ESPN’s Paul Finebaum Likes What He Sees in New-Look Auburn Tigers

For years, Paul Finebaum has been both a harsh critic and occasional advocate of the Auburn Tigers, never hesitating to call out underperformance or praise a sudden surge. But this spring, as college football prepares for a seismic 2025 season with playoff expansion, realignment, and new faces in high places, the ESPN and SEC Network personality is sounding unusually optimistic about the direction of Auburn football.

“I think for the first time in a long time, you can look at Auburn and say they have a plan. Not just a plan, but a culture shift that’s really starting to take hold,” Finebaum said on a recent appearance on “Get Up.” “Hugh Freeze has the pieces in place now. And I’m not just talking talent—there’s energy, confidence, and belief.”

It’s a statement that carries weight, especially from Finebaum, whose measured words can sway narratives across the SEC landscape. And after back-to-back rollercoaster seasons on The Plains, it seems Auburn might finally be climbing out of the chaotic fog that clouded the program post-Gus Malzahn.

Building from the Ground Up

The Freeze era at Auburn hasn’t been without its speed bumps. The Tigers went 6-7 in 2023, followed by a 7-6 campaign in 2024 that was as frustrating as it was promising. Despite some puzzling in-game decisions and head-scratching losses, the program began showing signs of foundational growth: cleaner execution, competitive fight in rivalry games, and most importantly—recruiting momentum.

Finebaum emphasized those points. “It’s not just about the record last year,” he said. “Auburn was in games they had no business being in with the talent they had. They gave Alabama everything it could handle, and that’s telling.”

Indeed, last year’s Iron Bowl nearly swung Auburn’s way. Despite being outmatched on paper, the Tigers led late into the fourth quarter before a miraculous Crimson Tide fourth-and-31 conversion flipped the script. That type of performance, according to Finebaum, is exactly the kind that can be a program-defining moment—even in defeat.

“It showed grit,” Finebaum noted. “You can build a program on grit, especially at a place like Auburn where expectations are sky-high but the margin for error is razor thin.”

Quarterback Stability, At Last?

One of the most pressing questions at Auburn for the past several seasons has been the quarterback position. From Bo Nix’s polarizing tenure to the revolving door that followed, Auburn has struggled to find consistency under center. But 2025 might be different.

This spring, Freeze and new offensive coordinator Kent Austin appear fully committed to sophomore standout Walker White, a former four-star recruit who wowed during the Tigers’ bowl game victory and has taken command this offseason.

“Walker White is the real deal,” Finebaum said on his radio show. “I’ve talked to coaches around the SEC who are saying Freeze might’ve found his guy. He’s got size, arm strength, and most importantly, the mental makeup to thrive in this conference.”

White’s rapid development has energized a fan base craving quarterback stability. His chemistry with receivers like Cam Coleman—a five-star freshman wideout who flipped from Texas A&M—and sophomore phenom Karmello English has added another layer of danger to the Tigers’ offense.

“They’ve got the horses now,” Finebaum said. “That wide receiver room is as talented as it’s been since the 2010s. And they’re not just relying on transfers anymore—they’re developing from within.”

Defensive Identity Returns

While much of the offseason buzz has centered on Freeze’s offensive revamp, Auburn’s defense is quietly morphing into a force again under Ron Roberts. The Tigers return a majority of their front seven, led by edge rusher Keldric Faulk and linebacker Eugene Asante. But it’s the infusion of speed and physicality in the secondary that’s catching attention.

“They’re flying around again,” Finebaum noted. “You see that orange and blue swarm the ball and you think, ‘Okay, this looks like Auburn.’ That’s been missing.”

With returning safety Zion Puckett anchoring the backend and five-star freshman corner Jabari Johnson turning heads in practice, the Tigers might finally have the balance needed to challenge the SEC’s elite.

“Freeze has always been known for offense,” Finebaum said. “But he knows you can’t survive in this league unless you have a defense that punches back. Auburn’s defense is starting to punch again.”

NIL, Culture, and the Transfer Portal

Finebaum’s praise didn’t stop at on-field production. He also highlighted Auburn’s handling of the NIL era and the transfer portal, noting how Freeze and athletic director John Cohen have fostered a sustainable approach.

“They’re not throwing bags blindly,” Finebaum said. “They’ve got a strategy. They’re using NIL to complement their roster, not build it from scratch. That’s going to pay off long term.”

The Tigers’ 2025 class ranked inside the top 10, and Auburn landed key portal additions who filled immediate needs—most notably, offensive lineman Jacob Hood from Georgia and former LSU tight end Mason Taylor.

But even more critical is the locker room environment Freeze has cultivated.

“The culture shift is real,” Finebaum said. “You walk into Auburn’s facilities now, and there’s a sense of direction. Players are buying in. Coaches are aligned. That’s how you build a contender.”

The Schedule Gauntlet

Of course, no conversation about Auburn is complete without mentioning their brutal SEC schedule. In 2025, they face Alabama, Georgia, Oklahoma, and Texas—all programs projected to start the season in the top 10. But Finebaum views the slate not as a curse—but an opportunity.

“If Auburn gets through that with eight or nine wins, Freeze is a Coach of the Year candidate,” he said. “But even seven wins against that schedule shows real progress. It’s all about how they compete.”

The key stretch comes in October, when Auburn hosts Oklahoma and visits Athens in back-to-back weeks. Survive that, and a late-season Iron Bowl in Jordan-Hare could have massive implications—not just for Auburn, but for the College Football Playoff picture.

Buy-In From the Fan Base

Perhaps what Finebaum finds most encouraging is the reengagement of the Auburn fan base.

“There was apathy there not long ago,” he recalled. “Fans didn’t believe. They were tired of the drama, the coaching searches, the disappointments. But now, you feel the tide turning—pun intended.”

Auburn’s spring game sold out in less than a week. Social media engagement has spiked. Recruiting weekends have turned into full-campus showcases. Freeze, like him or not, has people talking—and believing.

“You can’t underestimate momentum,” Finebaum said. “Auburn has it now. And in the SEC, momentum can be everything.”

The Hugh Freeze Factor

At the center of it all, of course, is Hugh Freeze. The polarizing head coach entered Auburn with controversy and questions, but he’s slowly silencing doubters. Though he still draws skepticism for past off-field issues and conservative play-calling at times, Freeze’s record of quarterback development, recruiting savvy, and cultural rebuilding is speaking volumes.

“Say what you want about Hugh Freeze, but he wins,” Finebaum said. “And he’s doing it the right way at Auburn.”

Freeze has embraced his second chance in the SEC with a mix of humility and confidence. He’s been accessible to the media, active in the community, and vocal about restoring Auburn’s identity.

“I love Auburn,” Freeze said recently. “I love what this place can be when we’re all pulling in the same direction. We’re not there yet—but we’re getting closer every day.”

Can Auburn Crash the CFP Party?

With the playoff expanding to 12 teams this season, there’s legitimate buzz around Auburn’s potential to be a dark horse contender. While few expect them to dethrone Georgia or Alabama outright, the new format allows programs like Auburn—battle-tested, improving, and surging—to sneak in with a strong finish and key victories.

“Don’t be shocked if Auburn is in that playoff conversation by November,” Finebaum predicted. “They’re not just rebuilding anymore—they’re competing.”

It’s a bold claim, but one that fits the mood in Auburn right now. After years of turmoil and uncertainty, the Tigers seem poised to rejoin the national spotlight—not as an underdog story, but as a legitimate SEC threat.

For Finebaum, that change didn’t happen overnight. But it’s happening.

“They’ve got the coach. They’ve got the quarterback. They’ve got the identity,” he said. “Now they just have to go prove it.”

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Final Thoughts

There’s still work to be done. Auburn isn’t yet Alabama, Georgia, or LSU. But if you ask Paul Finebaum, they might be on their way back to joining that conversation.

And for the Auburn faithful, that’s more than enough reason to believe again.

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