Freeze at home with Ole Miss

— -- OXFORD, Miss. -- Hugh Freeze is temporarily lost in his phone. As he sifts through pictures containing family, fish and famous friends, he giggles.

Ole Miss' 45-year-old coach is almost giddy when he views pictures of himself with famous country performers, like Florida Georgia Line and Rascal Flatts. His eyes light up when he sees his arms around NASCAR's Kimye: Danica Patrick and Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

Is that really me with Tom Watson and Miss America?

I had Woody Harrelson in my locker room?

The fame and attention that have come with guiding the Rebels to a 7-0 record and a No. 3 ranking have been both taxing and exciting for the country boy raised about an hour north of Oxford in the rural town of Independence, Mississippi.

Freeze went from milking cows on his family's dairy farm to soaking up the limelight with a team on the cusp of not just an SEC championship but the first College Football Playoff.

"It's a bit surreal," said Freeze.