Josh Heupel selects his leaders to represent Vol Football at SEC Media Days
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Yahoo
15 hours ago
- Yahoo
SEC commish comes to defense of Auburn football coach Hugh Freeze amid golf uproar
The post SEC commish comes to defense of Auburn football coach Hugh Freeze amid golf uproar appeared first on ClutchPoints. Auburn Tigers football head coach Hugh Freeze has come under fire this offseason, not for play-calling or player development, but for spending time on the golf course. As the program works to rebound from a rocky year, Freeze's perceived lack of urgency has ignited criticism from fans and media alike. But now, SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey has stepped in to push back. Speaking on the 'The Opening Kickoff' podcast, Sankey addressed the backlash, saying the criticism of Freeze has been exaggerated. 'It's healthy for me to go outside and play golf,' the SEC commissioner said. 'I think the criticism [of Freeze] is misplaced.' Freeze, who led Auburn to a 5-7 record and just two SEC wins in his first year, has been under pressure as the 2026 recruiting class lags behind rivals. The situation worsened when two Auburn football players were arrested within the last month, raising discipline concerns inside the program. Critics have framed Freeze's downtime as tone-deaf, especially with off-field issues mounting. However, Sankey drew parallels to other high-pressure SEC football jobs, stating that mental resets like golf are normal and necessary—even for top-tier coaches. Adding a layer of drama to the controversy, Lane Kiffin made a joking reference to Freeze's golf habits during SEC Media Days. While he didn't directly criticize, his comment—referencing a prior online exchange with Freeze—added fuel to the narrative and drew laughs from reporters. The exact tone of Kiffin's remark remains open to interpretation, but it reflected the ongoing rivalry and mutual awareness between the two SEC head coaches. It also underscores the rising competitive tension between Auburn and Ole Miss as both programs deal with quarterback changes and roster turnover. Freeze and Kiffin share coaching roots in Mississippi, and their rivalry continues to simmer as each battles for SEC relevance. Behind the scenes, Freeze is reportedly managing health issues that could explain his increased time on the golf course. While unconfirmed publicly, it adds another dimension to a situation where public perception, personal wellness, and program accountability collide. In the SEC, every action is magnified—and Freeze knows it. With Sankey defending him and Kiffin blurring the line between troll and rival, the Auburn coach remains in the spotlight for reasons beyond the football field. Still, Freeze's attention must shift back to on-field results. With a difficult schedule ahead and recruiting pressure mounting, year two will demand more than a strong golf game to earn back the confidence of the Auburn football faithful. Related: College Football 26 Update Fixes Gameplay, RTG, & Dynasty Related: Arkansas football head coach Sam Pittman's utterly confident take amid SEC schedule
Fox News
16 hours ago
- Fox News
Browns owner Jimmy Haslam dismisses speculation surrounding Arch Manning
Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam says the Browns are not already in pursuit of Texas quarterback Arch Manning in the 2026 NFL Draft. Haslam addressed speculation that Cleveland already has its sights set on Manning due to the team's ongoing quarterback woes, "I think if you know the Manning family, I would bet — and I don't know Arch at all — I bet he stays in college two years," Haslam told reporters during a press conference Tuesday. "I don't even think that's worth discussing." Manning will take over as Texas' starting quarterback this season, but the expectation that he will declare for the draft next year and Haslam's connections to the Manning family have led many to suggest Manning could be chosen with one of the two first-round picks the Browns have next year. Manning passed for 939 yards and nine touchdowns and ran for four touchdowns last season behind Quinn Ewers. During SEC Media Days earlier this month, Manning admitted that playing backup wasn't easy, but he never contemplated transferring. "(Transferring) never really crossed my mind," he said. "I knew Texas was the place I wanted to be. It was the city I wanted to be in, a great education. I had friends there. I was still developing and growing as a football player and a person. So, I never really wanted to leave. If there was somewhere else I wanted to be, I would have gone." Texas opens its season Aug. 30 against the defending national champion Ohio State.
USA Today
2 days ago
- USA Today
Pro Football Focus previews Texas A&M's 2025 football season
Texas A&M head coach Mike Elko will enter his second season at the helm with higher expectations than his inaugural campaign, largely due to the return of talent and 14 transfer portal additions that have added much-needed depth to a roster that needed to change for the better and transform previous weaknesses into predominant strengths. The return of redshirt sophomore quarterback Marcel Reed resulted in wide receivers KC Concepcion (NC State) and Mario Craver (Mississippi State), two of the top transfer receivers, choosing the Aggies based on Reed's skill set and their overall fit in OC Collin Klein's offense. In the backfield, senior running back Le'Veon Moss and former five-star Rueben Owens are the headliners, while Amari Daniels and EJ Smith provide elite depth. However, the 2025 Aggie offense will only work as long as the offensive line lives up to its high offseason expectations, which includes all five 2024 starters, led by senior guard Ar'maj Reed-Adams, whose high confidence in the O-line and the offense as a whole was seen during his appearance at SEC Media Days last week. "The goals we have aren't lofty. We were one play away from being in the SEC Championship game… We're coming." Adams' statement isn't just based on confidence, but the reality that surrounds A&M's roster, which is all too experienced and talented not to win at least nine or ten games this season, despite what rival fanbases or some in the national media have stated. Still, credit to Pro Football Focus for, yes, focusing on the core reasons Texas A&M will either make the College Football Playoff or, once again, win only seven or eight games. On offense, PFF believes that the running game, led by Le'Veon Moss and Marcel Reed, during designed runs, is Texas A&M's primary strength, mainly due to the backfield's speed and vision, combined with the veteran offensive line, which will also open up the passing game with new and returning weapons. "Texas A&M's ground game should be one of the best in the country this season. The Aggies boast the No. 5 running back unit and No. 3 offensive line, along with one of the top rushing quarterbacks in the nation in Marcel Reed. Adding to that firepower are wide receivers Kevin Concepcion and Terry Bussey, both of whom have shown big-play ability out of the backfield." Defensively, the loss of defensive linemen Shemar Stewart, Shemar Turner, and Nic Scourton to the NFL created an opening for senior edge Cashius Howell and junior Rylan Kennedy to earn starting spots on the outside, while four defensive line additions from the transfer portal, including former Iowa State DL Tyler Odyedim, who is nearly guaranteed to make an immediate impact inside between junior DJ Hicks and senior Albert Regis. However, the defense isn't highlighted within the preview, instead noting that Texas A&M's main weakness is Marcel Reed's potential lack of improvement in the passing game, which could put the Aggies at a disadvantage if he doesn't exhibit strides early and throughout the 2025 season. "For Texas A&M's offense to avoid becoming one-dimensional in 2025, Marcel Reed must develop as a passer. His 64.6 passing grade last season ranked just 114th nationally, and his 29.4 grade under pressure was the fourth-lowest in the Power Four. With a top-tier offensive line and a deep group of playmakers around him, the pieces are in place — now Reed simply needs to elevate his game." While these are simply numbers, Reed's "freshman moments" came under pressure, leading to most of his six interceptions. Therefore, I agree that with all the strengths around him, improving in the pocket is mandatory for the Aggies to win tough games at home, especially on the road. PFF named Marcel Reed and Ar'maj Reed-Adams as the offensive players of focus, noting Reed's speed and 22 "explosive" runs last season, paired with Adams' elite running blocking and overall power as both players' strengths. On defense, junior linebacker Taurean York, who finished with 59 run stops last season, is either tied, or right behind Texas LB Anthony Hill Jr., who, as we all remember, was once committed to Texas A&M. The biggest takeaway from this preview is that we are in complete agreement that Marcel Reed's internal clock, which PFF measured at an average of 3.1 seconds before his release last season, needs to speed up, which shouldn't be difficult while working with a wide receiver room built on speed and quickness and better separation in coverage. Texas A&M is a College Football Playoff contender on paper, only if Marcel Reed takes that proverbial "next step," while the pass rush and secondary show consistency with Mike Elko now calling plays. Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Cameron on X: @CameronOhnysty.
