Auburn Football: The Best Defenses Will Muschamp Has Ever Coached
4. 2006 Auburn Tigers
The 2006 Auburn football season was the first for Will Muschamp as the Tigers’ defensive coordinator. That year, Muschamp’s unit held opponents to 13.9 points and 292.3 yards per game, both of which ranked in the nation’s top ten. The Tigers allowed just 21 touchdowns all season – the eighth fewest of any team in the country.
Overall, the Tigers were 11-2 with two shutouts (34-0 vs. Mississippi State and 27-0 vs. Arkansas State). They lost to Georgia (37-15) and Arkansas, who won 27-10 with the help of a plucky, innovative first-year offensive coordinator name Gus Malzahn.
Arguably the most memorable game for a Will Muschamp-coached Auburn defense was the 7-3 victory over LSU in Jordan-Hare Stadium. Muschamp’s unit held LSU to 311 total yards, only 42 of which came on the ground. Auburn also held LSU to 1.8 yards per rush and star running backs Justin Vincent and Ally Broussard managed just 16 yards apiece. On the game’s final play, Auburn stopped LSU at the five-yard line to seal the win.
Another great game was a 27-17 upset victory over No. 2 Florida. Quentin Groves was named SEC Defensive Player of the Week and National Defensive Player of the Week for his three-sack performance. He also forced a fumble and the Tigers forced three turnovers in the game. In 2006, Groves had 9.5 sacks and was named a first team All-SEC defensive end.
Auburn also beat Alabama 22-15 in Tuscaloosa to extend the Iron Bowl winning streak to five and defeated Nebraska 17-14 in the Cotton Bowl to cap off the season.
2006 LSU at Auburn:
Next: 3. 2012 Florida Gators