Auburn’s next head coach likely to be named after Iron Bowl

Expect for Auburn to name its next head coach after the conclusion of Saturday’s Iron Bowl.

With only the Iron Bowl left to be played this regular season, Auburn will not have to wait all that much longer before the Tigers announce their next head football coach.

Auburn has decided to wait until after the Iron Bowl has been played vs. arch rival Alabama before making anything official. While Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin had been tied to the Tigers, he dispelled those rumors shortly after losing the Egg Bowl to Mississippi State on Thanksgiving night. He is expected to get an extension at Ole Miss, but Auburn may hire a former Rebel coach…

With Kiffin seemingly having bowed out of it, the expectation is for Liberty head coach Hugh Freeze to be named the next Tigers head coach, possibly as soon as Saturday night.

Freeze has been at Liberty the last few years, but had success previously in the SEC at Ole Miss from 2012 to 2017, albeit under rather shady circumstances.

Bringing Freeze back into the SEC would be a bold move for Auburn to make, but his track record on the football field, as well as Auburn’s desperation could make for a very interesting marriage down on The Plains.

Auburn will not hire a new head coach until after the Iron Bowl has been played

What this really entails is Auburn wants to show interim head coach and former Tigers legendary running back Carnell “Cadillac” Williams the respect he deserves. Although he is a massive long shot to be giving the job on a full-time basis, he has the Tigers one game away from somehow achieving bowl eligibility. If Auburn stuns Alabama in Tuscaloosa, this changes the entire dynamic.

Given how popular Williams has been in the interim role, it would not be shocking if he was retained by Freeze, Kififn or whomever on the next Tigers staff. We know that Williams can recruit at a high level and will continue to bring positivity into the Tigers program. However, Freeze has shown that he can win at a high level at multiple stops throughout the college football landscape.

Ultimately, this hire will define the early stages of the John Cohen era of Auburn athletics. For him to leave his alma mater at Mississippi State to take over at a rival program was shocking. It is only fitting that in SEC country a Bulldogs coaching legend would hire a man best know for coaching the arch rival Rebels. After the Iron Bowl has reached its conclusion, we will have some answers.

Look for Auburn to have its next full-time head coach under contract by the end of the weekend.

For more College Football news, analysis, opinion and unique coverage by FanSided, including Heisman Trophy and College Football Playoff rankings, be sure to bookmark these pages.