Auburn Fires Coach Hugh Freeze After Three Seasons, D.J. Durkin Named Interim

Auburn University has fired head football coach Hugh Freeze following a disappointing 10-3 loss to Kentucky, ending his three-season tenure with a 15-19 overall record and 6-16 in SEC play. Defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin, who previously coached Maryland, will serve as interim head coach for the remainder of the season. Freeze's dismissal marks another significant change in this year's college football coaching carousel, which has seen numerous firings at major programs such as Arkansas, Florida, LSU, Penn State, and Virginia Tech. The firing impacts recruiting dynamics, as several high-profile prospects previously targeted by Syracuse had committed to Auburn under Freeze, potentially reopening their recruitment. Moreover, the coaching changes affect coaching searches elsewhere; for example, Virginia Tech's pursuit of James Franklin becomes more complicated with this new SEC vacancy. Auburn's decision reflects high expectations to compete for championships annually and continues a trend of administrative decisiveness amid underperformance and program challenges.