The summer sun in Alabama has cast more than just long shadows on the fairways—it’s ignited a firestorm of debate around head coach Hugh Freeze and his frequent appearances on the golf course. With Auburn football’s recruiting rankings plummeting to the bottom of the SEC, critics are teeing off on Freeze, alleging that his leisure time is coming at the cost of the Tigers’ future.
Freeze reportedly logged 10 rounds of golf between June 1st through 24th alone, more than any other SEC coach with public handicap records. This revelation coincided with a string of de-commitments from high-profile recruits and a recruiting class that now ranks No. 78 nationally and dead last in the SEC.
Even Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin couldn’t resist a jab, resurfacing Freeze’s celebratory golf post to highlight Auburn’s recruiting woes. The optics, many argue, are damaging especially for a program that hasn’t posted a winning SEC record since Freeze took the helm.
Freeze, however, isn’t backing down. In a recent podcast appearance, Freeze said, “I do love golf, I enjoy playing it to get away, but what people don’t realize is probably, you know, I assure you I never missed a camp day or a recruiting day, but, if camp got over at three o’clock one day and Jill and I go out at 4:30, we absolutely might do that and I’m not apologizing for that part of it.”
Supporters argue that Freeze’s recruiting struggles stem not from his tee times, but from Auburn’s cautious approach to the new NIL revenue-sharing landscape. Freeze claims other programs are “operating under a different set of rules,” while Auburn is choosing to “do things the right way”. This long-game strategy, he believes, will pay off once NIL deals must be formalized in writing starting August 1.
The drama surrounding Freeze’s golf game is more than just a quirky offseason headline—it’s a reflection of the pressure cooker that is SEC football. With Alabama surging in recruiting and Auburn lagging, the stakes are high. Freeze’s defenders say the criticism is premature and that a few August commitments—or a Week 1 win against Baylor—could silence the noise.
But for now, the fairway remains a battleground. Whether Freeze’s swing is hurting Auburn’s recruiting or simply misunderstood, one thing’s clear: the Tigers’ 2025 season will be played under a microscope, and every stroke, on the course or the field, will count.
