It's official: Kentucky got Hugh Freeze fired at Auburn

Auburn Tigers head coach Hugh Freeze and Kentucky Wildcats head coach Mark Stoops shake hands after Auburn Tigers take on Kentucky Wildcats at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala. on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025. Kentucky Wildcats defeated Auburn Tigers 10-3. © Jake Crandall/ Advertiser / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Call Mark Stoops the Grim Reaper — because he just got another coach fired. Kentucky wins have led to either the downfall or direct breakups with the likes of Steve Spurrier, Bobby Petrino, Dan Mullen, Will Muschamp, Jeremy Pruitt, Scott Satterfield and Ed Orgeron. Now, Auburn has done the same with Hugh Freeze, the Tigers firing the third-year coach after taking a home loss to the Wildcats on Saturday, according to On3’s Pete Nakos.

It’s the fourth straight Sunday a big-name coach has been fired, joining James Franklin at Penn State on October 12, Billy Napier at Florida on Oct. 19, Brian Kelly at LSU on Oct. 26, and now, Freeze on November 2.

Auburn fell to 4-5 on the season following Kentucky’s 10-3 victory at Jordan-Hare Stadium. The Tigers started the season 3-0 before losing four straight, leading to Freeze’s seat heating to the point of coaching-for-his-job territory. He survived one week with a win over Arkansas in Fayetteville to get back to .500 in Week 9, only to watch it all come crumbling down a week later against the Wildcats. Falling to 6-16 in the SEC midway through his first three seasons on the Plains, the Tigers decided to make a move on Sunday.

Fans chanted “Fire Hugh!” as he walked out of Jordan-Hare Stadium, leading to obvious questions at the podium regarding his future.

“I wish I could ask for patience, but that’s not something that people want to give in this day and time — and I understand that,” Freeze said. “I just think we’re so dang close. … Like I’ve said all year long, my job is to get this team ready to win games. We have failed to do that this year and it’s frustrating. I still believe we’re really close and I know that team plays hard for this university.

Get the Daily On3 Newsletter in your inbox every morning

By clicking "Subscribe to Newsletter", I agree to On3's Privacy Notice, Terms, and use of my personal information described therein.

“It’s sickening that we haven’t delivered. No one wants to do that more than I. Our family loves it, our staff loves it, but at the end of the day, I’m frustrated, too.”

How much will the breakup cost the school? With no updated negotiated buyout number, Auburn will pay Freeze the remaining $15.4 million he is owed on his contract.

Freeze finished 15-19 overall as the head coach at Auburn. Before his time there, he was Liberty’s head coach from 2019-22 and led the Ole Miss program before that from 2012-16. He’s also spent time at Arkansas State and Lambuth.

Auburn has not posted a winning season since 2020 with no 10-win seasons since 2017. With the prestigious program desperate for a return to glory, it’s been decided that Freeze cannot lead that charge.

Who will be the Tigers’ 30th head coach in program history? The search begins now.