Auburn head football coach Hugh Freeze did not travel with the team to Lexington the day before Saturday’s game against Kentucky because he was battling an illness, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel.

Freeze is believed to have come down with food poisoning and the resulting illness has kept him out of the team for the time being, but he will join Auburn before today’s game.

Freeze is expected to coach Auburn in Saturday’s game against Kentucky, according to the report.

Auburn is 0-4 in SEC play this season and has scored 20+ points in just one of those games.

Freeze is 2-5 in his debut season as Auburn’s head coach and will face three teams currently ranked in the AP top 25, including Vanderbilt, Texas A&M and Alabama.

Auburn appeared to be on its way to a win at top-ranked Missouri last week after building a two-score lead in the second half, but was unable to hold off the Tigers’ comeback bid.

Kentucky is a 1-point favorite against Auburn in Saturday’s game.

Auburn kicks off against Kentucky at 7:45pm Eastern.

(Thamel)

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