Auburn has a No. 1 coaching target, and it's not Lane Kiffin, per report

Hugh Freeze could be returning to the SEC. ESPN college football insider Pete Thamel is reporting that Freeze has spoken to Auburn about the program’s head coaching vacancy, even discussing contract numbers.

Thamel noted that Auburn has yet to extend a formal job offer to the former Ole Miss head coach, who is currently in his 4th season at Liberty.

Sources: Auburn has been in discussion with Hugh Freeze for weeks about him becoming Auburn’s next coach. They won’t make a formal offer until after the Iron Bowl, but they’ve informally discussed contract and numbers with him for more than week.

— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) November 26, 2022

Thamel’s Freeze report comes out as all signs point to current Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin remaining with the Rebels. Freeze was Ole Miss’ head coach from 2012-to-2016, taking the Rebels to 4 bowl games. Freeze’s 2015 Ole Miss team finished 10-3 with a Sugar Bowl win and ranked No. 10 in the AP Top 25.

Freeze resigned from Ole Miss ahead of the 2017 season amid an off-field scandal after an NCAA investigation that found numerous program violations. He resurfaced at Liberty, taking the head coaching job in December 2018. In 4 seasons, Liberty has posted a 34-14 record under Freeze, including 3 bowl victories. The Flames are bowl eligible again at 8-3 in 2022.