AUBURN COACH HUGH FREEZE PRAISES TEAM’S GRIT AFTER HARD-FOUGHT VICTORY…READ…MORE…

AUBURN COACH HUGH FREEZE PRAISES TEAM’S GRIT AFTER HARD-FOUGHT VICTORY…READ…MORE…

Following a nail-biting 27–24 victory over SEC rival Texas A&M, Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze couldn’t hold back his pride for the resilience and toughness his team displayed on both sides of the ball. In what Freeze called “one of the grittiest performances of the season,” the Tigers clawed their way to a crucial win that keeps their bowl hopes very much alive.

“This team just refused to quit,” Freeze said in the postgame press conference. “There were moments where the momentum could’ve swung the other way, but these guys dug deep. They fought for each other, and that’s what Auburn football is all about.”

The win marked Auburn’s sixth of the season, bringing them to 6–5 overall and 3–4 in SEC play. While the season has featured ups and downs, Freeze emphasized that this victory was a testament to the players’ character, not just their talent.

Quarterback Payton Thorne led the Tigers with 215 passing yards and two touchdowns, but it was the collective effort — especially in the fourth quarter — that earned praise from the head coach. Running back Jarquez Hunter added 104 tough rushing yards, while the Auburn defense came up with a game-saving interception with under two minutes remaining.

“Our guys never flinched,” Freeze said. “The defense stepped up in the biggest moment. That’s the kind of mental toughness we’ve been preaching since day one.”

The Tigers trailed 17–13 at halftime and looked sluggish on offense until an inspired third-quarter drive — highlighted by a 42-yard catch-and-run from wide receiver Jay Fair — ignited the sideline and the packed crowd at Jordan-Hare Stadium. The game-winning touchdown came on a gutsy fourth-and-goal call from Freeze, which saw tight end Rivaldo Fairweather haul in a contested catch in the back of the end zone.

“I trusted our guys to make the play,” Freeze said of the crucial decision. “You coach for moments like that — where it’s not just about Xs and Os, but about heart.”

The emotional victory also marked a significant moment in Freeze’s rebuilding effort at Auburn. After taking over the program in 2023, Freeze has worked to instill discipline, energy, and belief in a roster that had struggled with consistency in recent years.

“Wins like this show that we’re moving in the right direction,” Freeze added. “We’ve still got work to do, but the culture is changing. You can see it in how they play, how they respond to adversity.”

With one regular-season game left on the schedule — a high-stakes Iron Bowl matchup against Alabama — the Tigers are trending upward at just the right time. Freeze made it clear that regardless of the result, he’s proud of what this group has already accomplished.

“We’re not backing down from anyone,” Freeze said. “This team believes, and when you’ve got belief in that locker room, anything’s possible.”

The grit, unity, and belief that Coach Hugh Freeze sees in his Tigers could very well be the spark that reignites Auburn football’s competitive edge in the SEC.