Lane Kiffin couldn't help himself with one-emoji response to Hugh Freeze's ridiculous gameplan for Auburn's offense

Earlier this offseason, Freeze caught a stray for his golf game from Kiffin. Kiffin said at SEC Media Days that, Kiffin said: “I have a thing with him going back years ago when he posted a picture in response to me of some two-pound bass or something like that, so I’ve always posted bigger fish back towards him. It was nothing to do with his golf game. Which sounds he’s doing amazing on, so, that’s great for him.”

Freeze later responded that “I’m not on social media, but I love Lane. He makes me laugh. Loved his family for a long time. You know his brother, Chris, was with me at the beginning of my journey…I admire him...I couldn’t get away with all the social media but I admire him. I think it’s funny.”

The rivalry between Kiffin and Freeze is a blend of professional competition and playful, often pointed, social media banter. Kiffin and Freeze share a history tied to their tenures at Ole Miss, where Freeze coached from 2012 to 2016 before resigning amid scandal, and Kiffin took over in 2020. Their feud, often one-sided, is fueled by Kiffin’s sharp wit and relentless trolling on platforms like X.

The rivalry ignited in 2022 when Freeze, then at Liberty, posted a fishing photo, prompting Kiffin to respond with a larger catch, captioned, “@SEC IT JUST MEANS MORE.” Since then, Kiffin has seized every opportunity to jab Freeze, from mocking Auburn’s recruiting struggles to questioning their complex play-calling system, where multiple coaches handle different downs.

Kiffin’s sarcastic query, “So does a 4th coach call 4th downs??” exemplifies his knack for subtle yet biting commentary. He’s also targeted Freeze’s golfing habits and even his phrasing, like the “length and girth” comment, with a facepalm emoji.

Freeze, while occasionally responding with backhanded compliments about Ole Miss’s NIL success, largely takes the high road, claiming admiration for Kiffin. However, Kiffin’s 2-0 record against Freeze’s teams and Auburn’s recent struggles keep the rivalry heated, making it a captivating SEC storyline.