Why Hugh Freeze will return to the Power Five -- and most likely the SEC -- in 2021

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Saturday might have been the best college football Saturday we'll see all season. We had a classic, double-overtime battle between two legitimate College Football Playoff contenders that resulted in Clemson's first regular-season loss since 2017. We also saw what could have served as a playoff quarterfinal, with Florida eliminating Georgia from the race while taking control of the SEC East.

Yet, despite those games and fun results across the country -- and for the first time this season, I can write "across the country" and be accurate -- I couldn't help but find myself thinking about Jimmy Sexton at the end of it all. I thought about Sexton because he's Hugh Freeze's agent, and Hugh Freeze's Liberty team beat Virginia Tech 38-35 on Saturday. It was the second time the Flames have beaten an ACC team this season, and it bumped them up from No. 25 to No. 22 in the latest AP Top 25 poll. It also cemented the fact that, no matter what happens this offseason, Hugh Freeze is going to be back coaching at a Power Five program sooner than you might think.

Sure, his tenure at Ole Miss didn't end well. An NCAA investigation led to recruiting violations. Those violations led to a lawsuit, and that lawsuit led to the school finding out Freeze had "a concerning pattern" of calls to an escort service. But guess what? That was three years ago, and Freeze has won a lot of games since! Memories are short in this business, and they can get a lot shorter when there are plenty of wins to think about in the here and now.

So somebody is going to hire Freeze soon, but who? Let's break down the Power Five gigs from least to most likely.

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Michigan -- I don't think Michigan will fire Jim Harbaugh, not even after the loss to Indiana. Changes could be made to Harbaugh's staff, but my sense of the situation is he won't be going anywhere unless he leaves of his own accord. I can't rule it out entirely, though, because it's 2020 after all. Still, as strange as this year has been, I can't see any scenario that finishes with Freeze behind a podium in a maize and blue striped tie.

Duke -- Considering Freeze's success beating ACC teams this year, it isn't crazy to think he could wind up there. Still, looking at the ACC, I don't see any obvious candidates for jobs to come open. Duke could be a possibility, though, seeing as how the Blue Devils are 7-13 since the start of the 2019 season. Even if it did come open -- and I don't think it will -- it's not a great fit.

USC -- It wasn't even noon in Los Angeles on Saturday before you had to wonder if Clay Helton was on the way out. The Trojans came back to beat Arizona State, but it always feels like Helton is another loss or two away from being done. Still, even if this job comes open, I don't think Freeze would be high on the school's list.

Texas -- Yes, the Longhorns are 5-2, but it's Texas. The seat is hot and always will be. Hugh Freeze doesn't strike me as a Texas coach, but it's a program that is tired of not being good enough, and Freeze could be the biggest name on the market this winter.

OK, now let's get to the real Hugh Freeze Market: the SEC.

Vanderbilt -- The Commodores are 0-5, and Derek Mason is 1-12 in his last 13 SEC games. I'm not sure Freeze would be considered a fit to the people in charge in Nashville, but Freeze should consider Vandy as a fit. Sure, it's a difficult place to win, but it's also a private school. No FOIA requests, coach!

Tennessee -- The 2-0 start to 2020 feels like a long time ago. The Vols have lost four straight since, and while two of those losses were to Alabama and Georgia, the Kentucky and Arkansas defeats are a hard pill to swallow. Jeremy Pruitt's trying to rebuild the program from the ground up, but you have to wonder if patience is beginning to wear thin.

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Auburn -- I think this is the scenario many fans would love to see because Hugh Freeze returning to the SEC West to compete directly with Ole Miss and Alabama would make for excellent content. Still, even if he's perennially on the hot seat, I don't know if Auburn's going to fire Gus Malzahn. The Tigers are 4-2 and have been playing much better since a loss to South Carolina. That said, games against both Alabama and Texas A&M remain.

South Carolina -- The Gamecocks are 2-4 on the year and were just roasted by Texas A&M 48-3. It's fair to wonder if the clock is ticking on Will Muschamp's time with the program. Freeze would be a Spurrier-esque hire for Carolina and would rejuvenate the program.

My Official Prediction -- As I said, Auburn is the most entertaining option, but I think South Carolina is the one that's most likely to happen. When you consider the likelihood of a change being made and the job's overall attractiveness, I think it would make a lot of sense on both sides.

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