For the first time since 2017, Hugh Freeze is taking the podium at SEC Media Days — this time wearing an Auburn pin on this plaid sport coat. He’s likely to give a long opening statement about returning to the SEC and new faces at Auburn. He’ll be asked about returning to the SEC, a quarterback competition, controversies that surrounded his exit at Ole Miss and other national news topics.

His press conference begins at 1 p.m. CT and can be watched or streamed on the SEC Network. Once the press conference begins, refresh the page for chronological live updates below:

– SEC commissioner Greg Sankey introduced Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze as, like himself, a new grandfather.

– Taking the podium, Hugh Freeze said rebuilding Auburn is going to be a challenge. But he’s excited about the new faces and new alignment in the athletic department.

– Freeze said he’s adjusting to the new world of college football that has brought so many new faces into the program. He asked for patience as a result. Freeze said he still has a lot of names and faces to learn because of transfers and freshmen entering the program.

– Short opening statement from Freeze, it turns out. But even Hugh Freeze remembers Bob Holt from the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette has to ask the first question. “It has to be Bob,” Freeze said.

– Freeze was asked if he saw himself returning to the SEC. He said when he left Ole Miss, he didn’t initially have time to process the thought of coming back to the SEC. He said how a person responds to difficulty shows a lot about them.

– But when Freeze started succeeding at Liberty, he said he started to think about getting back into the conference as a real possibility.

– Freeze said the “family of Auburn” was “fractured.” It’s something he hopes to repair.

– Hugh Freeze discussing play calling. He said he used to be a good play caller, but he said he didn’t always do the best job of play-calling at Liberty. Now, new offensive coordinator Phillip Montgomery will be calling plays at Auburn. Freeze said he wanted someone with new terminology on offense because he’s talked too much with other coaches in the SEC. He needed something new. Montgomery was brought in for the main purpose of being the play caller.

– On the quarterback competition, Hugh Freeze said he’s hoping to narrow the foursome down to two early on in fall camp. That will likely be Payton Thorne and Robby Ashford. Freeze said he’s “optimistic” on the QB room.

– Freeze said he sees Auburn in the “upper-echelon” of the SEC.

– Freeze said he hopes to create a culture where kids “want to be at Auburn and want to stay at Auburn.”

– On transfer running back Brian Battie, Freeze said he initially thought he would be too small. But then in spring practices saw Battie was able to get between the tackles well and was impressed by it.

– Freeze was asked about flipping the script at Auburn. He believes that starts with changing mindsets. That was the spring practice theme at Auburn.

– Freeze was asked about Name, Image and Likeness literacy. Freeze said students have been working with On To Victory, a NIL collective Freeze wants to make sure his players take advantage of. He said every player on the team wanted a NIL opportunity, but he wants to focus on educating them so they make good financial decisions. But he does believe more regulation is needed for NIL deals. Calls NIL a “blessing” and athletes should work to get a “better blessing.”

– Freeze said managing the locker room with regard to decisions in NIL keeps him up at night.

– Freeze was asked if Auburn’s rivalry at Georgia is overshadowed but emphasizes that it’s not.

– Asked about the Iron Bowl, Freeze said he’s excited for the challenge. He said he believes Alabama is the gold standard, but he believes he can improve his roster to be able to consistently compete.

– Freeze was asked about the hazing scandal at Northwestern. He said expects staff accountability and player accountability. He emphasizes his “core values” at Auburn. Freeze still is learning the locker room at Auburn.