One of the more interesting narratives headed into SEC Media Days is the fact that both Diego Pavia and Hugh Freeze were going to be part of the festivities.
Though the unlikely pair’s programs were lined up on different days, they are very much entangled due to the fact that in three different matchups, they have faced off. And whether Pavia was at New Mexico State or Vanderbilt and Freeze was at Liberty or Auburn, Pavia has found a way to beat Freeze coached teams three straight times now.
With the Commodores and Tigers set to face off again this year, Pavia addressed his success over Freeze on Monday afternoon.
Diego Pavia answers a question about being 2-0 vs Hugh Freeze and Auburn. pic.twitter.com/e61BNhb5A1
— Zac Blackerby (@Zblackerby) July 14, 2025
“I mean Hugh Freeze is a great coach and they have a very well run program at Auburn,” Pavia said, taking a more modest stance than some expected from him. “It’s a battle of the warriors and I feel like it comes down to who is more prepared that week. Obviously we’ve got the best of him two times and obviously we always want it to play in our favor, but they run a well-ran program and they got some good talent there too. So it’ll be a fun game in Nashville this year.”
Pavia has now beaten Auburn two times — once with New Mexico State in Freeze’s first year and last year with Vanderbilt — and with the game at home this season, he hopes to do it again.
He also defeated Freeze with New Mexico State when Freeze was coaching Liberty
Whether or not that he can make it a fourth consecutive personal win over Freeze remains to be seen, but the Auburn head coach will likely get a little bit less sleep that week as he keeps trying to solve the Pavia puzzle.
