Paul Finebaum explains why there's a lot of optimism around Auburn

Auburn enters this season with a lot of energy around them for year two under Hugh Freeze. Paul Finebaum can see an idea of why too with what all is happening down on The Plains.

Finebaum spoke about the Tigers to open with in his appearance on ‘McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning’ on Monday. While he thinks their head coach is being modest about it, Finebaum sees much interest in what they’re currently doing, especially in relation to what’s happening out on the recruiting trail.

“I think there’s a lot of excitement around the program – most of it coming from recruiting,” said Finebaum. “That’s where it starts.”

“I had a chance to talk to Huge Freeze the other day. He did not exude a lot of confidence but you can tell, this time of the year, Freeze is playing a little bit of possum,” Finebaum continued.

Finebaum also just thinks the year one to year two development is more than worth nothing. He doesn’t feel this way but he believes their outings against two of the best in the conference and nation from last season also plays a part in that for the fanbase.

“I think what we’re sensing here is more the carryover,” Finebaum explained. “Stop me if you’ve heard these narratives a few times but people, I think, are looking back at last year’s home games against the two best teams on the schedule, Georgia and Alabama, and trying to make a case for that to carry over to this year. Now, I don’t buy that. I don’t think, really, one season has anything to do with the other.”

Auburn went 6-7 in 2023 in Freeze’s debut as head coach there. It was a bit of a mixed bag with six wins, which is a total they’ve been around for the duration of the 2020s. Still, three were near massive upsets over Georgia, Alabama, and Ole Miss, specifically against the ‘Dawgs and Tide, at Jordan-Hare. However, they lost all three of those as part of two separate losing streaks of four games and then three to end the season. That last one was even more disappointing with a 21-point home loss to New Mexico State, the Gravedigger against ‘Bama, and an 18-point bowl loss to Maryland.

Still, going into 2024, Auburn looks to be on the upswing. That’s so both on the field and based on recent recruitment news.

The Tigers still have a bit to go before being back to what they once were. It’s already close than they have been in some time, though, with how Finebaum views them ahead of this season.

“I mean I think the program is significantly healthier today than maybe it has been for a number of years,” Finebaum.