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Deion Sanders made a spectacular leap in the college football coaching rankings, but not everyone agrees. Coach Prime's strong season with Colorado propelled him 28 spots up in the CBS rankings, while a renowned coach like Hugh Freeze plummeted out of the top 40, much to the frustration of analysts.
After a disappointing 2023-24 season, Sanders led his Buffaloes to the top of the Big 12 with a 9-5 record, securing a spot in the Alamo Bowl. His leadership also helped cornerback/receiver Travis Hunter claim the Heisman Trophy before being selected second overall in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Despite these achievements, some analysts remain skeptical of Sanders' rise to such a high ranking-especially given his leap over Freeze, who has been steadily climbing the NCAA ranks while rebuilding the Auburn Tigers.
Does Sanders deserve to be ahead of Freeze?
The latest CBS Sports rankings placed Coach Prime at No. 33 in the nation, marking a 28-spot jump from last year's 61st place. Freeze, however, dropped 14 places, falling from No. 33 in 2024 to No. 47 this year-a slide that didn't sit well with analyst Ryan Brown.
Commenting on the rankings on The Next Round, Brown stated, "If you're talking about pure coaching, he (Freeze) is a better coach than Lane Kiffin. Obviously, he's not going to be at the bottom of this ranking. He belongs in the top 25." It's worth noting that Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin landed at No. 12 this year.
Brown's co-host, Lance Taylor, also criticized the CBS rankings, calling Freeze's position unfair. When Brown posed the question, "Deion Sanders at 33?" Taylor responded simply, "Hugh Freeze," implying the Auburn coach deserves the higher ranking.
Hugh Freeze's merits
Brown clarified that his for Freeze was based solely on his ability as a head coach, despite the numbers telling a different story. Freeze holds an 11-14 record over two seasons with Auburn, including a 5-11 mark in the SEC. Expanding the review to his time at Ole Miss, his conference record sits at 7-17.
Several media outlets and analysts claim Freeze is on the hot seat at Auburn-and the coach himself is fully aware of it. "I'm not a fool. I think we've got to go to a bowl game," Freeze itted. He's already working on it, launching an aggressive recruiting campaign designed not just to reach the playoffs, but to secure his job.