Auburn will be better in 2025, or Hugh Freeze is done

The Auburn Tigers have not been good lately. 2024 was yet another 5-7 season. It's been since 2020 that they even finished above .500. They have really fallen on hard times. 

However, CBS Sports insider Chris Hummer says they're one of a few teams that is destined to be better. They can't be worse after retaining several key players and without the general bad luck that usually dissipates after one season. 

If they're not, though, he believes that will do it for their coach. "Let's be blunt, if Auburn doesn't hit the seven-win barrier, Hugh Freeze is likely out of a job. That's the sort of pressure that's on the Tigers," he said. 

Fortunately, Freeze's roster is good enough to flip that record around and then some. Should Jackson Arnold live up to the hype has their QB1, they might even, in Hummer's eyes, sneak into the conversation for the SEC title. 

"There really are no obvious holes on Auburn's roster," he said. The Tigers return four o-line starters and added two four-star tackles in the portal. They'll have one of the best wide receiver duos (Cam Coleman, Eric Singleton) in the country."

On defense, they have All-American candidate Keldric Faulk on the defensive line and four secondary starters coming back after being a top-20 defense in 2024. Provided Arnold can be a top-half SEC QB, the Tigers should win eight or more games pretty easily. 

"If you're scoffing at that idea, let's remember how Auburn tumbled to five wins a season ago," Hummer said. "Seven points to Cal. 10 against Arkansas. Six against Oklahoma. Four against Missouri. 14 against Alabama. The Tigers were in every game they lost."

Even the schedule is lining up nicely. They get Georgia and Alabama at home, and they don't have to face Texas. They do have Baylor, Oklahoma, and Texas A&M on the road, but this is far from a daunting schedule.