Auburn Tigers head coach Hugh Freeze shares his early insights on Auburn’s upcoming game against the Cal Golden Bears. Freeze acknowledges that Cal will be a tougher opponent compared to Auburn’s previous rival, Alabama A&M.
After a commanding 73-3 win over Alabama A&M to start the 2024 season, Auburn now focuses on their matchup with Cal. This game is the second of a home-and-home series, with Auburn having secured a narrow 14-10 victory over Cal last season.
The Golden Bears began their season with a 31-13 win over UC Davis, which was close until the second half. Freeze discussed the challenges Cal’s defense might present, noting similarities to last year’s defensive lineup. He highlighted the defensive skills of Justin Wilcox and Peter Sirmon, who have a strong track record in Power Five conferences, and pointed out key players like defensive ends Xavier Carlton and David Reese. Freeze emphasized the need for Auburn to adapt to Cal’s high-tempo offense, which could create communication issues for his team.
Freeze expressed confidence in Auburn’s ability to improve offensively compared to their performance in last year’s game, where they struggled to score. He also mentioned the possibility of consulting Auburn wide receiver Sam Jackson V, who was Cal’s starting quarterback last season, to gain insights into Cal’s defensive strategies.
The game is scheduled to kick off at 2:30 p.m. CT on Saturday at Jordan-Hare Stadium and will be broadcast on ESPN2.
