2018 Auburn Tigers football team

The 2018 Auburn Tigers football team represented Auburn University in the 2018 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Tigers played their home games at Jordan–Hare Stadium in Auburn, Alabama and competed in the Western Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). They were led by sixth-year head coach Gus Malzahn. The Tigers finished the season 8–5, 3–5 in SEC play to finish 5th in the West Division. They were invited to the Music City Bowl, where they defeated Purdue.

2018 Auburn Tigers football
Music City Bowl champion
Music City Bowl, W 63–14 vs. Purdue
ConferenceSoutheastern Conference
DivisionWestern Division
2018 record8–5 (3–5 SEC)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorChip Lindsey (2nd season)
Co-offensive coordinatorKodi Burns (3rd season)
Defensive coordinatorKevin Steele (3rd season)
Home stadiumJordan–Hare Stadium
(Capacity: 87,451)
2018 Southeastern Conference football standings
Conf  Overall
Team W L    W L 
East Division
No. 7т Georgia x  7 –1     11 –3  
No. 12 Kentucky  5 –3     10 –3  
No. 7т Florida  5 –3     10 –3  
South Carolina  4 –4     7 –6  
Missouri  4 –4     8 –5  
Vanderbilt  3 –5     6 –7  
Tennessee  2 –6     5 –7  
West Division
No. 2 Alabama x$^  8 –0     14 –1  
No. 16 Texas A&M  5 –3     9 –4  
No. 6 LSU  5 –3     10 –3  
Auburn  3 –5     8 –5  
Ole Miss  1 –7     5 –7  
Arkansas  0 –8     2 –10  
Mississippi State*  0 –4     0 –5  
Championship: Alabama 35, Georgia 28
  • ^ – College Football Playoff participant
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
  • * Mississippi State vacated four conference and eight total wins due to NCAA violations.[1]
Rankings from AP Poll

Previous season

The Tigers finished the 2017 season 10–4, 7–1 in SEC play to win a share of the Western Division title with Alabama. Due to their head-to-head win over Alabama, they represented the Western Division in the SEC Championship Game and lost to Georgia. They were invited to the Peach Bowl where they lost to UCF.

Recruiting

Position key
Back B Center C Cornerback CB Defensive back DB
Defensive end DE Defensive lineman DL Defensive tackle DT End E
Fullback FB Guard G Halfback HB Kicker K
Kickoff returner KR Offensive tackle OT Offensive lineman OL Linebacker LB
Long snapper LS Punter P Punt returner PR Quarterback QB
Running back RB Safety S Tight end TE Wide receiver WR

Recruits

The Tigers signed a total of 24 recruits.

Spring game

The A-Day spring game was held on Saturday, April 7. Bad weather led to the lowest attendance for A-Day in the Gus Malzahn era as head coach, as only 28,033 showed up. The game was dominated by defense, and only 28 total points were scored between the two teams. Many starters did not play or did not see significant time on the field due to the amount of injuries Auburn had already suffered during the spring. For their performances, C.J. Tolbert was named Offensive MVP, Nick Coe was named Defensive MVP, and Anders Carlson was named Special Teams MVP.

2018 Auburn A-Day Game
1 2 34Total
Blue 3 0 0710
Orange 2 13 0318

at Jordan-Hare Stadium • Auburn, Alabama

Preseason

Award watch lists

Listed in the order that they were released

Award Player Position Year
Lott Trophy[2] Deshaun Davis LB SR
Chuck Bednarik Award[3] Javaris Davis CB JR
Dontavius Russell DT SR
Maxwell Award[4] Jarrett Stidham QB JR
Davey O'Brien Award[5] Jarrett Stidham QB JR
Fred Biletnikoff Award[6] Ryan Davis WR SR
Butkus Award[7] Deshaun Davis LB SR
Bronko Nagurski Trophy[8] Derrick Brown DL JR
Marlon Davidson DL JR
Outland Trophy[9] Derrick Brown DL JR
Wuerffel Trophy[10] Derrick Brown DL JR
Walter Camp Award[11] Jarrett Stidham QB JR
Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award[12] Jarrett Stidham QB JR
Manning Award[13] Jarrett Stidham QB JR
Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award[14] Jarrett Stidham QB JR

SEC media poll

The SEC media poll was released on July 20, 2018 with the Tigers predicted to finish in second place in the West Division.[15]

Media poll (West)
Predicted finish Team Votes (1st place)
1Alabama1,971 (263)
2Auburn1,664 (19)
3Mississippi State1,239 (2)
4Texas A&M1,091
5LSU1,025
6Ole Miss578
7Arkansas412

Preseason All-SEC teams

The Tigers had nine players selected to the preseason all-SEC teams.

Schedule
DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendance
September 12:30 p.m.vs. No. 6 Washington*No. 9
ABCW 21–1670,103
September 86:30 p.m.Alabama State*No. 7
SECNW 63–984,806
September 152:30 p.m.No. 12 LSUNo. 7
  • Jordan–Hare Stadium
  • Auburn, AL (rivalry)
CBSL 21–2286,787
September 226:30 p.m.ArkansasNo. 11
  • Jordan–Hare Stadium
  • Auburn, AL
SECNW 34–384,188
September 293:00 p.m.Southern Miss*No. 10
  • Jordan–Hare Stadium
  • Auburn, AL
SECNW 24–1383,792
October 66:30 p.m.at Mississippi StateNo. 8
ESPN2L 9–2360,635
October 1311:00 a.m.TennesseeNo. 21
  • Jordan–Hare Stadium
  • Auburn, AL (rivalry)
SECNL 24–3084,589
October 2011:00 a.m.at Ole Miss
ESPNW 31–1656,885
November 311:00 a.m.No. 20 Texas A&M
  • Jordan–Hare Stadium
  • Auburn, AL
ESPNW 28–2485,945
November 106:00 p.m.at No. 5 GeorgiaNo. 24
ESPNL 10–2792,746
November 173:00 p.m.Liberty*
  • Jordan–Hare Stadium
  • Auburn, AL
SECNW 53–081,129
November 242:30 p.m.at No. 1 Alabama
CBSL 21–52101,821
December 2812:30 p.m.vs. Purdue*
ESPNW 63–1459,024
Schedule Source:[16]

Game summaries

vs. Washington
See also: 2018 Washington Huskies football team and Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game
2018 Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game
No. 6 Washington Huskies vs. No. 9 Auburn Tigers – Game summary
1 2 34Total
No. 6 Washington 3 10 0316
No. 9 Auburn 9 6 0621

at Mercedes-Benz Stadium • Atlanta, Georgia

  • Date: September 1, 2018
  • Game time: 2:43 p.m.
  • Game weather: Indoors
  • Game attendance: 70,103
  • Referee: John O'Neill
  • TV announcers (ABC): Steve Levy (play-by-play), Brian Griese (analyst), Todd McShay (sideline reporter)
Game information

Alabama State
See also: 2018 Alabama State Hornets football team
Alabama State Hornets at No. 7 Auburn Tigers – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Alabama State 0 2 709
No. 7 Auburn 21 21 71463

at Jordan-Hare Stadium • Auburn, Alabama

  • Date: September 8, 2018
  • Game time: 6:39 p.m.
  • Game weather: Temperature: 87° • Wind: SE 5 mph • Weather: Partly cloudy
  • Game attendance: 84,806
  • Referee: Hubert Owens
  • TV announcers (SEC Network Alternate): Mark Neely (play-by-play), Barrett Jones (analyst), Taylor Davis (sideline reporter)
Game information

LSU
See also: 2018 LSU Tigers football team and Tiger Bowl
No. 12 LSU Tigers at No. 7 Auburn Tigers – Game summary
1 2 34Total
No. 12 LSU 7 3 3922
No. 7 Auburn 0 14 7021

at Jordan-Hare Stadium • Auburn, Alabama

  • Date: September 15, 2018
  • Game time: 2:39 p.m.
  • Game weather: Temperature: 93° • Wind: N 10 mph • Weather: Partly Cloudy
  • Game attendance: 86,787
  • Referee: John McDaid
  • TV announcers (CBS): Brad Nessler (play-by-play), Gary Danielson (analyst), Jamie Erdahl (sideline reporter)
Game information

Arkansas
See also: 2018 Arkansas Razorbacks football team
Arkansas Razorbacks at No. 9 Auburn Tigers – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Arkansas 0 0 303
No. 9 Auburn 10 7 71034

at Jordan-Hare Stadium • Auburn, Alabama

  • Date: September 22, 2018
  • Game time: 6:39 p.m.
  • Game weather: Temperature: 85° • Wind: SE 9 mph • Weather: Partly cloudy
  • Game attendance: 84,188
  • Referee: Ken Williamson
  • TV announcers (SEC Network): Tom Hart (play-by-play), Jordan Rodgers (analyst), Cole Cubelic (sideline reporter)
Game information

Southern Miss
See also: 2018 Southern Miss Golden Eagles football team
Southern Miss Golden Eagles at No. 10 Auburn Tigers – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Southern Miss 0 3 3713
No. 10 Auburn 7 7 7324

at Jordan-Hare Stadium • Auburn, Alabama

  • Date: September 29, 2018
  • Game time: 3:01 p.m.
  • Game weather: Temperature: 85° • Wind: 3 mph NW • Weather: Sunny
  • Game attendance: 83,792
  • Referee: David Smith
  • TV announcers (SEC Network): Dave Neal (play-by-play), D.J. Shockley (analyst), Dawn Davenport (sideline reporter)
Game information

at Mississippi State
See also: 2018 Mississippi State Bulldogs football team
No. 8 Auburn Tigers at Mississippi State Bulldogs – Game summary
1 2 34Total
No. 8 Auburn 3 0 339
Mississippi State 3 10 3723

at Davis Wade Stadium • Starkville, Mississippi

  • Date: October 6, 2018
  • Game time: 6:35 p.m.
  • Game weather: Temperature: 81° • Wind: SE 3 mph • Weather: Clear skies
  • Game attendance: 60,635
  • Referee: James Carter
  • TV announcers (ESPN2): Mark Jones (play-by-play), Dusty Dvoracek (analyst), Molly McGrath (sideline reporter)
Game information

Tennessee
See also: 2018 Tennessee Volunteers football team and Auburn-Tennessee football rivalry
Tennessee Volunteers at No. 21 Auburn Tigers – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Tennessee 3 10 14330
No. 21 Auburn 10 7 0724

at Jordan-Hare Stadium • Auburn, Alabama

  • Date: October 13, 2018
  • Game time: 11:01 a.m.
  • Game weather: Temperature: 70° • Wind: N 6 mph • Weather: Sunny
  • Game attendance: 84,589
  • Referee: Matt Austin
  • TV announcers (SEC Network): Dave Neal (play-by-play), D.J. Shockley (analyst), Dawn Davenport (sideline reporter)
Game information

at Ole Miss
See also: 2018 Ole Miss Rebels football team
Auburn Tigers at Ole Miss Rebels – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Auburn 7 3 21031
Ole Miss 3 3 3716

at Vaught-Hemmingway Stadium • Oxford, Mississippi

  • Date: October 20, 2018
  • Game time: 11:02 a.m.
  • Game weather: Temperature: 59° • Wind: • Weather: Cloudy
  • Game attendance: 56,885
  • Referee: David Smith
  • TV announcers (ESPN): Adam Amin (play-by-play), Rod Gilmore (analyst), Quint Kessenich (sideline reporter)
Game information

Texas A&M
See also: 2018 Texas A&M Aggies football team
No. 25 Texas A&M Aggies at Auburn Tigers – Game summary
1 2 34Total
No. 25 Texas A&M 3 14 7024
Auburn 7 7 01428

at Jordan-Hare Stadium • Auburn, Alabama

  • Date: November 3, 2018
  • Game time: 11:03 a.m.
  • Game weather: Temperature: 53° • Wind: SE 3 mph • Weather: Sunny
  • Game attendance: 85,945
  • Referee: Ken Williamson
  • TV announcers (ESPN): Bob Wischusen (play-by-play), Brock Huard (analyst), Allison Williams (sideline reporter)
Game information

at Georgia
See also: 2018 Georgia Bulldogs football team and Deep South's Oldest Rivalry
Auburn Tigers at No. 5 Georgia Bulldogs – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Auburn 7 3 0010
No. 5 Georgia 3 17 0727

at Sanford Stadium • Athens, Georgia

  • Date: November 10, 2018
  • Game time: 6:10 p.m.
  • Game weather: Temperature: 45° • Wind: Calm • Weather: Clear
  • Game attendance: 92,746
  • Referee: John McDaid
  • TV announcers (ESPN): Sean McDonough (play-by-play), Todd Blackledge (analyst), Holly Rowe (sideline reporter)
Game information

Liberty
See also: 2018 Liberty Flames football team
Liberty Flames at Auburn Tigers – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Liberty 0 0 000
Auburn 15 17 21053

at Jordan-Hare Stadium • Auburn, Alabama

  • Date: November 17, 2018
  • Game time: 3:01 p.m.
  • Game weather: Temperature: 66° • Wind: NW 2 mph • Weather: Sunny
  • Game attendance: 81,129
  • Referee: Jason Autrey
  • TV announcers (SEC Network Alternate): Richard Cross (play-by-play), Hutson Mason (analyst), Taylor Davis (sideline reporter)
Game information

at Alabama
See also: 2018 Alabama Crimson Tide football team and Iron Bowl
Auburn Tigers at No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Auburn 7 7 7021
No. 1 Alabama 7 10 211452

at Bryant-Denny Stadium • Tuscaloosa, Alabama

  • Date: November 24, 2018
  • Game time: 2:39 p.m.
  • Game attendance: 101,821
  • Referee: Hubert Owens
  • TV announcers (CBS): Brad Nessler (play-by-play), Gary Danielson (analyst), Jamie Erdahl (sideline reporter)

vs. Purdue
See also: 2018 Purdue Boilermakers football team and 2018 Music City Bowl
2018 Music City Bowl
Purdue Boilermakers vs. Auburn Tigers – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Purdue 7 0 7014
Auburn 28 28 7063

at Nissan Stadium • Nashville, Tennessee

  • Date: December 28, 2018
  • Game time: 12:33 p.m.
  • Game attendance: 59,024
  • Referee: Brad Van Vark
  • TV announcers (ESPN): Anish Shroff (play-by-play), Ahmad Brooks (analyst), Roddy Jones (sideline reporter)

Rankings
Further information: 2018 NCAA Division I FBS football rankings
Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking. ██ Decrease in ranking.
NR = Not ranked. RV = Received votes. т = Tied with team above or below. ( ) = First place votes.
Week
Poll Pre 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Final 
AP 9 7 7 9 10 8 21 NR RV RV RV RV RV NR NR RV 
Coaches 10 7 7 11 10 9 21 RV RV RV RV RV RV NR NR RV 
CFP Not released NR 24 NR NR NR NR Not released

Players drafted into the NFL
See also: 2019 NFL Draft
RoundPickPlayerPositionNFL Club
394Jamel DeanCBTampa Bay Buccaneers
4133Jarrett StidhamQBNew England Patriots
5171Darius SlaytonWRNew York Giants
6210Deshaun DavisLBCincinnati Bengals
7233Chandler CoxFBMiami Dolphins
7235Dontavius RussellDTJacksonville Jaguars

References
  1. Journal, Logan Lowery Daily. "MSU fires Moorhead after two seasons". Daily Journal. All eight of Moorhead's victories in 2018 had to be vacated after 10 football players were reprimanded by the NCAA for academic misconduct involving a former part-time tutor and an online chemistry class.
  2. "2018 Watch List | Lott IMPACT Trophy | Honoring College Football's Defensive Best". lottimpacttrophy.org. Retrieved 2018-07-17.
  3. "2018 Bednarik Award Watch List - Maxwell Football Club". Maxwell Football Club. 2018-07-16. Retrieved 2018-07-17.
  4. "2018 Maxwell Award Watch List". July 16, 2018. Retrieved July 17, 2018.
  5. "Davey O'Brien Award Watch List includes 26 players". July 17, 2018. Retrieved July 17, 2018.
  6. "2018 Biletnikoff Award Watch List". July 19, 2018. Retrieved July 19, 2018.
  7. "Butkus Award - 2018 Collegiate Watchlist". The Butkus Award. July 23, 2018. Retrieved July 23, 2018.
  8. "2018 Bronko Nagurski Trophy Preseason Watch List". July 24, 2018. Retrieved July 24, 2018.
  9. "22018 OUTLAND TROPHY WATCH LIST UNVEILED". July 24, 2018. Retrieved July 24, 2018.
  10. "Wuerffel Trophy Unveils 2018 Watch List". July 26, 2018. Retrieved July 26, 2018.
  11. Carbone, Al (July 27, 2018). "Walter Camp Football Foundation Announces 2018 Player of the Year Preseason "Watch List"". Retrieved July 30, 2018.
  12. "Watch List for 2018 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award ® Presented by A. O. Smith Announced". August 14, 2018. Retrieved August 17, 2018.
  13. "Manning Award: See which quarterbacks made the preseason watch list for 2018". August 16, 2018. Retrieved August 17, 2018.
  14. "2018 Nominations The Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award" (PDF). August 16, 2018. Retrieved August 17, 2018.
  15. http://www.secsports.com/article/24148392/media-predicts-alabama-win-2018-sec-championship
  16. "2018 Auburn Tigers Football Schedule". FB Schedules. Retrieved January 6, 2018.
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