In Hugh Freeze’s Pivotal Third Year, Auburn Tigers Football Faces Realistic Expectations Amid Growing Pains and Measured Optimism for 2025

Hugh Freeze inherited a program in turmoil. When he took over as head coach of Auburn football ahead of the 2023 season, he walked into a locker room divided, a roster weakened by years of recruiting misses and instability, and a fan base eager for a return to relevance. Two years in, the results have been mixed. And as the Tigers prepare for Freeze’s third campaign on The Plains, expectations are being tempered — not due to a lack of faith in Freeze’s abilities, but rather an acknowledgment of the long road still ahead.

The 2024 season was supposed to be a turning point. Freeze had a full offseason to work with the team, the transfer portal had provided reinforcements, and his staff had settled into its rhythm. But on the field, Auburn remained inconsistent, finishing with a 6-7 record capped by a bowl game loss. The offense showed flashes but was plagued by turnovers and inefficiency. The defense made strides but couldn’t hold strong against SEC powerhouses. Auburn was competitive in games against top-ranked teams, yet rarely able to finish. It was progress, but not the leap many hoped for.

That’s why heading into 2025, Freeze and his staff are resetting expectations — not abandoning the goal of competing at the highest level, but recognizing that rebuilding a program in the SEC takes more than a couple of recruiting cycles and motivational soundbites. It takes talent, consistency, and time. And right now, Auburn is still piecing together the foundation.

One of the biggest challenges has been finding stability at quarterback. In Freeze’s first two years, Auburn rotated signal-callers with varying degrees of success. Payton Thorne, the Michigan State transfer, never quite seized command of the offense in the way Freeze hoped. Sophomore Holden Geriner saw snaps but lacked the experience and decision-making to make Auburn’s RPO-heavy scheme click.

The 2025 season may finally offer some clarity at the position, with highly touted recruit Walker White entering his second year and competing for the starting job. White, a former four-star out of Little Rock Christian (Ark.), brings size, arm talent, and mobility — the prototype for Freeze’s offensive system. But he’s still young, and thrusting him into the fire of the SEC could produce growing pains. If Auburn wants to move forward, though, it will need to commit to developing its quarterback of the future, even if it means living through a few tough Saturdays.

Supporting White will be an offense still trying to find its identity. The offensive line, once a glaring weakness, has improved thanks to transfers and player development, but depth remains a concern. Auburn’s wide receiver corps has lacked true difference-makers in recent years, though there is hope that recent portal additions and incoming freshmen can offer more explosiveness. And in the backfield, a healthy Jarquez Hunter returning for a senior season could provide much-needed balance — if the line can create lanes and the passing game can keep defenses honest.

On the defensive side of the ball, there’s more reason for optimism. Auburn’s defense showed flashes of being a top-tier SEC unit in 2024, especially against the run. Defensive coordinator Ron Roberts has done a solid job of developing young talent, and the linebacker group in particular could be a strength in 2025. The defensive line has some budding stars, and the secondary, led by returning standout cornerbacks, has the potential to be among the conference’s best if health holds up.

Still, the SEC is unforgiving, and Auburn’s 2025 schedule is as brutal as ever. Road games against Georgia and Alabama, as well as matchups against a resurgent Texas and an always-dangerous LSU, don’t leave much room for error. It’s one thing to field a more competitive team; it’s another to convert that competitiveness into victories against elite opposition.

And that’s where Freeze’s messaging has been most deliberate this offseason. Rather than make bold declarations about championships or turnaround timelines, he has emphasized process over product. He’s talked about culture, development, and the importance of internal belief. He’s credited his players for buying in during offseason workouts, while also making it clear that Auburn is still “in the build.”

For a fan base as passionate as Auburn’s, that’s not always easy to hear. Patience isn’t a natural virtue when you live in the shadow of Alabama or remember the glory days of Cam Newton and the 2013 title run. But it’s necessary. Auburn has tried quick fixes before, and they’ve rarely worked out. Freeze’s plan is more methodical — build through recruiting, supplement with portal talent, and develop a sustainable program that can challenge annually rather than spike for a year and crash the next.

The recruiting front offers reasons for long-term optimism. Freeze has made inroads in key areas across the Southeast, and Auburn’s 2025 class is shaping up to be one of its best in recent memory. The staff’s ability to connect with high school coaches, sell a vision for player development, and offer early playing time is starting to pay dividends. It’s not Georgia or Alabama-level yet, but the trajectory is pointing up.

Freeze’s own track record also invites some faith. He’s won in the SEC before. He turned Ole Miss into a contender, albeit one that later faced NCAA scrutiny. At Auburn, he’s spoken repeatedly about doing it the right way this time — and so far, he’s avoided the controversy that plagued his past. His reputation as a quarterback developer remains strong, and his offensive mind, when paired with the right personnel, can be dynamic.

But the 2025 season won’t be judged on whether Auburn wins 10 games. It will be judged on whether there’s clear progress. Can the Tigers compete four quarters against elite teams? Can they finish the games they’ve started strong in? Can the offensive identity finally take hold? Can the program look like one that’s ready to rise — even if the record doesn’t scream contender?

Freeze has insisted that the players see the vision. That the locker room is unified. That the foundation is being poured, brick by brick. And while moral victories aren’t the goal, context matters. Auburn might not be ready to challenge Georgia or Alabama just yet, but if it can hold its own, if it can win the games it’s supposed to and steal one or two it’s not, then the season can be a success.

A 7-5 or 8-4 record in 2025 wouldn’t send shockwaves through the SEC, but it would show that Auburn is moving in the right direction. More importantly, it would give recruits and fans alike a reason to believe that real change is happening.

The path won’t be easy. There will be setbacks. But Auburn has a coach who believes in the process, a roster beginning to reflect his vision, and a fan base that, while restless, understands that the climb back to relevance is a marathon, not a sprint.

For now, expectations remain tempered. And that might be the smartest play Hugh Freeze and Auburn can make.