This is an opinion column.

Perhaps you’ve seen it, the mock political ad featuring Auburn’s two most prominent head coaches as a presidential ticket. The tagline plays off a powerfully divisive acronym some supporters and players no doubt detest.

Freeze Pearl 2024. Make Auburn Great Again.

A “Happy Fourth Everyone” Twitter post with a photo of that slogan on a beer koozie tagged Auburn’s football and basketball coaches. Hugh Freeze’s account replied, “Love it. But gotta go with Pearl as top of ticket.”

Sticking to sports, which isn’t an easy thing for Auburn coaches to do, you have to give Freeze points for that response. Notwithstanding the abrupt and shocking ending to last season, the basketball coach on the Plains clearly trumps him. Bruce Pearl has authored an extended, unprecedented run highlighted by the first men’s Final Four trip in state Division I history and including a second SEC Tournament title in March.

Meanwhile, if the modern history of the other major program is an apt indicator, Freeze’s time to return Auburn football to glory is now.