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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 6, 2014; Auburn, AL, USA; A bald eagle named Spirit circles the field at Jordan Hare Stadium before the game between the Auburn Tigers and the San Jose State Spartans. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 2 – 1957 Auburn

I’ll be honest and tell you upfront that I don’t know much about the 1957 Auburn football team, other than they claimed Auburn’s first ever national championship – albeit under scrutiny as they were not eligible for a bowl game that season but were awarded the number one spot in the AP poll anyway.

That team went a perfect 10-0 and 7-0 in the SEC, claiming a conference and national championship. The offense average 20.7 points per game (22nd in nation) and the defense gave up a minuscule 2.8 points per game (1st in nation – obviously). Their strength of schedule in 1957 was the 49th toughest in the country.

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was the starting quarterback and threw for 542 yards and 4 touchdowns mixed in with 7 interceptions. He also ran for 261 yards and another score.

The running game was mostly split between three guys. Tommy Lorino who ran for 445 yards on 78 carries (5.7 average) and a touchdown; Billy Atkins who ran for 359 yards on 90 carries (4.0 yard average) and 11 touchdowns; and Bobby Hoppe who ran for 280 yards on 69 attempts (4.1 yard average) and 1 touchdown.

It’s a shame they don’t have individual defensive statistics from that season because it would be fun to see what they were. Let this sink in though, the 1957 defense had six shutouts and never gave up more than seven points all season…. Now, that was more the norm than the exception in those days as Tenneesee only gave up 6.8 points per game that season, which ranked 7th in the nation. Still, those are some pretty impressive numbers.

The 1957 Auburn football team only played three ranked teams, and only one of them – Tennessee – was in the top ten. This will always be a special team as it marks the first time Auburn won a championship, but will it win the Auburn Football Playoff?

Next: No. 1 - 2010 Auburn

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