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Auburn Football Playoff of Greatest Teams in Tiger History

By Jake Mastroianni

Sep 21, 2014; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Jason Campbell (17) looks to pass during the second half against the Tennessee Titans at Paul Brown Stadium. The Bengals won 33-7. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 21, 2014; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Jason Campbell (17) looks to pass during the second half against the Tennessee Titans at Paul Brown Stadium. The Bengals won 33-7. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 14, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; Houston Texans running back Ronnie Brown (22) runs the ball against the Oakland Raiders in the fourth quarter at O.co Coliseum. The Texans defeated the Raiders 30-14. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 3 – 2004 Auburn

The 2004 Auburn football team was part of the most controversial seasons in college football history, and they are partly responsible for the current College Football Playoff format. They finished the season a perfect 13-0 but were left out of the National Championship game and finished second in the AP poll.

That team average 32.1 points per game (18th in nation) and gave up just 11.3 points per game (1st in the nation), while playing the 55th ranked scheduled in the country, which ultimately hurt them when it came to choosing the two teams for the National Championship game. They still played five ranked teams that season, including three ranked inside the top 10.

Jason Campbell was the starting quarterback for the 2004 Auburn football team throwing for 2,700 yards and 20 touchdowns. He also had 3 touchdowns on the ground and finished seventh in the Heisman voting that season before being taken in the first round of the NFL Draft.

What people remember most about the 2004 Auburn football team though was the two-headed monster at running back in Carnell “Cadillac” Williams and Ronnie Brown. The duo combined for 2,078 yards rushing on 392 attempts (5.3 yards a carry) and 20 touchdowns.

Williams was the feature back with 1,165 yards on 239 carries and 12 touchdowns, while catching 21 passes for 152 yards and another score. Brown had 913 yards rushing on just 153 attempts (6.0 yard average) and 8 touchdowns, while catching 34 balls for 313 yards and 1 touchdown.

Carnell was taken fifth overall in the 2005 NFL Draft and spent six years playing professionally. Brown was taken three picks ahead of Williams in the NFL Draft going second overall to the Miami Dolphins. He spent 11 years in the NFL playing six years for Miami.

What people should remember about the 2004 Auburn team is that nasty defense with Junior Rosegreen, Carlos Rogers, Stanley Glover and Quentin Groves. That defense started out the season with a shutout against Louisiana-Monroe and then only gave up 20 points or more twice all season.

Auburn went up against Virginia Tech in the Sugar Bowl and won in a defensive battle 16-13. The Hokies had played USC at the beginning of the year and lost thanks to a controversial call that went the way of the Trojans. That was the only team that tested USC that year as they went on to destroy Oklahoma in the National Championship game. Everyone knows it should have been Auburn against USC in that game.

Next: No. 2 - 1957 Auburn

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