CFB Most Influential Programs
#27 Auburn
School: Auburn Tigers
First Game: February 20th, 1892
Winning Percentage: .625 (19th)
Appearances in AP/Rank: .602 (14th)
Average AP Ranking: 11.3
National Titles: 2
Claim to Fame: No one likes to be known as “x’s rival”, but Auburn can’t really help it when their rival is Alabama. This isn’t their claim to fame though, as Auburn in its own right has an incredibly rich football history even if it seems to be lacking in national titles.
Why I have them in my Collection: Auburn is college football. You can’t tell the story of football in the South, the SEC, integration, or even national championship implications without the Tigers. Whether it be coming up short themselves, playing spoiler, or scandal, Auburn always seems to be in the national title conversation one way or another.
Like a lot of SEC teams, Auburn did not really start to live up to its potential until the 90s due to a slower embrace of integration. While of course there’s Bo Jackson and others, it wouldn’t be until the late 80’s that Auburn would see something that resembled consistency. Then they became what most of us know them for now which is, above average but extremely chaotic.
Chaos is good though in college football. It makes for great stories. The 2010 National Championship team had one of the best players of all time in Cam Newton at quarterback. But even that team wasn’t without its drama. The 2013 team would also play for a national title and lose, but their road to that title was filled with some of the most memorable college football games not only in modern history, but of all time.
Auburn is fun. Auburn is chaotic. And they are a team you can’t leave out if you want to properly chronicle the beautiful game that is college football.
Thank you for reading Preston’s Sports Musings. If you enjoy the sports thoughts that fly through my mind on a wide range of subjects, consider becoming a free subscriber.
If a subscription is not in the cards at the moment, consider clicking the link below for a one time donation with “Buy Me A Coffee”. Anything is always appreciated, and you can click the button below as well:
More than anything if this piece moved you, share it far and wide with friends! I love reaching new people and learning new perspectives:
If you believe the writing I do here would be a beneficial read for the people in your life, please consider sharing my publication: