2016 Auburn Tigers football team

2016 Auburn Tigers football
Conference	Southeastern Conference Western Division
2016 record	0–0 (0–0 SEC)
Head coach	Gus Malzahn (4th year)
Offensive coordinator	Rhett Lashlee (4th year)
Defensive coordinator	Kevin Steele (1st year)
Home stadium	Jordan–Hare Stadium (Capacity: 87,451)

2016 SEC football standings
	Conf							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
Eastern Division
Florida		0	–	0					0	–	0
Georgia		0	–	0					0	–	0
Kentucky		0	–	0					0	–	0
Missouri		0	–	0					0	–	0
South Carolina		0	–	0					0	–	0
Tennessee		0	–	0					0	–	0
Vanderbilt		0	–	0					0	–	0
Western Division
Alabama		0	–	0					0	–	0
Arkansas		0	–	0					0	–	0
Auburn		0	–	0					0	–	0
LSU		0	–	0					0	–	0
Mississippi State		0	–	0					0	–	0
Ole Miss		0	–	0					0	–	0
Texas A&M		0	–	0					0	–	0
Championship: December 3, 2016
$ – Conference champion x – Division champion/co-champions Rankings from AP Poll

The 2016 Auburn Tigers football team will represent Auburn University in the 2016 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Tigers will play their home games at Jordan–Hare Stadium in Auburn, Alabama and compete in the Western Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). They will be led by fourth-year head coach Gus Malzahn.

Before the season

Previous season

The 2015 Auburn Tigers began the season as the preseason pick to win the SEC Championship and a berth in the College Football Playoff. There was also hype about junior QB Jeremy Johnson who sat behind Nick Marshall in 2013 and 2014, being a Heisman Trophy candidate. The hiring of Will Muschamp as defensive coordinator was a major success for the Tigers after Ellis Johnson was let go after a 55-44 defeat in the 2014 Iron Bowl.

The Tigers' season began with some shocking surprises. In a week one showdown against Louisville in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game, Auburn built a 24-0 lead, but Jeremy Johnson threw three interceptions and the Cardinals came back from 24-0 before finally falling to Auburn 31-24. A week later, Auburn played against FCS foe Jacksonville State, Auburn again had a rough outing from both Jeremy Johnson and the Tigers' defense. The Gamecocks almost pulled off one the biggest upsets in college football history if not for Jeremy Johnson's late touchdown to wide receiver Melvin Ray to force overtime. Auburn would win 27-20 in overtime. The Tigers would fall to 2-2 and 0-2 in SEC play after being defeated by LSU and Mississippi State. The Tigers defeated San Jose State and then got their first SEC win of the season at Kentucky.

After that win, Auburn would go on to lose four out of their remaining six games after beating the Wildcats. Those consist of home losses to Georgia, eventual national champion Alabama, Ole Miss, and a 4 four overtime loss on the road at Arkansas. Auburn's two only wins in that time were against Idaho and Texas A&M. Auburn would put together a second straight disappointing season with a 6-6 season and earned a trip to the 2015 Birmingham Bowl against Memphis. The Tigers beat Memphis 31-10 in Birmingham, giving coach Gus Malzahn his first bowl win and the team's first bowl win since 2011. Following the season, defensive coordinator Will Muschamp left the program to become the head coach at South Carolina, bringing many Auburn assistants with him. Kevin Steele was hired to be Auburn's new defensive coordinator.

Spring game

The annual 'A-Day' was held on April 9. 45,723 fans came to see the Tigers perform, making this the lowest attendance for 'A-Day' in the Gus Malzahn era. The Blue team defeated the White team by the score of 19−10.

Auburn A-Day Game

	1	2	3	4	Total
White	0	10	0	0	10
Blue	3	9	7	0	19

at Jordan-Hare Stadium • Auburn, AL

• Date: April 9, 2016
• Game time: 3:00 p.m.
• Game weather: Temperature: 68°F • Wind: 6 mph N • Weather: Sunny
• Game attendance: 45,723
• TV announcers (SEC Network): Dave Neal (play-by-play), Matt Stinchcomb (analyst), Maria Taylor (sideline reporter)

Schedule

Auburn announced its 2016 football schedule on October 29, 2015. The 2016 schedule consists of 8 home and 4 away games in the regular season. The Tigers will host SEC foes Arkansas, LSU, Texas A&M, and Vanderbilt, and will travel to Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi State, and Ole Miss.^[1]

The Tigers will host all four non–conference games. Auburn will host Alabama A&M from the Southwestern Athletic Conference, Arkansas State and Louisiana–Monroe both from the Sun Belt Conference and national title runner up Clemson from the Atlantic Coast Conference. The 2016 season is the first season the Tigers will play eight home games since the 2013 season, which Auburn went 12−2 and appeared in the 2014 BCS National Championship Game.

Date	Time	Opponent^#	Rank^#	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
September 3		Clemson*		Jordan–Hare Stadium • Auburn, AL (Rivalry)
September 10		Arkansas State*		Jordan–Hare Stadium • Auburn, AL
September 17		Texas A&M		Jordan–Hare Stadium • Auburn, AL
September 24		LSU		Jordan–Hare Stadium • Auburn, AL (Tiger Bowl)
October 1		Louisiana–Monroe*		Jordan–Hare Stadium • Auburn, AL
October 8		at Mississippi State		Davis Wade Stadium • Starkville, MS
October 22		Arkansas		Jordan–Hare Stadium • Auburn, AL
October 29		at Ole Miss		Vaught–Hemingway Stadium • Oxford, MS
November 5		Vanderbilt		Jordan–Hare Stadium • Auburn, AL
November 12		at Georgia		Sanford Stadium • Athens, GA (Deep South's Oldest Rivalry)
November 19		Alabama A&M*		Jordan–Hare Stadium • Auburn, AL
November 26		at Alabama		Bryant–Denny Stadium • Tuscaloosa, AL (Iron Bowl)
*Non-conference game. Homecoming. ^#Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Central Time.

Schedule Source:^[2]

Game summaries

Clemson

Clemson Tigers at Auburn Tigers − Game summary

	1	2	3	4	Total
Clemson	0	0	0	0	0
Auburn	0	0	0	0	0

at Jordan-Hare Stadium • Auburn, AL

• Date: September 3, 2016
• Sources:

Game information
First Quarter Second Quarter Third Quarter Fourth Quarter Top Passers CLEM − AUB − Top Rushers CLEM − AUB − Top Receiving CLEM − AUB −

The Tigers open the season with a home contest against the 2015 national runner-up Clemson. This is considered a rivalry game for both schools. The last time the two Tigers teams met was in the 2012 Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game, a 26−19 Clemson victory. Although Clemson has a two-game winning streak in the series, Auburn leads the overall series 34−13−2.

Arkansas State

Arkansas State Red Wolves at Auburn Tigers − Game summary

	1	2	3	4	Total
Arkansas State	0	0	0	0	0
Auburn	0	0	0	0	0

at Jordan-Hare Stadium • Auburn, AL

• Date: September 10, 2016
• Sources:

Game information
First Quarter Second Quarter Third Quarter Fourth Quarter Top Passers ASU − AUB − Top Rushers ASU − AUB − Top Receiving ASU − AUB −

The second game of the season is also the second non-conference opponent for the Tigers. They play Arkansas State out of the Sun Belt Conference. These teams last met in the 2013 season with Auburn winning that game 38−9. The Tigers lead the all−time series 3−0−0.

Texas A&M

Texas A&M Aggies at Auburn Tigers − Game summary

	1	2	3	4	Total
Texas A&M	0	0	0	0	0
Auburn	0	0	0	0	0

at Jordan-Hare Stadium • Auburn, AL

• Date: September 17, 2016
• Sources:

Game information
First Quarter Second Quarter Third Quarter Fourth Quarter Top Passers TA&M − AUB − Top Rushers TA&M − AUB − Top Receiving TA&M − AUB −

The third game of the season is the first conference game. SEC Western Division foe Texas A&M comes to Auburn to play. In the last meeting, which was in the 2015 season, Auburn pummeled the home-standing Aggies 26−10. Texas A&M leads the all−time series 4−2−0 with four of those games being SEC conference games.

LSU

LSU Tigers at Auburn Tigers − Game summary

	1	2	3	4	Total
LSU	0	0	0	0	0
Auburn	0	0	0	0	0

at Jordan-Hare Stadium • Auburn, AL

• Date: September 24, 2016
• Sources:

Game information
First Quarter Second Quarter Third Quarter Fourth Quarter Top Passers LSU − AUB − Top Rushers LSU − AUB − Top Receiving LSU − AUB −

The fourth game of the season is a rivalry game against the LSU Tigers. These two teams last met in the 2015 season in a meeting which saw LSU go up 24−0 at halftime and cruise to a 45−21 victory. The Tigers of LSU lead the overall series 28−21−1.

Lousiana–Monroe

Louisiana–Monroe Warhawks at Auburn Tigers − Game summary

	1	2	3	4	Total
Louisiana–Monroe	0	0	0	0	0
Auburn	0	0	0	0	0

at Jordan-Hare Stadium • Auburn, AL

• Date: October 1, 2016
• Sources:

Game information
First Quarter Second Quarter Third Quarter Fourth Quarter Top Passers ULM − AUB − Top Rushers ULM − AUB − Top Receiving ULM − AUB −

The fifth game of the season is the annual homecoming game. The Louisiana–Monroe Warhawks come to Auburn for their tenth game ever against the Tigers. The last time the Warhawks and the Tigers clashed, the result was a 31−28 Auburn victory in overtime back in the 2012 season. Auburn has never lost to the Warhawks, leading the all-time series 9−0.

Mississippi State

Auburn Tigers at Mississippi State Bulldogs − Game summary

	1	2	3	4	Total
Auburn	0	0	0	0	0
Mississippi State	0	0	0	0	0

at Davis Wade Stadium • Starkville, MS

• Date: October 8, 2016
• Sources:

Game information
First Quarter Second Quarter Third Quarter Fourth Quarter Top Passers AUB − MSU − Top Rushers AUB − MSU − Top Receiving AUB − MSU −

The sixth game of the season is the first road game for the Tigers. They play at Mississippi State where they have not won since 2010. The Tigers lost to the Bulldogs 17−9 in the 2015 season, but Auburn leads the overall series 61−26−2.

Arkansas

Arkansas Razorbacks at Auburn Tigers − Game summary

	1	2	3	4	Total
Arkansas	0	0	0	0	0
Auburn	0	0	0	0	0

at Jordan-Hare Stadium • Auburn, AL

• Date: October 22, 2016
• Sources:

Game information
First Quarter Second Quarter Third Quarter Fourth Quarter Top Passers ARK − AUB − Top Rushers ARK − AUB − Top Receiving ARK − AUB −

After their only bye week of the season, Auburn plays Arkansas in the seventh game of the year. In the 2015 season, the Tigers lost a heartbreaker in Fayetteville, falling 54−46 in four overtimes. The Tigers hold a slim edge in the overall series, leading it 13−11−1.

Ole Miss

Auburn Tigers at Ole Miss Rebels − Game summary

	1	2	3	4	Total
Auburn	0	0	0	0	0
Ole Miss	0	0	0	0	0

at Vaught-Hemmingway Stadium • Oxford, MS

• Date: October 29, 2016
• Sources:

Game information
First Quarter Second Quarter Third Quarter Fourth Quarter Top Passers AUB − MISS − Top Rushers AUB − MISS − Top Receiving AUB − MISS −

The eighth game of the season is a trip to Oxford, Mississippi to face Ole Miss. In he last game between the Tigers and Rebels, Ole Miss won 27−19 in the 2015 season. Auburn leads the overall series 29−11−0.

Vanderbilt

Vanderbilt Commodores at Auburn Tigers − Game summary

	1	2	3	4	Total
Vanderbilt	0	0	0	0	0
Auburn	0	0	0	0	0

at Jordan-Hare Stadium • Auburn, AL

• Date: November 5, 2016
• Sources:

Game information
First Quarter Second Quarter Third Quarter Fourth Quarter Top Passers VAN − AUB − Top Rushers VAN − AUB − Top Receiving VAN − AUB −

The ninth game of the season is against SEC Eastern Divison oppponent Vanderbilt. The last game, which was in the 2012 season, was a 17−13 Vanderbilt victory. Vanderbilt leads the all-time series 21−20−1.

Georgia

Auburn Tigers at Georgia Bulldogs − Game summary

	1	2	3	4	Total
Auburn	0	0	0	0	0
Georgia	0	0	0	0	0

at Sanford Stadium • Athens, GA

• Date: November 12, 2016
• Sources:

Game information
First Quarter Second Quarter Third Quarter Fourth Quarter Top Passers AUB − UGA − Top Rushers AUB − UGA − Top Receiving AUB − UGA −

The tenth game of the year is the annual Deep South's Oldest Rivalry game against Georgia. In the last meeting, Georgia won by the score of 20−13 in the 2015 season. Georgia has a slim lead in the series, which has been played since 1892, 56−55−8.

Alabama A&M

Alabama A&M Bulldogs at Auburn Tigers − Game summary

	1	2	3	4	Total
Alabama A&M	0	0	0	0	0
Auburn	0	0	0	0	0

at Jordan-Hare Stadium • Auburn, AL

• Date: November 19, 2016
• Sources:

Game information
First Quarter Second Quarter Third Quarter Fourth Quarter Top Passers AA&M − AUB − Top Rushers AA&M − AUB − Top Receiving AA&M − AUB −

The eleventh game will be the final home game for Auburn making it Senior Night. Alabama A&M and Auburn have only played once before with the Tigers winning that game 51−7 in the 2012 season. That win gave the Tigers the overall series lead of 1−0−0.

Alabama

Auburn Tigers at Alabama Crimson Tide − Game summary

	1	2	3	4	Total
Auburn	0	0	0	0	0
Alabama	0	0	0	0	0

at Bryant-Denny Stadium • Tuscaloosa, AL

• Date: November 26, 2016
• Sources:

Game information
First Quarter Second Quarter Third Quarter Fourth Quarter Top Passers AUB − ALA − Top Rushers AUB − ALA − Top Receiving AUB − ALA −

The final game of the regular season is the annual Iron Bowl clash with Alabama. In the last meeting, which was in the 2015 season, Alabama won 29−13 on their way to a national championship. Alabama leads the all-time series 44−35−1.

Rankings

Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking. ██ Decrease in ranking.
NR = Not ranked. RV = Received votes. ( ) = First place votes.

	Week
Poll	Pre	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	Final
AP
Coaches'
CFP	Not released															Not released

References

1. "AUBURN WILL KICK OFF 2016 WITH FIVE STRAIGHT HOME GAMES" (Press release). Auburn University Department of Athletics. October 29, 2015. Retrieved November 9, 2015.
2. "2016 Auburn Tigers Football Schedule". FB Schedules. Retrieved November 9, 2015.