Outlet Rips Ex Ole Miss Rebels Coach Hugh Freeze's 'Comically Horrendous' Offense

One columnist had several choice words to say on former Ole Miss Rebels coach Hugh Freeze's offense during his first season at Auburn.

Former Ole Miss head coach Hugh Freeze will meet the Rebels for the first time since his departure from the program in 2016 this Saturday as Auburn's coach. 

Freeze, who won 39 games during his five years in Oxford, has struggled to build a competitive offense since the start of conference play. Really, Auburn's offense has been a liability against FBS schools since its 14-10 win over Cal in Week 2. 

Dismantling rosters to build for a brighter future is common in college football. Coaching staffs want to create a program in their image and rid the stench of mediocrity from the previous regimes. 

One columnist, however, explained that even for new coaching standards, Auburn's passing offense is beyond pitiful. 

"Auburn’s offensive numbers against SEC opponents are comically horrendous. In the league, Auburn is dead last in passing offense at 4.3 yards per attempt," wrote AL.com's Joe Goodman. "By comparison, Auburn is averaging 4.73 yards per attempt rushing for the season. Do you know how hard it is to average more yards rushing than yards per attempt passing? My brain might bleed if I think about it too long. What year is this, 1923?"

Transfer quarterback Payton Thorne has struggled to build any rapport with a handful of receivers added via the transfer portal this offseason. In three SEC starts, the former Michigan State game manager has yet to throw for over 150 yards or a touchdown pass. 

In fact, Thorne has thrown for over 200 yards once, coming against FCS Samford in Week 3. Entering Saturday, Auburn (3-3, 0-3 SEC) ranks 111th in yards per pass attempt (6.3) and 123rd in passing yards per contest (155.8). 

Auburn quarterbacks Patyton Thorne (No. 1) and Robby Ashford (No. 9) warm up during pregame prior to their Week 5 matchup against No. 1 Georgia at Jordan-Hare Stadium.  :: © Jake Crandall / USA TODAY NETWORK

But it gets worse, as Goodman points out. Only Bowling Green averages fewer yards per pass attempt in conference play this season at 3.6. And while the quartet of Jarquez Hunter, Brian Battie, Robby Ashford, and Thorne have combined for over 760 yards and 10 TDs, the Tigers' 4.7 yards per run ranks seventh among SEC programs. 

"Look, I think [Freeze is] a good coach, and maybe it needs to be this bad before things can get better, but Cadillac had Auburn playing like believers touched by the fire of God at the end of 2022," wrote Goodman. "I don’t know, maybe bring back that attitude for Ole Miss and see what happens."

Even in these times where the transfer portal is college football free agency, most coaches don't pull a Sonny Dykes run at TCU in Year 1. Freeze, who revitalized Liberty during his four seasons in Lynchburg, went 6-6 his during the regular season in his first year at Ole Miss. 

Auburn still could finish 6-6 or better this season when looking at the schedule. The Tigers have favorable matchups against Mississippi State, Vanderbilt, Arkansas, and New Mexico State heading into the Iron Bowl against No. 11 Alabama.

The No. 13 Rebels (5-1, 2-1 SEC) enter Saturday as a 5.5-point favorite, but fourth-year coach Lane Kiffin has struggled besting the Tigers. Kiffin is 1-2 against Auburn since being hired in Oxford, including losing at Jordan-Hare 31-10 in 2021. 

Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. The game will be nationally televised on ESPN.