Hugh Freeze on the hot seat: 3 teams that can hire the Auburn coach if the Tigers look in a new direction
The Auburn Tigers have dropped to 2-2 on the season, losing to the Arkansas Razorbacks 24-14 at home. Hugh Freeze's seat is heating up in what looks to be the start of another disappointing season for the Tigers with Freeze at the helm.
Following a 6-7 campaign in 2023, expectations were elevated for an Auburn squad that added a top-20 recruiting class last year and a top-10 class in 2024.
With Freeze possibly on the hot seat, some teams could look to land the coach in the coaching carousel in the offseason. Here are three teams that could hire Hugh Freeze following the 2024 season.
3 Teams Who Could Land Hugh Freeze
West Virginia Mountaineers
The West Virginia Mountaineers entered the 2024 season with elevated expectations after Neal Brown's most successful season with a 9-4 campaign in 2023.
In his four seasons prior, Brown posted a record of just 22-25, with one bowl win in 2020. The Mountaineers sit at 2-2 entering a three-game stretch versus three AP Top 25 teams. Things could get ugly for West Virginia as pressure builds around Neal Brown. Freeze could cover both Virginia and West Virginia in a second trip north.
Florida State Seminoles
The only thing coming between Hugh Freeze and Florida State could be a boulder from Colorado in Deion Sanders. Buffaloes aside, the Seminoles might be a weird fit for Freeze, but sometimes a change of scenery is all it takes. After a 1-3 start to the season, Mike Norvell's seat seems to be one of the hottest in the country thus far.
It could be a long shot, but this pairing of school and coach could be tossed around the rumor mill as each team's season continues to progress.
Virginia Cavaliers
The Cavaliers are a lackluster 9-17 under Tony Elliott, coming off back-to-back three-win seasons. Pressure is building for Elliott as he enters year three of a six-year deal. Hugh Freeze could make another stop in Virginia, this time from the ACC in Charlottesville.
The Cavaliers are off to a 3-1 start this season but will see a tough three-game stretch in October, facing Boston College, No. 19 Louisville and No. 21 Clemson as their fast start could come to a screeching halt.