[autotag]Cadillac Williams[/autotag] created optimism within the Auburn fan base during his time as interim head coach in 2022. Hugh Freeze has found a way to keep that feeling alive since taking over the program last November.
His success in recruiting, as well as winning over the fanbase, has been great. But how will that translate to on-field success?
It is difficult to set accurate expectations this early, but On3’s Jesse Simonton has taken a crack at it. Simonton has placed expectations on every first-year coach within the Power Five ahead of the season. When predicting a reasonable first-year record for Freeze, Simonton says that his expectations are the “easiest to handicap of any first-year coach.”
Freeze arrived on the Plains and quickly retooled the roster, as Auburn is likely to start at least 11 transfers (including recently named QB1 Payton Thorne) in Week 1. Recruiting is booming and optimism is high, especially for a program a year removed from the embarrassing Bryan Harsin saga. Auburn’s schedule is always difficult, but anything short of 6-7 wins would be a major letdown in Freeze’s first year.
Simonton says that Mississippi State’s Zach Arnett, the SEC’s other first-year coach, will need a fast start in order to prevent a true head coaching search to commence next offseason.
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