Just seven days ago, Freeze and the Tigers picked up an emotional four-overtime upset over No. 15 Texas A&M that ended in a field-storming inside of Jordan-Hare Stadium as the program picked up its first win over a ranked opponent since 2021.
A week later and 125 miles to the west, themes of Auburn’s losing season prevailed in a 28-14 loss to No. 13 Alabama in Tuscaloosa, AL – a place the Crimson Tide now, for the first time ever, lead the all-time series 8-7.
The Tiger’s seventh loss now marks four straight seasons of seven losses for the first time since a stretch from 1927-30.
“Disappointing to end of the season like we did,” Freeze said following the loss. “Lot to build on, for sure, those young guys and hopefully the class that we can sign next week. Nonetheless, the hurt is still there.”
In the first half, Auburn put together four different drives that made it inside of the Alabama 25-yard line, the Crimson Tide turned it over three times and the Tigers had 204 yards of offense averaging 5.1 yards per play.
It sounds like the perfect recipe for an upset. Instead, Auburn accumulated just six points and trailed at the half.
“It could have been a different game for sure,” Freeze said. “If you put those in the end zone where we had the opportunity three times in the first half, we had Dre open, just missed it on one of those, and regret calling the tempo play on third and one.”
Alabama ended up turning the ball over four times; three fumbles and an interception. In the following drives, Auburn missed a field goal, made two field goals and threw an interception. It was the Tigers inability to get into the end zone – despite moving the ball inside the Crimson Tide 24-yard line seven times on Saturday.
“Very frustrating that’s what will sit in your stomach,” Freeze said of not turning turnovers into touchdowns. “A few calls here and there, you know, the trick play, the third one tempo, all of those you second guess yourself all the time, things like that, because we could have made that.”
While Auburn’s defense created turnovers, Alabama converted 12 of its 18 third down attempts – converting six in which the Crimson Tide needed five-or-more yards to go. Of Auburn's six stops on third down, half were by turnovers.
“The difference in the game was their ability to stay on the field on third down, and us not being able to score touchdowns in the endzone,” Freeze said.
Quarterback Payton Thorne, in his final collegiate game, completed 20-of-37 pass attempts for 221 yards – if you remove his four completions on Auburn’s final drive as time expired with the game already decided. Thorne had 41 record pass attempts on Saturday which marks his career high at Auburn.
“Walking off the field, it's my last college game,” Thorne said. “I hope I left a mark on those guys and was an example of something they can work towards.”
Senior running back Jarquez Hunter only had 13 rush attempts, with only three in the second half, against Alabama for 56 total yards – marking the fifth game against power-four opponents, all of which were losses, Hunter had 13-or-less carries.
“I mean, they played a seventh guy, pretty close, but I'll have to watch the film. They either won in some one-on-ones or some double teams, but they did a really nice job up front,” Freeze said of Alabama’s ability to get home against Auburn’s offensive line.
Despite not capitalizing on opportunities close to the end zone in the first half, the Tigers had the opportunity to make it a one score game in the fourth quarter inside of Bryant-Denny Stadium for the first time since 2014.
Freeze and the Tigers opted for a trick play on first down on the Alabama 30-yard line resulting in Hunter under-throwing a ball to KeAndre Lambert-Smith and the Crimson Tide getting a game-sealing interception.
“I called the tempo play and trick play. Obviously, we didn't coach it well enough,” Freeze said. “There was a post-safety there. You don't throw that. You throw the screen back to Payton and I think they would’ve had a shot at a pretty big play.”
Ultimately, following a magical upset over No. 15 Texas A&M a week ago, the loss to Alabama, a fifth straight for the first time since a stretch from 1973-81, took the Tigers back to the rude reality that Auburn’s 2024 season was a losing one.
Whether it was all the empty yardage, defensive struggles on third down, bad offensive starting field position, special teams penalties or clock management errors, Freeze’s second season wasn’t a step forward for a program that’s trying to turn the tide.
“We're improving with a lot of young kids that are very talented, and you got to go recruit,” Freeze said. “And you know, I've said it before that some of the teams we’re playing, and this particular game, they've had top-five recruiting classes for a lot of straight years. We've had one top-10 class, and hopefully we get ready to have a second.”
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Patrick is a junior from Auburn, Alabama, double majoring in journalism and marketing. He started with The Plainsman in the fall of 2022.
You can follow him on X (Twitter) at @patrickabingham
