Auburn’s Hugh Freeze is uncomfortable with ‘bidding wars’ for top players via the……

Auburn’s Hugh Freeze is uncomfortable with ‘bidding wars’ for top players via the transfer portal.

There was a time—not so long ago, in fact—when college coaches would spend years getting to know potential recruits. They would see up-and-coming players play as early as their sophomore year of high school, all while planting seeds and gaining “in” with the recruit’s family.

It was a practice that frequently resulted in intense loyalty between recruit and school. If you committed somewhere as a junior in high school, there was a good chance you’d be associated with that school for the rest of your life.

However, in the age of NILs and transfer portals, this is no longer true. Even after a candidate has committed to a school, the coaching staff is concerned that a rival school may poach from their depth chart at any point. Whether it’s the promise of increased playing time or more money through NIL agreements, a recruit can sign as a freshman at school A in February and be somewhere else by December of the same year.

It’s not like it used to be, and when it comes to NIL deals and schools attempting to outbid each other with various NIL packages, Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze doesn’t appear to be a fan.

The transfer portal has essentially turned into free agency for collegiate athletes, with the highest bidder winning, just like in the NFL.

“I just don’t feel comfortable with some of the bidding wars for some of the top guys in the portal,” Freeze stated on the “McElroy and Cubelic In The Morning” show (h/t On3). “Not that we aren’t being fair. It’s just that I want to create the entire roster and want to do it with players who fit into your culture.

Freeze wants athletes who want to play at Auburn because it is Auburn, not because the Tigers offered more money than Alabama. That is not to say the Tigers are unconcerned with NIL, but there must be something “old school” about a commitment for Freeze to see it through.

Ultimately, it must be for the love of the game.

“That is what I have always done. I recruit; we have a relationship. I know him and his family. You hope that those relationships cause a child to develop with you as he goes through the process of college football,” Freeze added.

“I believe our collective is really fair. But, if that is the main reason for a child’s decision, I am uncomfortable with taking that route,” Freeze said.

It’s old school, but it appears to still operate. At the time of writing, Auburn’s 2025 class is rated 10th in the nation.