Hugh Freeze requested patience from Auburn supporters Saturday night, though he acknowledged their frustration following the Tigers' 10-3 home defeat against Kentucky. Fans left Jordan-Hare Stadium shouting "Fire Hugh" as postseason hopes are slowly diminishing.
Coach Freeze's choice to bench Jackson Arnold in favor of Stanford transfer Ashton Daniels proved unsuccessful, leading to a solitary field goal and a lack of impactful offensive moments.
“I wish I could ask for patience, but that’s not really something people want to give in this day and time,” Freeze said. I'm confident we're incredibly near. Had a few more things fallen into place for us earlier in the year, we'd be discussing a different outcome. That's football, and it didn't happen. We'll get up and prepare for the next challenge.
Auburn (4-5, 1-5 SEC) has lost five of its last six matchups and hasn't secured back-to-back conference victories since Freeze's inaugural season in 2023. Daniels passed for 59 yards and rushed for 57 before Arnold briefly took over for him at the end of the fourth quarter.
“My job is to get this team ready to play and win games, and we have failed to do that,” Freeze said. It's disheartening that we haven't achieved our goals. I'm enjoying it here, and I still feel we're on the verge of something, but I understand the frustration.
Kentucky had been defeated by The Tigers in 19 of their last 20 matchups.
Should Auburn part ways with Freeze, he'd become the fourth SEC coach dismissed since the season's commencement.
Additional college football updates:
- Deion Sanders's contract terms and buyout information as the Colorado Buffaloes' head coach.
- LSU Tigers coach Brian Kelly's contract and buyout information.
- Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter suffers major blow during rookie season
- Will Lane Kiffin depart Ole Miss? Here's what to know about the most recent speculation.
- College football's cherished mascot has been diagnosed with cancer.