Hugh Freeze got his guy and for Auburn it is so 'Alabama Football'

The Aubies can't help it. The definition of Auburn football is that the Tigers never stop measuring themselves against Alabama Football. Predictably they have done again by landing a new quarterback with a resume that includes beating an Alabama Crimson Tide team. Jackson Arnold is leaving Oklahoma to play for Hugh Freeze.

The Aubies are giddy with delight.

There is no argument that Hugh Freeze has upgraded his quarterback room significantly though not long after the Arnold announcement, Walker White hit the Transfer Portal.

The downside for Freeze is more than currently needing more quarterbacks. Hugh will have no more excuses. He has gotten away with blaming his roster for lack of success in Auburn. Many Auburn fans have excused Freeze for casting fingers of blame toward Payton Thorne and Jarquez Hunter. But Hugh's tune will have to change. In 2025, Freeze will have to deliver. Can he? Let's look at some history.

In Auburn's last 18 college football seasons, the Tigers have achieved double-digit wins three times. The most recent one came in the 2017 season. In Auburn's last eight seasons, they have been short of winning 52% of their games. Three head coaches have produced that 45-42 record. One of them, Gus Malzahn was an impressive 3-6 against Alabama Football and Nick Saban. The Tigers ran him off anyway.

Going back to Auburn's National Championship season in 2010 (Malzahn was the Auburn OC then) the Tigers' record against the Crimson Tide is 4-11. The Aubies ran off the 2010 head coach as well, Gene Chizik. What Auburn has excelled at since the 2010 season is head coach buyouts. They may still be paying Malzahn, along with Bryan Harsin. Will Hugh Freeze be next?

Those old wins over Alabama Football mean nothing now

Auburn chose Freeze because in 2014 and 2015 he beat Alabama Football and Nick Saban. Though one of the wins hinged on freak luck for Ole Miss, Freeze gained the reputation as the 'Saban-killer'. Freeze won less than 61% of his games at Ole Miss and against lesser competition at Liberty, won less than 70%. Measured by reasonable standards, Hugh's record with the Rebels and the Flames was just modest success. Auburn's tunnel vision saw only the two wins against Nick Saban.

Next season's Iron Bowl could be quite the tussle given it will be in Jordan-Hare. Freeze has to win it or go 0-3 against Alabama as the Auburn head coach, making the old wins against Saban meaningless. Maybe he can. He'll have to do it with Alabama knowing exactly what to expect from him and Jackson Arnold. An early guess is Kalen DeBoer and Kane Wommack will be prepared for Arnold and not the least bit concerned about being out-coached by Hugh Freeze.