Report: Auburn in talks with Freeze about head coaching job

Auburn has been in talks with Liberty's Hugh Freeze about becoming the program's next head coach, sources told ESPN's Pete Thamel.

Discussions have been ongoing for weeks, and the sides have informally talked about a contract for more than a week, Thamel notes. However, the Tigers won't formally make an offer until after Saturday's Iron Bowl game against Alabama, Thamel adds.

Freeze and Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin had been the top two candidates linked to Auburn's head coaching vacancy. However, Kiffin told ESPN's Chris Low on Saturday that he'll sign an extension with Ole Miss, which he didn't want to reveal until after Thursday's Egg Bowl against Mississippi State.

"I had a meeting with the team and the staff and told them I was staying and it would be announced after the game," Kiffin said. "I didn't want it to be about me staying before the game, but about the team."

Freeze has posted a 34-14 record since joining the Flames in 2019. Liberty has won at least eight games in each of Freeze's four seasons.

Auburn has been under the command of interim coach Cadillac Williams since firing Bryan Harsin in October.