In the 2023 college football season, Auburn got its first glimpse at Hugh Freeze leading the program. The Tigers finished 6-6 in the regular season, which saw them earn a bid in the Music City Bowl. The Tigers lost to Maryland in the matchup, closing their record out at 6-7 on the season.
Auburn won a National Championship in 2010 and competed in the game in 2013, losing to Florida State. The standard of the program used to be much more significant than it has been in recent seasons, but that doesn't change what success is for the Tigers.
ESPN's Paul Finebaum detailed what a successful season looks like for Auburn and Freeze when he joined Cole Cubelic and Greg McElroy on their radio show Monday morning.
“No less than 8-4,” Finebaum said on what a successful season should look like for Auburn. “There was a time when 8-4 got you fired at Auburn, it wasn’t that long ago, just ask Gus Malzahn. But I think that’ the bottom and I think he has to turn a couple of games. I think being in the conversation for the playoff is what I’m looking for."
With a 12-team playoff format, an 8- or 9-win season could have an SEC team on the bubble of making the playoffs. It's the best conference in college football, and that will be taken into consideration when seven non-conference champions are being selected into the playoffs.
“Last year, it was .500, it was going to a bowl game. This year, better than that," Finebaum continued. "By the way, 8-4, that means if you miss one of those games, you’re 7-5, which would be disappointing. And if you’re 9-3, you’ve had a pretty good year, which means you’re on the verge of the playoffs. So I think that’s where it is.”
For Freeze, bubbling the playoffs and showing improvement in year two should be enough to bring optimism to the program and fan base. The SEC is a bloodbath -- and it's only getting tougher with the additions of Texas and Oklahoma.
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