Auburn’s Iron Bowl loss to Alabama capped off the 2024 season well

The repeated failure to capitalize on multiple turnovers and convert in the red zone is systemic to Hugh Freeze’s entire football operation, and the same goes for the same old excuses the Auburn Tigers head coach has invariably made this season has given.

“It certainly could have been a different game,” Freeze lamented after the game about Auburn’s missed opportunities in the first half. “The difference in the game was their third-down conversions … their ability to stay on the field and us not being able to score touchdowns in the red zone.”

In a 28-14 loss in the Iron Bowl, the Tigers’ faint hopes of extending their season were finally dashed by a collective moan and whimper, and Bama converted on 12 of their 18 third-down attempts.

If Tigers fans truly cared, extending the 2024 season would only prolong the misery inflicted on them by terrible coaching and play.

The more cynical among us might venture to suggest that when Freeze immediately shifted the program’s focus to recruiting and portal work, he was hell-bent on self-preservation.

“We have a top 10 class and we’re hoping we can get another one next week,” Freeze said Saturday. “We have to go back and try to finish it and then enter the portal to make sure we don’t feel like this next year.”

That’s not to say he’s wrong about his big picture view; This current incarnation of the Tigers is lacking in far too many areas to truly compete with Alabama and a host of other stronger programs.

While most would agree with that assessment, Freeze’s baffling decision to forego the previous transfer portal and go with a completely overmatched Payton Thorne as the starting quarterback was a baffling incompetence on the part of the head coach.

The truth is that Thorne was put in a hopeless situation by a head coach who either completely misjudged his abilities or had the hubris to believe he could get miracles out of him.

Or both.

Thorne’s abject inability to read the game in crucial situations was something that faltered so much that it became completely insane to run the offense through him.

When Freeze said, “Get into the portal to make sure we don’t feel like this next year,” he didn’t necessarily mean “quarterback,” but he might as well have done it. Auburn has no proven talent on the roster and high school recruit Deuce Knight, if he stays with the Tigers, won’t be the answer.

Next on the list should be cleaning up the three-headed monster that is the Tigers’ mission. Given the three votes on game days, it’s no surprise that Auburn looked confused and bewildered as the pressure mounted…like in the red zone and at the end of halftimes.

As the dust settles and bragging rights resume in Tuscaloosa, many will complain that running back Jarquez Hunter’s legs and explosive freshman wide receiver Cam Coleman’s hands aren’t being used more.

“It’s disappointing to end the season the way we did,” admitted Freeze. “With these young guys and hopefully the class we can sign next week, there’s definitely a lot to build on. Yet the pain is still there.”

Freeze inherited a talent-poor squad when he took office. There is no doubt that he is improving the staff. But he needs to get better quarterback play and improve in-game decision-making in 2025 if he wants to see 2026.

The clock starts now.