Hugh Freeze Calls for Midseason FCS Games for Auburn
Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze is advocating for a shift in the scheduling of the Tigers’ future matchups against FCS opponents, suggesting that these games be placed later in the season rather than as early warmups. During an interview on the school’s Tiger Talk radio show, Freeze expressed his desire for a midseason breather during the challenging SEC schedule, a departure from Auburn’s recent tradition of opening the season with an FCS team or playing them just before the Iron Bowl.
“There’s no question, I’ve told our administration,” Freeze said. “Schedule our FCS opponent down in the year — in between a Georgia and Missouri. That’d be my preference by far, to start off with a different opponent than that.”
The second-year head coach’s comments came after Auburn’s disappointing 21-14 loss to Cal. While Auburn easily dispatched Alabama A&M in a 73-3 victory in Week 1, Freeze believes having a more competitive opponent earlier in the season would better prepare the team for the rigors of SEC play. Auburn’s offensive struggles against Cal revealed some gaps in their performance that weren’t evident during the lopsided win over the FCS opponent.
Auburn hasn’t played a midseason game against an FCS team since 2013, when they faced Western Carolina between matchups with Ole Miss and Texas A&M. Freeze’s suggestion isn’t new, but it underscores a broader trend in college football, where many coaches favor strategically placed “breather” games during the grind of tough conference schedules.
For now, Freeze won’t have to worry about that next season, as Auburn is set to face Baylor on the road to kick off the 2025 campaign, followed by an FCS matchup with Mercer the week before the Iron Bowl.
Though Freeze didn’t blame the loss to Cal directly on the scheduling, his comments reflect his belief that starting with a stronger opponent would better prepare his team. A couple of Auburn players echoed concerns about the team’s intensity in practice leading up to the Cal game. Pass-rusher Jalen McLeod mentioned inconsistency during practice sessions, while linebacker Austin Keys disagreed, noting that practice efforts varied depending on the individual.
McLeod, who expressed frustration with Auburn’s lack of focus during preparation, emphasized the need for greater discipline. “We’ve got to buckle up,” McLeod said postgame. “We’re playing football. We’ve got to really hone in on our craft and not be messing off, playing around in practice.”
This Saturday, Auburn will look to regain momentum as they face New Mexico under first-year head coach Bronco Mendenhall. As 28-point favorites, according to FanDuel, the Tigers are expected to bounce back before heading deeper into their SEC schedule. However, Freeze’s push for a different scheduling approach could signal a shift in how Auburn approaches future seasons, prioritizing tougher early competition and using FCS games to offer a break midseason.
