By Mmesoma 
On “The Dynasty” podcast this week, former Alabama quarterback AJ McCarron didn’t hold back in his critique of Auburn coach Hugh Freeze’s recent comments about recruiting.
McCarron labeled Freeze as “full of shit,” disputing the notion that Auburn’s lagging recruiting classes are entirely due to the House v. NCAA settlement. According to Freeze, implemented guidelines have hampered Auburn, whereas other programs allegedly bend the rules. However, McCarron believes those claims are little more than a “face‑saving” tactic .
> “He’s trying to do whatever he can to save face,” McCarron said, pointing to mounting pressure on Freeze in his third year at Auburn, where expectations from alumni and donors have not yet aligned with results on the field .
The accusations follow Auburn’s relatively low 2026 recruiting rank—hovering around 70th to 80th nationally—with commitments trailing Alabama significantly. McCarron, a two-time national champion under Nick Saban, emphasized that **“the state of Alabama is run by Alabama fans, Alabama alumni … if you are from the state, it is dumb for you not to sign with Alabama”** .
Freeze has defended his stance, stressing that Auburn is “going by what we believe to be the accurate interpretation” of new NIL and revenue-sharing regulations, and expecting the program’s recruiting fortunes to improve once full implementation starts August 1 .
Still, McCarron remains skeptical, dismissing Freeze’s comments as excuses and asserting the coach is manipulating the narrative to divert attention from underwhelming performance .
As the Iron Bowl rivalry plays out every fall, this latest verbal volley reminds fans that the SEC never sleeps—on or off the field.