Hugh Freeze reacts to SEC's proposed 9-game scheduling model following Nick Saban complaints
Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze has yet to coach a game for the Tigers but is already being asked about future Southeastern Conference scheduling formats.
With Auburn returning to spring practice this week, Freeze was asked in a recent press conference about the league’s rumored new scheduling plan beginning in 2024.
“Have they decided the format yet?” Freeze said. “I’m of the make up if I can’t control, it’s probably not worth me worrying about. I have zero control and I trust John Cohen and Dr. Roberts. They’re sitting in those meetings and they’re going to do the best they can to do what’s best for Auburn University. … We all knew coming into this league when we took these jobs that you’re going to have a hard schedule. Some of us have it harder than others and are used to that. It is what it is and me complaining about it or worrying about it certainly is not going to help us prepare for it. It is what it is. If you ask me after they’ve decided on the format, I probably could tell you who I’d like for our crossovers to be but it’s probably not going to be those. It’s just really not worth me worrying about it.”
The proposed nine-game model for the SEC will see each team play three games every year against three permanent opponents and then rotate the six other games against the other 12 SEC opponents.
The league has already announced the new schedule will take effect when Texas and Oklahoma join in 2024.
“I would assume in whatever format they’re going to give us that we’re probably going to have a couple tough draws,” Freeze said. “It is what it is. It’s exciting for our fans. It’s exciting for our kids. But me sitting around worrying about what will be decided on the format probably doesn’t help us one bit.”
Nick Saban is not happy with Alabama’s proposed every-year opponents
While Hugh Freeze is withholding judgement on the potential changes, his Iron Bowl counterpart has expressed his displeasure with it.
Nick Saban has said he is not happy about the teams Alabama would have to face under the SEC’s current draft of the schedule.
“I’ve always been an advocate for playing more [conference] games,” Saban said to Sports Illustrated. “But if you play more games, I think you have to get the three fixed [opponents] right. They’re giving us Tennessee, Auburn and LSU. I don’t know how they come to that [decision].”
While that is a tough trifecta of teams for Alabama to face, all three are major rivals for the Crimson Tide.
“We got three teams and two of them are in the Top 10 and the other is in the Top 10 a lot. Look historically over a 25-year history, and the three best teams in the East are Georgia, Tennessee and Florida. You look historically at 25 years, Alabama, LSU and Auburn are the three best teams in the West. So we’re playing them all.”