I saw in those moments was a team that didn’t quit. They battled. And now, we’re older, stronger, and those lessons have galvanized us.”

The players echo that sentiment.

“Coach Freeze talks about brotherhood all the time,” said quarterback Payton Thorne. “It’s not just words. We hold each other accountable, we lift each other up, and we believe we can win every game.”

That belief is crucial, especially when facing Alabama or Georgia—programs that often win the mental battle before the opening kickoff. Freeze has worked to instill a mindset that no game is unwinnable and no opponent is unbeatable.

It’s a message the players are embracing.

“We’re not scared of Georgia,” linebacker Eugene Asante said. “We respect them, but we’re not bowing down. Same for Bama. We’re Auburn. We fight.”

That fight, according to Freeze, is what will ultimately close the gap.

“You need talent, yes,” he said. “But you also need toughness, belief, and a bond that carries you through adversity. We’re building that.”

Bridging the Gap Through Scheme and Development

While Freeze emphasizes recruiting and culture, he’s also not ignoring the Xs and Os. One of the reasons he believes Auburn can break through is because of his staff’s ability to develop players and implement flexible gameplans.

Offensive coordinator Philip Montgomery has tailored the playbook to fit the personnel, while defensive coordinator Ron Roberts has transformed Auburn’s defense into a more aggressive, multiple unit. Young players are improving rapidly. Transfer additions are fitting in seamlessly.

“Auburn is always going to have talent,” Roberts said. “But now we’re maximizing that talent. We’re seeing guys take real steps—guys who can be difference-makers in rivalry games.”

One example is defensive end Keldric Faulk, a former top-100 recruit who blossomed last season and enters 2025 as one of the SEC’s premier edge rushers. Freeze sees him as the prototype Auburn defender—long, athletic, relentless.

“When you have guys like Keldric, you can start to scheme pressure,” Freeze said. “You can force turnovers, flip field position, control tempo. That’s how you beat Bama and Georgia.”

Freeze also believes Auburn’s quarterback room is in a much better place than it was a year ago. Whether it’s a veteran like Thorne or an emerging star like Walker White, Freeze is confident he finally has the right signal-caller to run his system and execute in high-leverage moments.

“Quarterback play wins or loses you these rivalry games,” he said. “We’ve got guys now who understand the moment and can make plays.”

The Road Ahead: Eyes on the Giants

The schedule doesn’t offer much breathing room. Auburn hosts Georgia at Jordan-Hare Stadium in late September and travels to Tuscaloosa for the Iron Bowl in November. Both games are brutal—but both are circled in red.

“We know those are the measuring-stick games,” Freeze said. “But we’re not flinching. We’re building to beat those teams. Not hope we can. Expect to.”

That expectation is a radical shift from recent years. Auburn has had talent before. They’ve had individual moments. But sustained belief? Consistent buy-in from top to bottom? That’s what Freeze is trying to instill—and what he believes will lead to breakthrough wins.

“I’ve been here before,” Freeze said, alluding to his days at Ole Miss, when he upset Alabama twice. “I know what it takes. And I see those same ingredients starting to show up here.”

If Auburn can convert close losses into signature wins in 2025, Freeze’s confidence will be vindicated. And if they pull off even one upset against Georgia or Alabama, it’ll be the clearest sign yet that Auburn football is back—loud, proud, and ready to reclaim its place among the SEC’s elite.

Until then, Freeze will keep hammering home the same two pillars: recruit relentlessly and build a culture that doesn’t blink.

Because in the SEC, that’s how you beat the giants.