The Auburn Tigers finished the 2024 season with a 5-7 overall record and a 2-6 mark in SEC play, a decline from their 6-7 finish in 2023. Despite back-to-back losing seasons, Hugh Freeze became the first Auburn head coach in half a century to receive a third year on the job, making him one of the luckiest to get another chance.
Looking ahead to 2025, Auburn has assembled a strong transfer portal class, sparking optimism for a rebound season. ESPN’s Paul Finebaum has set the bar high, stating that Auburn needs at least eight wins to prove they are making progress. That would leave them at 8-4 before the playoff selection. But are eight wins enough to secure a playoff spot?
Auburn Head Coach Hugh Freeze Questions SEC’s 9-Game Schedule Push
Recently, Auburn’s coach, Hugh Freeze, shared his thoughts on the SEC’s push for a nine-game conference schedule. He raised concerns about how it could affect teams trying to reach the playoffs.
Freeze spoke openly about the challenge. He said the new schedule might make it harder for SEC teams to qualify for the postseason. “Right now, if you’re Auburn, if you’re not going to the playoffs, people are saying it’s not the best season,” Freeze said. “So, we’ve got to do something to put a realistic hope on it, like the NFL.”
Two-plus minutes of Hugh Freeze when asked if he’d like to see the #SEC go to nine conference games.
“Right now, if you’re Auburn, if you’re not going to the playoffs, people are saying it’s not the best season. So, we’ve got to do something to put a realistic hope on it, like… pic.twitter.com/CDNwCLNKMj
— Davis Baker (@DavisBakerTV) May 17, 2025
And he makes a solid point. In the NFL, a team can lose six or more games and still make the playoffs. It’s about overall performance, not just the win-loss record. But in college football, teams usually need just one or two losses to have a shot at the playoffs.
That’s why Freeze believes an 8-4 record in the SEC should still count for something. He added, “So, we’ve got to do something to put a realistic hope on it, like the NFL. You go 8-4 in this league playing nine games especially, you probably deserve at least a shot to get in the thing.”
He even offered a bold idea to cut the conference championship games. Instead, he wants the top eight teams to play each other to decide who makes it to an expanded 16-team College Football Playoff.
KEEP READING: Paul Finebaum Says Auburn Is ‘Trending’ Up in 2025, Believes Tigers Must Hit 8 Wins
It’s just his idea for now. Whether the SEC or college football will adopt this plan is still unknown. But Freeze raises a fair question: if the pro leagues can follow this model, why can’t college football? This question will always remain in the debate.
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