An Auburn Q&A: Here’s what Cole Cubelic thinks about Auburn’s 2023 season

The calendar is about to turn to August, and the 2023 season ticks ever closer. But this is still the time for predictions. So AL.com sat down with a few national media members to get their thoughts on Auburn’s upcoming campaign.
First up, ESPN analyst and Auburn alum Cole Cubelic. Cubelic played for Auburn from 1996-2001. Cubelic mostly focuses his work in the SEC and hosts a radio show with former Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy based out of Birmingham.
The quotes have been edited slightly for clarity and brevity.
Cohen: At SEC Media Days, head coach Hugh Freeze said Auburn is a ‘work in progress.’ So what does Auburn need to work on?
Cubelic: “Well, number one, the roster is not complete as far as being upgraded and finding better talent to be on it. I think he wants to redevelop the culture. He wants it to be a culture that’s used to winning, that understands how to win. We don’t know if they have any of those things right now. We don’t know if these are guys that even if they take the coaching, and take the scheme and the system are going to really know how to go out and win football games. Hugh kind of goes out of his way to develop young men in a different way other than just being football players. I think it’s just the attitude, the demeanor of the culture inside that facility, the understanding of how to win, what it’s going to take to win. I think a lot of those are where he talks about, you know, continuing to build and it being work in process, those are the things that I would think would be at the forefront. Not to mention the fact that they still need more talent, they need more depth.”
Cohen: What are some of the biggest differences you’ve noticed so far between Bryan Harsin’s coaching staff and Hugh Freeze’s?
Cubelic: “I think the first part is just relationships. And Bryan had not spent a lot of time in that country developing relationships, getting to know high school coaches. The staff wasn’t going to be littered with guys that had a real idea of who to go talk to and when to go talk to and how to talk to them. So you know, I think there’s a certain language in the SEC footprint that you need to be able to speak and Hugh Freeze speaks that language. That can be to a recruit, that can be to a parent, it can be to a high school coach. It could be to a lot of different folks, but he knows how to speak that language and I think that’s been proven. I think the time that he’d already spent recruiting the SEC footprint, his assistants having gone over to other SEC schools and things of that nature gave him a little bit more of an advantage. And then just I think too, the efficiency of recruiting and the emphasis that’s on it. Part of this now goes off the alignment that we talked about. You have a higher percentage chance of being successful in recruiting with some of that alignment behind, backing you and helping you, and not against you. So that’s why that alignment is so important. But I just think it’s a wherewithal of what it takes and how to speak the language of the people that you’re going to need to talk to on a regular basis.”
Cohen: As Auburn puts a roster together, what level of patience is appropriate?
Cubelic: “I don’t like to put the exact landmarks up as far as, I hate using numbers like, ‘Oh yes, he has to win seven this year,’ or ‘He needs to win nine this year.’ For me, it’s something that you’ll know it when you see it. That is being more competitive, maybe being able to win games in different ways. Maybe it is situational football and individual players being more aware when they’re in that moment or they have those opportunities. I think it’s a lot of things really, but it’s something that folks that know Auburn football and watch Auburn football for a long time I think will recognize fairly easily once they see it.”
Cohen: What are you expecting from Auburn’s quarterback battle in fall camp? Will Payton Thone be the guy? Robby Ashford? Someone else?
Cubelic: “The first thing that I would say about it is Hugh Freeze really likes [redshirt freshman quarterback] Holden Geriner. I have been around him multiple times in the last couple of months and Holden’s name just keeps coming up. It just keeps popping up. And I don’t think that’s by accident. Now, not trying to say that to lead anybody to believe that he’s going to be the immediate starter or you know, that he’s going to be the guy right away. But I think maybe down the road, somebody that Auburn fans should probably be a little more excited about just based on what Coach Freeze thinks of him.
As far as this year goes, I think Payton Thorne wins the job. I think if Robby Ashford accepts it, he could have a significant role on this team. I think he can be someone who really helps this team. But I think that has to be something that he is comfortable with, and that he wants and that he shows a desire to have. I think if the attitude is not there, and the willingness is not there, I don’t think these coaches will force it because they don’t have to have it. But it would very much be nice to have for that team this season because one, it’s going to make teams prepare for it and two, it’s going to make you more dynamic at times on offense. And I think it can be something that helps his development as a college quarterback. More time in games, more time seeing defenses, more time understanding the speed of the game and you know just different ways to be able to go out and make yourself better.”
Cohen: So does that mean you’d consider a two-quarterback system?
Cubelic: “I would call it more of a Robby being a situational guy than I would a two-quarterback system. To me, a two-quarterback system is almost pretty even. Both guys play close to the same amount of snaps. I don’t foresee that, but I do foresee him being a situational quarterback that can help them in different ways at different times.”
Cohen: Okay, predictions time. What’s your realistic prediction for Auburn this year? Your dream scenario? Worst case scenario?
Cubelic: “Realistic prediction for Auburn this year is right around seven, eight wins. And I think eight wins will be exceptional. It’s easy to get excited about guys out of the portal, but keep in mind most of them have not been playing this level of football. Depth is still going to be a real question. They’re in a spot where if they lose one, two guys in a couple different positions, they’re a very different football team. Also hate the fact that they play at night, week two on the West Coast. They have to travel back. That’s just something that affects you for more than a couple days. You know, being tested on the road at A&M early? I don’t love it. Obviously, Georgia, LSU, Alabama, those are national championship contenders. So I think if you got to eight, it would be a really good year.
I think dream scenario is probably 10-2 where you catch lightning in a bottle. Quarterback gets hot. You know, younger guys are obviously helping your team, that gives you more depth. You take Georgia, LSU, Bama, you probably lose two of those three. I think that’s probably your best-case scenario.
I think the floor would probably be five wins, but I don’t really see it. I think UMass, Cal, Samford, New Mexico State, like you’re getting those wins. I don’t think there’s a lot of separation between Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Auburn, Arkansas. I don’t think that there’s a ton of separation between those teams. So to think that they would drop all those games? I don’t really see that as being feasible. So probably five would be the floor.”