Auburn football fans have voiced their opinions all offseason on what is expected from the Tigers this fall.

More importantly, Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze.

With the Tigers still searching for its first winning season since 2020, year three for Freeze can be make or break.

Despite his recruiting success the past two seasons, fans want recruiting wins to transfer into wins on Saturdays. And another losing season will most certainly grow further angst on The Plains.

However, history shows that this could be the year everything changes for Freeze.

Here’s a list of past examples of coaches who’ve made a leap in their third season:

Steve Sarkisian, Texas

After one incredible year as the offensive coordinator of the Alabama Crimson Tide. Sarkisian took his offensive prowess to Austin, Texas.

In a disappointing first year going just 5–7 overall. The Texas Longhorns finished the 2022 season 8-5 and ranked No. 25 in the AP Poll.

The following year, Texas would go on to win its final Big 12 title and secure a spot in the College Football Playoffs before falling to Washington in the Sugar Bowl.

Marcus Freeman, Notre Dame

Taking over for longtime Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly, Freeman was handed the gauntlet his first year with losses to No. 2 Ohio State and Marshall.

In year two, he landed Alabama native Riley Leonard in the transfer portal from Duke, aside from an early loss to Northern Illinois, Notre Dame made their traditional year three leap that Irish coaches such as Kelly, Ara Parseghian, and Lou Holtz have made.

Notre Dame was granted the 7th seed in the College Football Playoff, winning the Sugar and Orange Bowl on the way to playing in the 2025 national championship game.

Nick Saban, Alabama

Even the greatest coach of all time had his fair share of struggles when he first got to Tuscaloosa.

Saban went 7-6 in his first season with the Crimson Tide. All six of Alabama’s losses were by seven points or fewer that season.

By year three, Alabama had finally slayed the SEC dragon in the form of the Florida Gators, getting revenge for an SEC title game loss the year before, and wrapping up a 14-0 season by winning the school’s first national championship since 1992.

You know how things unfolded after that.

Urban Meyer, Ohio State

Coming off the dynasty he built with the Florida Gators, Meyer took on the challenge of coaching Ohio State back in 2012.

Despite going undefeated his first season, the Buckeyes were ineligible from postseason play due to NCAA sanctions. In year two, Ohio State finished No. 12 dropping just two games.

In 2014, Meyer led Ohio State to a College Football Playoff run that saw them defeat Alabama in the Sugar Bowl and Oregon to win his third career national title.

Lloyd Carr, Michigan

The legendary Wolverines coach almost did not make it past his first game.

After trailing 17-0 in the season opener to Virginia, Carr acknowledge that if they would have lost, he would not have been granted the permanent coaching job.

By year three, Carr became the third Michigan coach to defeat Ohio State and led the Wolverines to a 12-0 record. Michigan won the rose bowl and was named the national champions by the Associated Press.

Jerry Humphrey III covers Auburn sports forAL.com. You can follow him on X at @Jerryhump3or email him at [email protected].