Auburn’s athletic director says the Tigers are determined to do things "the right way." Never mind that Auburn’s recruiting class ranks last in the SEC. Have patience. Athletic director John Cohen’s words echo the sentiments of coach Hugh Freeze, who admits Auburn's recent approach is "not really to our advantage."

Who cares about rules nowadays? Insisting on doing things "the right way" tends to be the battle cry from the basement.

On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams examine the situation at Auburn, where Freeze's offseason golf handicap looks better than his recruiting class. Auburn's recruiting stall comes on the heels of four straight losing seasons. More than the losses from yesteryear, though, Adams says he's concerned about Freeze's recent rhetoric, and he compares Freeze to a former SEC coach who's since been fired.

Still, this is the kind of offseason storyline that can be smashed into irrelevance with a slew of August commitments, plus a Week 1 win against Baylor.

Later in the episode, the hosts explain why Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti keeps getting the College Football Playoff format debate wrong.

Auburn&rsquo;s athletic director says the Tigers are determined to do things "<a href="https://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/story/sports/college/auburn/2025/07/03/auburn-athletics-revenue-sharing-nil-john-cohen/84459873007/" aria-label="Link the right way">the right way</a>." Never mind that Auburn&rsquo;s recruiting class <a href="https://247sports.com/season/2026-football/compositeteamrankings/?Conference=SEC" aria-label="Link ranks last in the SEC">ranks last in the SEC</a>. Have patience. Athletic director John Cohen&rsquo;s words echo the sentiments of coach Hugh Freeze, who <a href="https://www.on3.com/nil/news/hugh-freeze-explains-how-house-v-ncaa-settlement-impacted-auburn-ability-recruiting/" aria-label="Link admits Auburn's recent approach">admits Auburn's recent approach</a> is "not really to our advantage."
Who cares about rules nowadays? Insisting on doing things "the right way" tends to be the battle cry from the basement.
On today's episode, hosts <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/staff/2648210001/blake-toppmeyer/" aria-label="Link Blake Toppmeyer">Blake Toppmeyer</a> and <a href="https://www.knoxnews.com/staff/2647548001/john-adams/" aria-label="Link John Adams">John Adams</a> examine the situation at Auburn, where Freeze's offseason golf handicap looks better than his recruiting class. Auburn's recruiting stall comes on the heels of four straight losing seasons. More than the losses from yesteryear, though, Adams says he's concerned about Freeze's recent rhetoric, and he compares Freeze to a former SEC coach who's since been fired.
Still, this is the kind of offseason storyline that can be smashed into irrelevance with a slew of August commitments, plus a Week 1 win against Baylor.
Later in the episode, the hosts explain why Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti keeps getting the College Football Playoff format debate wrong.

SEC Football Unfiltered features hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams of the USA TODAY Network serving opinion, debate and analysis on trending college football topics within the Southeastern Conference. No subject is off limits, and no one is above rebuke. Take off the filter and revel in the banter.

SEC Football Unfiltered features hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams of the USA TODAY Network serving opinion, debate and analysis on trending college football topics within the Southeastern Conference. No subject is off limits, and no one is above rebuke. Take off the filter and revel in the banter.

SEC Football Unfiltered

Inside Auburn's vow to do things 'the right way,' and why that could hurt the program

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