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New York Times
7 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Preseason SEC hot seat index: Plenty of coaches enter 2025 with varying levels of heat
ATLANTA — Hugh Freeze normally likes to talk. Not so this week at SEC media days. The Auburn coach gave short answers, uninterested in offering up long, introspective answers on the state of his program. Freeze acted like a guy who, well, maybe had a tee time. The background for those who missed it: Freeze posted 11 rounds of golf to the U.S. Golf Association database in June, as uncovered. This revelation came at a bad time for Freeze, whose recruiting class lost three recruits and fell to 78th in the nation. Advertisement Freeze's golfing became a sore point for some Auburn fans, and Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin seemed to needle Freeze on social media. When asked about it this week, Kiffin at first did a version of 'who me?' But as Kiffin insisted he was just innocently talking about fishing, he got in his shot: '(It) had nothing to do with his golf game, which sounds like he's doing amazing at that. That's great for him.' Being a punchline for your peers probably isn't a great sign for job security. Entering Year 3, Freeze appears squarely on the coaching hot seat — but is far from alone in the SEC. In the conference where 'It Just Means More' often leads to more … buyouts, there were no head coaches fired during or after the 2024 season. That's not unheard of in the SEC, but it likely means this year will make up for it. The hot seat is clogged. Less than half of the SEC's head coaches would seem safe this year, barring some sort of scandal: Kiffin, Georgia's Kirby Smart, Texas' Steve Sarkisian, Tennessee's Josh Heupel, Missouri's Eli Drinkwitz, South Carolina's Shane Beamer and Texas A&M's Mike Elko. That leaves nine other coaches who, to varying degrees, need to win this year. Here's a look at the SEC's preseason hot seat index: The inspired — or desperate — decision to bring Bobby Petrino back as offensive coordinator quietly paid off last year: Arkansas improved from last to third in the SEC in offensive yards per play. That helped the Razorbacks go 7-6 and fend off the vultures for another season. Pittman has winning seasons in three of the past five years, and still looks great compared to the disaster he inherited. Essentially, he has the program back to Bret Bielema territory — Bielema also had three winning seasons in five years, but was never better than 8-5 (Pittman does have a 9-4 in his pocket). But how long before Arkansas decides it needs to get back to, say, how things were under Petrino before his unfortunate motorcycle ride? Advertisement The dean of SEC coaches is coming off a clunker of a 4-8 season, which might have been an opportune time for Stoops and his bosses to shake hands and move on. The fact he didn't speaks either to Stoops' competitive fire to get the program back to a solid level, or apathy in the administration. Or maybe both. This season doesn't look too promising, unless new quarterback Zach Calzada — now on his fourth team (and third SEC school) in seven college seasons — is this year's Diego Pavia. That doesn't seem likely. But Stoops, whose teams are known for defense and hard-nosed offense, could still get this team back to respectability. Lebby has only had one season, but it was pretty bad: 2-10, and 0-8 in the SEC. This week, Lebby was asked, given how Mississippi State did well in baseball and men's and women's basketball, when he would get football back? Lebby replied by pointing out that the school's softball team also did well. 'It's our turn to go do our job,' Lebby said. Or at least not be terrible. That may be tough, given another hard schedule and a roster showing the effect of three coaches in four years. Two seasons may seem an extremely quick hook at Mississippi State, but Lebby is replacing Zach Arnett, who only got one year. Athletic director Zac Selmon did that because he wanted to hire his own guy, and would probably give Lebby more time. So Lebby had better hope Selmon doesn't leave for, say, the AD job at Oklahoma, where he worked for more than a decade. Venables has had two losing seasons in three years, and three out of four would mean the end. But he looks primed for improvement, bringing in QB John Mateer and offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle from Washington State. Better health at receiver should help too. 'You choose to come to Oklahoma to coach or to play on the biggest stage, in the biggest games, and you accept everything that comes with that,' Venables said Wednesday. 'In the new era of college football, we expect to be a program that is year-in, year-out consistently a Playoff contender.' Advertisement Getting to that level this year may be enough to get Venables another year. That and a $42 million buyout. If it's a close call, a complication is the pending retirement of AD Joe Castiglione, who will step down once his replacement is hired. The timing of that, and who it is, could be key. Or Venables could just make the decision easy by winning. Asked about the attention on his golf game, Freeze answered: 'It's something I enjoy doing, but I assure you it does not take away from my time working to take Auburn back to the top of the college football world.' That's not out of the realm of possibility this year, especially if QB Jackson Arnold turns things around after a rough season at Oklahoma (which may have had more to do with injuries around him). Freeze has recruited well the previous two years, and brought in good transfers, including receiver Eric Singleton from Georgia Tech. Still, the first two years have not been great. Auburn went 5-7 last year with four home losses, including California, Vanderbilt and Arkansas. That followed an Auburn debut season when Freeze went 6-7, with a late-season home loss to New Mexico State. And that followed Freeze's hire being somewhat controversial, given his checkered history. So as much as the golfing thing may seem funny, it also shows the Auburn fan base isn't in love with Freeze, and he has work to do this year. The vibes in Gainesville are definitely good, and Napier has turned a corner after winning five of seven to end 2024. After going through the media gantlet on Wednesday, Napier acknowledged it was a nice change from last year. 'A little more narrative about turning around, than how do you turn it around, if that makes sense,' Napier said, adding: 'Look, we're preparing to be dropped in the deep end of the ocean again. That's the world we live in. The good thing is we have a team that's prepared, they know what winning football looks like.' Still, things could go sideways again, especially with a daunting schedule and the health of QB DJ Lagway still a question. And Napier's buyout is down to $20 million. He may not need a College Football Playoff appearance, but he does need to keep momentum in the right direction. Advertisement The natives in Baton Rouge are restless, and the optics of Marcus Freeman doing well at Notre Dame don't help. Kelly does seem to feel the urgency, putting pressure on himself to end the five-game losing streak in openers. Still, Kelly has a $55 million buyout. That's a lot to pay if LSU is 'merely' in 9-3 or 8-4 territory. If things get worse than that, look out. LSU still has a lot of talent, notably with QB Garrett Nussmeier, and the defense could finally be better this year. With Clemson and Florida in the first three weeks of the season, his hot-seat status could shift quickly in either direction. DeBoer, like Elko, is only entering his second season, and had a better record than Elko did at Texas A&M. But everything is relative. DeBoer was asked Wednesday if his first season (9-4, no Playoff appearance) met the Alabama standard. 'If you internally ask us, no,' DeBoer said. 'We fell short of making the Playoffs. It's as simple as that, right? Giving yourself a chance to go compete for a championship.' The good news is DeBoer has back offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb, his right-hand man when Washington went to the 2023 national championship game. The bad news is their quarterback isn't Michael Penix Jr., or even Jalen Milroe. It's likely to be Ty Simpson, more of an unknown quantity. That said, there's still plenty of talent, DeBoer has won a lot of football games in his career — including last year — and he's carrying himself in a good way in Tuscaloosa. He should be fine. He should also try to win more than nine games, just to be sure. Last year was great: A winning season, beating Alabama. Lea's voice cracked on Monday as he talked about how far his program had come, using the example of a 2021 game when Vanderbilt was down 35-0 in the first quarter to Georgia before losing 62-0. Advertisement 'I remember the sun beating down that afternoon and it's just like you get put in the position of, are you going to coach the team or blame the team?' Lea said. 'All of that was beating back my ego, and really, it was a way of me learning that it's not about me. That ultimately, I'm here in the service of something. And also, without that, I don't know that I could appreciate these breakthrough moments we're having now.' That breakthrough 2024 season almost certainly bought Lea some time to keep building the program the way he wants. That doesn't mean he can afford to immediately go back to the days of 2-10. Given the return of Pavia, that seems unlikely. (Top photos: Justin Ford, Wesley Hitt / Getty Images)
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Prayers Are Pouring In For Lane Kiffin On Wednesday
Prayers Are Pouring In For Lane Kiffin On Wednesday originally appeared on The Spun. Prayers are pouring in for Ole Miss Rebels head coach Lane Kiffin on Wednesday. The 50-year-old head coach announced the passing of his mother, Robin Charlene Kiffin, on Wednesday. Robin Kiffin, the wife of former football coach Monte Kiffin, passed away on June 17, 2025, in her home at Elison Assisted Living in Oxford, Mississippi. Kiffin shared the news of her passing on Wednesday. "Robin spent her childhood in Nebraska and graduated from Lincoln Southeast High School in 1962. She went on to graduate from the University of Nebraska with a degree in teaching. Robin spent 25 years living in the Tampa, FL area and prior to that moved many times to cheer on the various football teams her husband, Monte, was coaching. She made dear friends in all the places they lived, including; Nebraska, Arkansas, North Carolina, Wisconsin, New York, Minnesota, Florida, Tennessee, California, Texas, and Mississippi," her obituary announced. "Robin lived her last four years of life in Oxford, MS, where she was surrounded by her family and friends. She loved cheering on her sons and the Ole Miss Rebels football team, as well as spending as much time as she could with her kids and grandchildren. Robin had various jobs during her life but her pride and joy was taking care of her husband and children. She had a deep sense of pride for her family and loved to brag about them to others." College football fans are thinking of Kiffin on Wednesday afternoon. "Very sorry to hear. Comfort to you and your family. May your mom rest in peace," one fan wrote. "Sorry for your loss," one fan added. "🙏 Coach!" one fan added. "I'm so sorry!" one fan added. The Kiffin family released a statement. "The family would like to thank Elison Assisted Living for their incredible support as well as Waller Funeral Home in Oxford, MS. Please join us for a Celebration of Life to be held at Pinelake Church (5202 George 'Pat' Patterson Pkwy, Oxford, MS) on July 24th at 10:00am. Following the service, the family would like to invite you to join them for a light lunch at the Country Club of Oxford (300 Fazio Dr). The family will also have a reception to celebrate Robin's time spent in Florida on July 25th from 1:00-3:00pm at Salt Rock Grill (19325 Gulf Blvd, Indian Shores, FL)," they said. Our thoughts are with the Kiffin family during this tough time. Prayers Are Pouring In For Lane Kiffin On Wednesday first appeared on The Spun on Jul 16, 2025 This story was originally reported by The Spun on Jul 16, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Paul Finebaum Rant Reportedly Infuriated 'College GameDay' Crew
Paul Finebaum Rant Reportedly Infuriated 'College GameDay' Crew originally appeared on The Spun. Well, it looks like the College GameDay crew have something new in common with many of their fans: Getting annoyed at Paul Finebaum. The tension apparently stemmed from the infamous diatribe Finebaum went on back in 2013 after then-USC head coach Lane Kiffin lost a game against Arizona State. Finebaum compared Kiffin to Miley Cyrus, asserting that Kiffin had "very little talent" but got attention anyway. 'How did someone like Lane Kiffin ever get these jobs?' Finebaum once said. 'How did he land the (Oakland) Raiders job? At Tennessee? And particularly the one at SC? People think it's because of his father, Monte, the great defensive wizard. In some respects, Lane Kiffin is the Miley Cyrus of college football. He has very little talent, but we simply can't take our eyes off him.' As it turns out, that comment not only soured his relationships on College GameDay, but caused tensions that lasted for years. In a recent feature from The Athletic, Finebaum revealed that his own College GameDay colleagues were upset at him for multiple reasons. One reason was that everyone on the cast apparently liked Kiffin a lot and didn't appreciate him being insulted like that. The other was the fact that Finebaum apparently read off a notecard to make that take - a practice that's frowned upon during the show. "Not only did that turn out to be a bad take on both insulted parties, Finebaum says it infuriated the 'GameDay' crew, because everyone liked Kiffin and because Finebaum read his takedown off a notecard — a no-no on a show that prides itself on being unscripted," Joe Rexrode wrote. For decades Finebaum has found plenty of success poking various bears and levying insults in the name of entertainment. To his credit, it's worked for decades. But not every insult is going to be found as humorous as he does. Perhaps that's why Finebaum has lightened his tone a bit and eased up on some of the more personal attacks on people he takes issue with in recent years. Some might think it's made Finebaum worse, but others certainly seem to think he's now better for Finebaum Rant Reportedly Infuriated 'College GameDay' Crew first appeared on The Spun on Jul 16, 2025 This story was originally reported by The Spun on Jul 16, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Lane Kiffin Sends 4-Word Message To Swimsuit Model
Lane Kiffin Sends 4-Word Message To Swimsuit Model originally appeared on The Spun. Lane Kiffin does social media better than just about anyone else in the college football world. The Ole Miss Rebels head coach is currently gearing up for the 2025 college football season. Kiffin and the Rebels have high expectations heading into the fall. Ole Miss is hoping to contend for an SEC championship and a College Football Playoff spot, among other things. Advertisement Kiffin still finds time to enjoy himself on social media, though. Over the weekend, the prominent college football head coach sent a three-word message to a prominent influencer known for wearing swimsuits. Lane Kiffin Barron/IG Hannah Barron, a popular influencer in the South known for fishing in her swimsuit tops, shared some of her best photos from the summer over the weekend. "A few Catfish from this year since I've been bad about posting!" she wrote on Sunday. Kiffin decided to respond with a recruiting message. "Come to the Sip," he wrote on social media. College football fans, unsurprisingly, were quick to take to social media to weigh in on his message. Advertisement "9:30 on a Monday?!?' one fan wrote. "Aren't you like 50?" one fan added. "No one wants to play with LSU's little brother!" another fan added. "Joey Freshwater is BACK baby," one fan added. "You are shameless," another fan added on social media on Tuesday afternoon. Barron, meanwhile, did not appear to have any interest. She made it clear where her college football rooting interests lied. Ole Miss and Alabama are not set to meet in the regular season this year, but perhaps we'll get an SEC Championship Game matchup between the two power programs. Lane Kiffin Sends 4-Word Message To Swimsuit Model first appeared on The Spun on Jul 15, 2025 Advertisement This story was originally reported by The Spun on Jul 15, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Lane Kiffin Breaks Silence on His Repeated Digs at Auburn's Hugh Freeze
Lane Kiffin Breaks Silence on His Repeated Digs at Auburn's Hugh Freeze originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Lane Kiffin has never been one to shy away from a good troll, and lately, Auburn coach Hugh Freeze has been squarely in his crosshairs. But after a string of playful jabs on social media, the Ole Miss coach finally addressed the elephant on the boat, or rather, the fishing rod. Advertisement "It had nothing to do with his golf game, which sounds like he is doing amazing at that," Kiffin said with a grin. "By the way, I was fishing yesterday, and it was a dead period." Translation? Kiffin was relaxing during NCAA-mandated downtime, unlike certain coaches being called out for logging double-digit rounds of golf while recruiting rankings sink. Kiffin's subtle trolling reached a peak last weekend when he posted a video of himself fishing, complete with an American flag waving in the background, and tagged Freeze directly. It came shortly after reports from revealed Freeze played 10 rounds of golf in June and over 20 this year, more than any other SEC coach by far. Advertisement Freeze, for his part, isn't exactly ducking the topic. On the "See Ball Get Ball" podcast with David Pollack, he responded with classic Hugh Freeze conviction. 'You know, everybody seems to like to talk about my golf game … I do love golf. I enjoy playing,' Freeze admitted. 'But I assure you, I never missed a camp day or a recruiting day.' He continued, 'If camp got over at three o'clock one day, and Jill [Freeze] and I go out at 4:30, we absolutely might do that. And I'm not apologizing for that part of it.' Ole Miss Rebels coach Lane Kiffin and Auburn Tigers coach Hugh Freeze.© Jake Crandall / USA TODAY NETWORK The timing of all this, of course, hasn't helped Freeze's image. Auburn's 2026 recruiting class currently ranks 66th nationally, per Rivals. That, combined with two straight losing seasons under his leadership, has some fans questioning whether Freeze is more focused on fairways than four-star recruits. Advertisement Kiffin, ever the social media savant, clearly knows how to keep the pot stirred. Whether it's fishing trips or emoji-laced tweets, he's always ready with a well-timed jab. And for now, Freeze seems to be just trying to drive his recruiting rankings a little straighter, like his shots down the fairway. Related: Paul Finebaum Didn't Hesitate To Put Top SEC Head Coach On Hot Seat Related: Former NFL QB Shuts Down Arch Manning Hype Train With Blunt Verdict This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 14, 2025, where it first appeared.
