Auburn Fires Hugh Freeze; Durkin Interim

Auburn fired head coach Hugh Freeze on Nov. 2 after a 10–3 loss to Kentucky, ending his three-season tenure at 15–19 and marking the Tigers’ third coaching change in five years. Athletic director John Cohen has opened a national search while D.J. Durkin is serving as interim coach as the staff works to steady recruiting ahead of the early signing period on Dec. 3. The firing arrives amid a crowded coaching carousel — with more than a dozen openings and roughly $185 million in buyout obligations for recently dismissed coaches — that is making landing top candidates unpredictable. Auburn and other programs are compiling hot boards that include Group-of-Five standouts such as Tulane’s Jon Sumrall, while Lane Kiffin remains widely discussed for multiple marquee jobs. The move is expected to accelerate transfer-portal movement and retention battles, increasing urgency to hire a coach with SEC recruiting ties and offensive credentials who can quickly stabilize the roster. Given Auburn’s recruiting footprint and resources, the search will be watched nationally but could be complicated by the crowded market and heavy buyouts.