Hugh Freeze addresses pressure Auburn faces to make College Football Playoff after Final Four run

Hugh Freeze knows there might be added pressure for Auburn this season when it comes to the College Football Playoff. He can count on Bruce Pearl and the Tigers’ basketball program for making that happen.

The rise of Auburn basketball has been a sight to behold, just like Alabama. The football traditional schools have become basketball powers in recent years, but make no mistake, football is still driving the bus.

That’s the feeling down at Auburn, where Freeze wants to take this thing to the next level. The Tigers have set lofty goals, but it’s up to them to achieve it on the field.

“I don’t give in to the pressure of nothing,” Freeze said. “Really, I don’t feel a lot of pressure anymore in life. I think, you know, I know we’re doing it the right way. I know we’re building it the right way, and whatever the results come with that I’ll have to live with. Obviously, we want to do exactly what you said. Bruce’s comments are just his belief in what we’re doing and how we’re doing (representing) his belief in what Auburn can be. 

“And he’s proven that through time. I don’t know how long it took him to get his program to where it is, but he certainly has the notoriety and brand recognition that that he and his team brought to us, certainly helps us. And I think it’s just to appreciate his confidence that he knows we’re building this the right way, and we’ll have chances to do that hopefully in the near future.”

Naturally, a bowl game is the minimum expectation in 2025. In a loaded SEC, that might not be enough either based on the quality of the conference.

“I mean, we need to play better, and we need to win some games for sure,” Freeze said. “I think our sense of urgency is you prepare and you give them confidence, and I don’t think you do that out of a sense of fear or the what if world, or any of that man. I love our kids right now. Love our approach. I love our staff. I think there’s confidence in the building, and it’s growing.” 

Freeze and Auburn will certainly need confidence after seeing a rough stretch last season. Auburn had a four-game losing streak that stretched over five weeks and the Tigers lost two of those games by one score. 

“And I think we hopefully respond out of that confidence and nothing else, you know, nothing from the outside world, just everything from the inside world,” Freeze said. “But man, here’s who we are, and here’s the opportunities we have. Let’s prepare for them and be confident, because we have a talented squad in there. Do we need a little more help at a few positions? 

“Yes, we’ll see if we can address that in the coming months, but I’m really encouraged and optimistic by the confidence I see growing. And obviously, the deeper depth chart that we have.”