Waiting's Over: Freeze Expects Success for Auburn in '25

ATLANTA — During his first two appearances at SEC Media Days as Auburn’s head coach, Hugh Freeze has preached patience as he rebuilds the Tiger program. That approach is now out the window, as a more optimistic Freeze took a bold stance for 2025.

“I truly believe that in the playoff run we’re going to be in this discussion because I love this team,” he said. “Our roster is just better. We’re bigger, we’re faster, we’re stronger. Our culture is strong.”

If Auburn is to be in the College Football Playoff discussion, a lot depends on the performance of a newcomer: quarterback Jackson Arnold, who transferred from Oklahoma in the offseason. Arnold completed 62.6% of his passes at OU last year, but only threw for 1,421 yards and 12 touchdowns as he was battered behind the nation’s worst pass-blocking offensive line. Freeze said that, in watching film of Arnold, he believes the former 5-star can still be an elite quarterback.

“I loved Jackson out of high school. I think everybody did. He was a Gatorade Player of the Year, top quarterback in the country coming out. Boy, he fit everything that I believe in doing offensively,” Freeze said. “So I knew how I felt about him then, but of course you’re doing this speed dating here and things weren’t great statistically or whatever performance-wise. Then you have to do a deep dive into why was that, and can I get past whatever that was. When you evaluate it, you said it, he had several different play callers, injured offensive line and receivers, and yet when you pull all of his throws, I still saw that. There it is, that’s what I saw. There it is again. He still has that about him.”

The Tigers will also have a new starting running back, as Damari Alston takes over from Jarquez Hunter, who headed to the NFL. With what he believes will be an improved offensive line, Freeze has high expectations for Alston and backup Jeremiah Cobb.

“Damari Alston probably has not shown his full potential, and we probably haven’t given him credit for as good as he is. I think Cobb has that breakaway speed, that explosiveness, twitchiness. Damari is a real complete back that is a really good runner, great pass protector, great ball catcher, can do it all,” Freeze said. “There’s no reason with the offensive line — I love — this is my favorite offensive line, when I look at it on paper and experience, size, length. So we’d better be able to run the football and protect the quarterback because I think we’re pretty talented up there.”

With a defense that returns at least seven starters and has significant playing experience across the board, Freeze isn’t looking forward to next year anymore. He’s very much focused on 2025.

“I do know that we won’t give into anything because we actually want the expectations, and this team deserves them. They’re good enough to go and meet them. So we welcome them. We’re glad that people are actually talking about, ‘Man, watch out for this team,’” Freeze said.

Auburn 2025 football schedule

Aug. 29: @Baylor

Sept. 6: Ball State

Sept. 13: South Alabama

Sept. 20: @Oklahoma

Sept. 27: @TEXAS A&M

Oct. 11: Georgia

Oct. 18: Missouri

Oct. 25: @Arkansas

Nov. 1: Kentucky

Nov. 8: @Vanderbilt

Nov. 22: Mercer

Nov. 29: Alabama

Projected lineup

QB: #11, Jackson Arnold (Jr.-TR.)

RB: #0, Damari Alston (Sr.)

TE: #87, Brandon Frazier (Sr.)

WR (X): #8, Cam Coleman (So.)

WR (Z): #4, Malcolm Simmons (So.)

WR (H): #1, Eric Singleton (Jr.-TR.)

LT: #65, Xavier Chaplin (Jr.-TR.)

LG: #52, Dillon Wade (Sr.-TR.)

C: #75, Connor Lew (Jr.)

RG: #77, Jeremiah Wright (RS-Sr.)

RT: #76, Mason Murphy (RS-Sr.-TR.)

DE: #15, Keldric Faulk (Jr.)

NT: #97, Quientrail Jamison-Travis (RS-Sr.-TR.)

DT: #47, Malik Blocton (So.)

BUCK: #24, Keyon Crawford (Sr.-TR.)

LB: #6, Demarcus Riddick (So.)

LB: #08, Robert Woodyard Jr. (RS.Jr.)

NICKEL: #1, Champ Anthony (RS-Jr.-TR.)

CB: #4, Kayin Lee (Jr.)

SS: #8, Kaleb Harris (So.)

FS: #19, Sylvester Smith (RS-So.)

CB: #23, Jay Crawford (So.)