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The 2024 college football season proved to be challenging for several programs across the country, many of which were hoping to turn their fortunes around.
Among these teams is the Auburn Tigers, who have faced four consecutive losing seasons and have not won 10 or more games since 2017. Head coach Hugh Freeze is entering his third season in charge, hopeful that this will be the year he can steer Auburn back in the right direction.
On "The Paul Finebaum Show," SEC Network analyst Paul Finebaum shared his thoughts on the Tigers' prospects for the upcoming season. Finebaum expressed high expectations for this prominent SEC program.
"I'm pretty upbeat," Finebaum said. "I think that Hugh Freeze has done a phenomenal job recruiting. I think he's also done a good job in, I think, the right quarterback in Jackson Arnold. He wasn't the right quarterback at Oklahoma. But I think he's probably the right one there. So, I think this is a turnaround year."
Auburn ranks No. 22 in the country for returning production, bringing back 65% of its total output. On the offensive side, the Tigers retain 70% of their production, which places them at No. 21 nationally.
ESPN's Bill Connelly has also identified Auburn as one of the teams most likely to improve in 2025. He pointed out that the Tigers were more efficient and explosive than their opponents in 2024, but they struggled with red zone mistakes and turnovers.
Defensively, Auburn must replace 10 out of 19 players who logged over 200 snaps last season. However, the defense is set to benefit from the addition of two standout transfers from Group of Five schools: Raion Strader, a cornerback from Miami (Ohio), and Chris Murray, a defensive end from Sam Houston.
The team's primary concern lies at the quarterback position, where Auburn brought in two transfers, Stanford's Ashton Daniels and Arnold, who will compete for the starting job. They will be throwing to a potentially dynamic receiving corps led by sophomores Cam Coleman and Malcolm Simmons and Georgia Tech transfer Eric Singleton Jr.
Freeze did a fantastic job recruiting, finishing with the No. 8 transfer portal and overall recruiting classes. This has led to a sense of optimism for Auburn in 2025.
More must-reads:
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- The '2024 NFL rushing TD leaders' quiz
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Report: Ex-Central Michigan HC may have lied about Connor Stalions
The NCAA has finally confirmed that Connor Stalions snuck onto the Central Michigan sideline to help Michigan scout a future opponent, and there are now questions about whether former CMU head coach Jim McElwain let it happen. In an announcement on Friday of its findings from the Michigan sign-stealing scandal, the NCAA acknowledged that Stalions engaged in in-person scouting from the CMU sideline early on in the 2023 season by disguising himself in Chippewas-issued coaching gear. Investigators claim, however, that Stalions snuck onto the sideline “in part to decipher Michigan State’s signals, but also to help a Central Michigan staff member with play calling.” That means Stalions had a connection at CMU, which was already quite obvious because of the gear the former Michigan staffer was seen wearing. At the time, McElwain said CMU was “totally unaware of” the possibility of Stalions having been on the Chippewas’ sideline. He also said he would not condone the spying “in any way shape or form.” You can listen to McElwain’s full comments here. According to a new report from Gino Vicci of CBS News Detroit, a CMU football staffer made a “direct request” to Stalions for help during the team’s season opener on Sept. 1, 2023. The report claims the CMU staffer is the one who initiated contact with Stalions and that McElwain “was likely aware of and approved of the arrangement to secure Stalions a sideline credential and outfit him in CMU-issued gear.” All of that would help explain why Central Michigan is also facing the possibility of NCAA sanctions. McElwain retired as the head coach at CMU after last season but remains with the program as a special assistant to the director of athletics. He went 33-36 in six seasons with the Chippewas. McElwain was the head coach at Florida and Colorado State before that.
Chicago Bears looking at bringing back familiar face at running back
The Chicago Bears don’t appear satisfied with their running back room with one week left to decide the 53-man roster. The Bears have until Aug. 26 to make their final cuts before preparing for the Minnesota Vikings in Week 1. The Bears entered training camp with questions at running back. Veteran D’Andre Swift had a down year in 2024. Roschon Johnson isn’t a long-term solution, and seventh-round pick Kyle Monangai will have a steep learning curve when the regular season begins. The Chicago Bears worked out a former running back Per Aaron Wilson of KPRC, the Bears worked out running backs Royce Freeman, undrafted rookie Kylin James and former Carolina Panthers practice-squad player Dillon Johnson. Royce Freeman played with the Bears in 2024 Of the three, Freeman is the only running back with stats at the NFL level. Freeman, a third-round pick by the Denver Broncos in 2018, has appeared in 79 games and started nine games. He’s rushed 471 times for 1,472 yards and 10 touchdowns. The Bears signed Freeman to the practice squad in December. He was then signed to the Los Angeles Rams practice squad in January. He last played a regular-season game in 2023, when he added 319 yards and two touchdowns in 14 games for the Rams. The Bears are signaling their need for a running back this summer. There are other options available in the trade market, as the Washington Commanders are shopping Brian Robinson Jr. during the preseason. More running backs will be available after other teams trim their rosters to 53 players, but they might not be the type of athletes to make a significant boost for the offense early in the regular season.
Steelers undrafted rookie reportedly upset Mike Tomlin before being cut
The Pittsburgh Steelers surprisingly had a few quality undrafted free agents during 2025 training camp and preseason, as many of them have put up an actual fight to make it to the 53-man roster. Unfortunately, there is very little room on the team, so some very tough decisions will have to be made on that front. Guys like Max Hurleman and JJ Galbreath have been stating their case throughout camp and into gameday, giving the coaching staff a good problem. One decision was surprisingly easy, however. During his weekly Q A chat, insider Ray Fittipaldo was asked about undrafted rookie Roc Taylor and why he was let go right after the preseason Week 2 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He spoke about something that happened right before that contest. "[Roc Taylor] actually got in Tomlin's doghouse at the joint practice," Fittipaldo said. "Not sure if that's the sole reason he was cut, but maybe part of it." Fittipaldo would not expand on what happened, but head coach Mike Tomlin saw enough of the rookie before gameday. It looked like Taylor would at least get first dibs on a practice-squad spot if he was released on roster cutdown day, but now, it seems like his chance of developing in Pittsburgh is gone entirely. Now, he is just hoping someone gives him a call for a chance to be on a practice squad elsewhere. It seemed like Taylor's stock was rising after preseason Week 2. Hurleman had a very rough game, and the former Memphis Tigers standout had three receptions for 39 yards against the Bucs. He was the second-leading receiver on the team, only behind Roman Wilson. It looked like he was forcing himself onto a roster spot, but apparently, Tomlin might have just been waiting until after the game to tell him to pack his bags and try again somewhere else. Steelers' Recent Receiver Issues Make Taylor Cut Even More Concerning What makes this decision even more rough is the fact that the Steelers have three receivers who are not healthy at all. Calvin Austin III is trying to return after missing multiple weeks of practice with an injury, Ben Skowronek recently developed a toe issue and utility man Jonnu Smith has barely participated in practice since July. Spots were opening up for undrafted rookies to take, but Taylor may have said or done something inexcusable enough to lose that chance. The Steelers entered training camp with questionable wide receiver depth, and now it's only more concerning. Wilson's recent development has been the bright spot of the preseason at that position, as Scotty Miller has been taking over the role of WR3 since the game against Tampa Bay. That's why they brought in another possibly injured veteran, Gabe Davis, for a visit, and now they may be hoping that he does not sign elsewhere. Instead of Taylor taking the opportunity to push for a roster spot, guys like Hurleman and Brandon Johnson will be looking to make the team and stick around as numerous players recover from their injuries. With Davis having another visit on Wednesday and the Steelers playing in the preseason finale on Thursday, he most likely will not be signed until after that game. That means the bubble players can prove to the team that they don't need him. It's not public in regards to what Taylor did to get himself in trouble, but he could have had this prime opportunity to be on an active roster as an undrafted rookie. He could have easily been above Hurleman and Johnson on the depth chart. Instead, he is just hoping he makes any team's practice squad now.
Three-time NASCAR champion to retire after 2025 season
A storied NASCAR career will come to an end after 2025. Three-time NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion and 15-time race winner Matt Crafton will retire following the Truck Series championship race at Phoenix Raceway, concluding a NASCAR career that has spanned 25 years. Crafton, 49, has spent the entirety of his NASCAR Truck Series career — save for 2004 — with ThorSport Racing. His partnership with Menards has made his No. 88 truck iconic. Following Friday's eero 250 at Richmond Raceway, Crafton has made a total of 585 Truck Series starts and 592 across the top-three series of NASCAR competition. His last Truck Series victory came at Kansas in July 2020. Crafton failed to qualify for the 2025 Truck Series playoffs and will not compete for a fourth title in his final season. 2025 marks the second consecutive year that Crafton has missed the postseason and the second time he's missed it since NASCAR instituted the playoffs in the Truck Series in 2016. Through 18 races in 2025, Crafton is 16th in the Truck Series standings with three top-10 finishes. Defending Truck Series champion and ThorSport driver Ty Majeski will take over the No. 88 in 2026.
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