Auburn football might be struggling on the recruiting trail, but the drama off the field is already in midseason form. Just ask David Cone, the former Michigan Wolverines quarterback and current co-host of “Crain & Company,” who couldn’t help but join in on the action
After former Alabama Crimson Tide star A.J. McCarron lit into Auburn coach Hugh Freeze during a recent episode of “The Dynasty” podcast, Cone responded with a simple seven-word reaction on social media:
Who else can’t wait for football season??”
Cone’s comment came after McCarron called out Freeze for what he sees as excuses amid Auburn’s recruiting woes.
“Hugh Freeze is full of (expletive),” McCarron said. “I think Hugh Freeze is trying to do whatever he can to save face. He’s starting to feel pressure at Auburn – going into his third year, not having the success that the alumni, the boosters, everybody donating a lot of money thought he would have by this point. I think he’s trying to figure out and scramble on why they are not successful.”
McCarron’s comments followed a week of criticism around Auburn’s underwhelming 2026 recruiting class, which currently ranks at the bottom of the SEC. That’s a far cry from expectations when Freeze arrived on “The Plains” with hopes of revitalizing the program.
Freeze recently spoke on the issue himself, saying NIL challenges and shifting recruiting dynamics have created obstacles, but also acknowledged Auburn hasn’t landed the talent it’d hoped for
That explanation didn’t sit well with McCarron, who suggested the coach is more focused on saving face than fixing the problem. Enter Cone, who reshared the moment with the same energy many fans feel watching rivals trade verbal blows.
In short, although the 2025 college football season is weeks away, the fireworks among Alabama, Auburn and the rest of the SEC are already here. And as Cone hinted, we’re all just grabbing the popcorn while enjoying the show.
