Hugh Freeze asked for patience from Auburn fans Saturday night but admitted he understands their frustration after the Tigers’ 10-3 home loss to Kentucky. Fans left Jordan-Hare Stadium shouting “Fire Hugh” as postseason hopes are slowly diminishing.
Freeze’s decision to start Stanford transfer Ashton Daniels over Jackson Arnold backfired, resulting in only a field goal and no explosive plays.
“I wish I could ask for patience, but that’s not really something people want to give in this day and time,” Freeze said. “I just know we’re so dang close. If a few things had gone our way earlier in the year, we’re looking at a different deal. But it didn’t, and that’s football. We’ll get up and go get ready for the next one.”
Auburn (4-5, 1-5 SEC) has dropped five of its last six games and has not won consecutive league contests since Freeze’s first season in 2023. Daniels threw for 59 yards and ran for 57 before Arnold briefly replaced him late in the fourth quarter.
“My job is to get this team ready to play and win games, and we have failed to do that,” Freeze said. “It’s sickening we haven’t delivered. I love it here, and I still believe we’re close, but I get the frustration.”
The Tigers had won 19 of their previous 20 meetings with Kentucky.
If Auburn moves on from Freeze, he’ll be the fourth SEC coach fired since the season started.
