This is an opinion column.

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Auburn continues to make progress at key positions this offseason while rival Alabama is busy producing online soap operas featuring divas Ryan Williams and Jaylen Mbakwe. Monday’s column on the rise of Auburn and coach Hugh Freeze coincided with a preview of the Crimson Tide’s new team culture. The mailbag is overflowing with holiday cheer.

Collin in Atlanta writes…

1. You completely ignore the play on the field. Hugh Freeze didn’t make a bowl game. He didn’t make a bowl game as a sophomore…very talented.

2. You talk about quarterback Jackson Arnold like he did something during his college career. Oklahoma’s defense beat Alabama, not Jackson Arnold. Even Auburn fans aren’t extremely excited about this addition.

3. You talk about Hugh Freeze like he dominated recruiting because he focused on local talent. It would be great if football was only played in the state of Alabama, but last time I checked it is a national sport.

Auburn is recruiting much better with Freeze, but still below the levels of Georgia and a Saban-less Alabama. That’s without counting Texas and other perennial contenders. But once again, you are a sports columnist ignorant of the products of the field.

Hugh Freeze has always been an excellent recruiter. So why did Hugh Freeze never achieve anything significant other than fortuitous regular-season victories against Alabama a decade ago? Alabama just signed the Gatorade National Player of the Year at quarterback and is coming off another top class. Not to mention they have a coach on the field who is way better than Auburn by a mile.

Mike in Birmingham writes…

Years ago, a sportscaster named Colin Cowherd boldly predicted that Gus Malzahn would not only beat Nick Saban at Farmville, but that he would go to Tuscaloosa the following year, beat him again and win the national championship. His audacity earned him the all-too-appropriate nickname Cowturd.

Malzahn fulfilled neither of these predictions and disappeared into obscurity somewhere north of the Everglades. And Cowturd? Many believed he had died or had started working for a living. It seems neither is true. It seems the Cowturd has been resurrected at AL.com in the form of an opinion editor where thoughts mean everything and facts little.

Auburn is back, reads the opinion. Most of us didn’t know that they had gone anywhere other than the level where they usually reside. A lifetime winning percentage of .623 will do that to you. Thank goodness inflation struck in recent years when the cost of toilet paper became irrelevant to the residents of the most unique village on the plains.

Hello, Cowturd, but as the Lee County saying goes, “Be careful where you step.”

Randy from Madison writes…

When I started reading your article about the Barn and Bama and the playoffs, well, I must admit I was closed-minded and somewhat amused. But as I read it, it started to make sense. BUT here is my bold prediction…Bama AND the Grange will make the playoffs next year. Provided the Grange doesn’t give Hughie a cell phone, otherwise everything should be fine… Just saying.

ANSWER: I’m not on a mission to defend Hugh Freeze, but it seems Alabama fans are in a state of denial about current trends in college football.

Auburn is clearly on the rise thanks to the patience and support of its fans and the ability of Coach Freeze and his staff to build a roster. It’s almost as if this new era of college football is a gift to Freeze and his specific skills as a recruiter. As for Alabama, Nick Saban said “No thanks,” cashed in his chips and now works for ESPN.

Saban’s replacement, new Kalen DeBoer, can’t even stop his best players from acting stupid on social media after embarrassingly missing the playoffs. Forgive me for lacking confidence in DeBoer and his team when it comes to winning Alabama State against a coach from the Deep South who uses a combination of his unwavering faith and the power of desperate boosters as tools of recruitment.

And we know Freeze can win a game in Alabama. Can DeBoer win at Auburn? Check Saban’s winning percentage at Jordan-Hare Stadium and get back to me. Given all the available evidence, it’s not exactly outrageous or far-fetched to believe Auburn can make the playoffs before Alabama.

In the hours following the publication of Monday’s column, Auburn then landed another veteran offensive tackle through the portal. Hmm, it’s almost like I knew what was going to happen. Meanwhile, Alabama’s podcast duo of wide receiver Ryan Williams and defensive back Jaylen Mbakwe I spent the day acting like children on Instagram.

“Bingo!” We got some action,” Williams wrote after news broke that Mbakwe would be entering the transfer portal.

Pretty much bingo, which is why Alabama lacked the team culture needed to win consistently in the SEC.

Alabama is really good at developing social media influencers these days. As for footballers? I guess we’ll see.

But enough about the behavior of Williams and Mbakwe looking at me to the detriment of the Alabama brand. Football divas are nothing new. Let’s look at the quarterback situation for next season.

Assuming Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe declares for the NFL, that means Alabama will likely go with Ty Simpson or move Austin Mack at quarterback in 2025. Either Are any of these players good enough to lead a team to the playoffs? They did nothing to receive the benefit of the doubt that Alabama enjoyed for so long under Saban’s powerful reign.

Is Alabama going to start a true freshman at quarterback just because he was a highly regarded recruit? If that’s the case, it could be a long season for the Crimson Tide. And after everything we’ve seen in college football, who’s to say rookie quarterback Keelon Russell will even be at Alabama for more than one season.

Auburn will have a more experienced starting quarterback next season, more experienced offensive linemen and arguably a better defense than Alabama.

The beating soul of Auburn’s developing team culture is Chilton County linebacker Demarcus Riddick. He’s as tough as they come and will be one of the best players in college football next season. What is the team culture like at Alabama in the offseason?

Divas Mbakwe and Williams gave us a glimpse this week.

BE HEARD

Do you have a question for Joe? Want to get something off your chest? Send Joe an email about what you think. Make your voice heard. Ask him anything.

Joseph Goodman is the leading sports columnist for the Alabama Media Group and author of the book “We want Bama: a season of hope and the creation of Nick Saban’s ultimate team.”