Last weekend, Auburn football celebrated a hard-fought victory over the Kentucky Wildcats, clinching a 24-10 win that marked their first in the SEC this season. However, the optimism quickly faded as the Tigers faced a disappointing setback just days later, losing 17-7 at home to the Vanderbilt Commodores. This loss not only stings for the players and fans but also highlights a troubling trend for head coach Hugh Freeze, as it marks his third consecutive defeat to Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia, who previously played at New Mexico State.
With this defeat, Freeze’s record at Auburn now stands at 9-13, which is one loss more than that of his predecessor, Bryan Harsin, during the same stretch. Auburn entered the game against Vanderbilt as a favorite by more than a touchdown, raising the stakes and expectations among fans who are now increasingly vocal about their concerns regarding the team’s direction.
Pavia’s success against Freeze is noteworthy; he has achieved the rare feat of defeating the Tigers three times in a row, with his teams having outscored Auburn by a striking margin of 48-17 in their encounters. In the most recent game, Pavia completed 9 of 22 passes for 143 yards and threw two touchdown passes, while Auburn’s offense struggled mightily, failing to score a single point in the second half against a Vanderbilt defense that has been known to concede over 350 yards per game.
This latest loss leaves Auburn with a disappointing 4-10 record in SEC play and a 3-6 overall record, putting them in a precarious position as they face the likelihood of missing bowl eligibility for the second time in three seasons. The pressure on Freeze has intensified, especially given his questionable late-game decisions, including poor clock management and a risky long field goal attempt with a kicker who has struggled this season. Furthermore, Auburn did not complete a single pass during the entire second and third quarters, highlighting the offensive inefficiency.
As frustration mounts, fans have taken to social media to voice their concerns, calling for immediate changes within the program. There is a growing sentiment that if results do not improve soon, a buyout of Freeze’s contract could be imminent, mirroring the situation that led to Harsin’s dismissal after a series of lackluster performances. The urgency for improvement is palpable, and the onus is now on Freeze to demonstrate that he can steer the program back on track before it’s too late.