For much of the College Football Playoff era, the SEC didn’t just set the standard - it was the standard. From Alabama’s dynastic run to LSU’s unforgettable title season and Georgia’s back-to-back championships, the conference dominated the national conversation. But in recent years, the Big Ten has made a serious push to shift that balance of power, thanks to the likes of Michigan, Ohio State, Oregon, and even Indiana making waves.
Still, when you look at the CFP’s historical elite, the SEC’s fingerprints are everywhere. Six of ESPN analyst Bill Connelly’s top eight CFP-era teams came from the conference.
That includes the 2017-2019 Alabama squads led by Jalen Hurts and Tua Tagovailoa, Joe Burrow’s electrifying 2019 LSU team, the 2020 Alabama offense loaded with DeVonta Smith, Jaylen Waddle, and Najee Harris, and the Stetson Bennett-led Georgia Bulldogs who won it all in both 2021 and 2022. These weren’t just great teams - they were juggernauts, the kind that left little doubt on Saturdays (and Mondays in January).
And in a stretch that says as much about Auburn’s program as it does about the SEC’s depth, the Tigers faced all four of those teams in consecutive seasons. That’s a gauntlet few programs could survive, let alone compete in.
Auburn vs. the SEC’s Best: A Brutal Stretch
Start with the 2017 Iron Bowl. Auburn took down Alabama 26-14 at Jordan-Hare Stadium - a signature win against a Tide team that would go on to win the national title anyway.
But the following year, the tables turned in a big way. Alabama rolled to a 52-21 win in Tuscaloosa, flexing its offensive firepower.
In 2019, Auburn went toe-to-toe with what many consider the greatest CFP team ever: Joe Burrow’s LSU Tigers. That game in Death Valley was a slugfest, with LSU narrowly escaping 23-20.
Then came 2020 - a season unlike any other - and a 42-13 Iron Bowl loss in front of a pandemic-limited crowd at Bryant-Denny Stadium. That Alabama team, loaded with future NFL stars, was Connelly’s pick for the best of the CFP era.
The next two seasons brought Georgia into focus. In 2021, Auburn hung around early but couldn’t capitalize on key opportunities, falling 34-10 at home. A year later, the Tigers were simply outclassed in Athens, suffering a 42-10 blowout in what was a clear mismatch from the opening kickoff.
That four-year run - facing generational teams from Alabama, LSU, and Georgia - would break many programs. And while Auburn didn’t come out unscathed, the fact they were competitive in several of those games speaks volumes about where the program was at the time.
The Quarterbacks Who Kept Auburn in the Fight
It’s hard to talk about that era without mentioning the quarterbacks who helped Auburn stay afloat. Jarrett Stidham (2017-2018) and Bo Nix (2019-2021) weren’t just college standouts - they’re both now in the NFL, with Nix currently starting for the Denver Broncos and Stidham backing him up.
Stidham helped engineer that 2017 win over Alabama and kept Auburn relevant in a loaded SEC West. Nix, for all the chaos surrounding Auburn during his time, showed flashes of brilliance and toughness that made him a fan favorite - and, ultimately, a pro.
These were the final years when Auburn’s quarterback room was a legitimate NFL pipeline. From Cam Newton’s Heisman-winning season to Nick Marshall’s dynamic run to Stidham and Nix, the Tigers had a reputation for producing QBs who could make an impact beyond Saturdays.
But that pipeline dried up fast.
The Post-Malzahn Slide and the QB Void
Once Gus Malzahn was out and Bryan Harsin took over, the program lost its identity - especially at quarterback. Harsin’s tenure was marked by instability and underdevelopment at the position. Hugh Freeze hasn’t reversed that trend yet, and the results speak for themselves: not a single quarterback recruited and developed by Harsin or Freeze has gone on to play in the NFL.
That’s a stark contrast from the previous decade, where Auburn had multiple QBs reach the league - even if it meant changing positions, like Nick Marshall did.
Now, the pressure’s on new head coach Alex Golesh to find the next guy who can bring Auburn back to that level. A quarterback who can win big games, make NFL throws, and lead a locker room. A quarterback who can make Jordan-Hare Stadium a true home-field advantage again.
Deuce Knight may be the most promising name on the horizon, but his development - whether under Golesh or someone else - remains to be seen. What’s clear is that Auburn needs a quarterback who can do more than just manage games. They need a difference-maker.
The Path Back to Relevance
Auburn’s recent history is a reminder of just how thin the margin is in college football. One moment, you’re knocking off Alabama and going toe-to-toe with LSU and Georgia. The next, you’re struggling to stay competitive and searching for answers at the most important position on the field.
But the blueprint is there. The program has done it before - with the right coach, the right quarterback, and the right culture. Now it’s about putting those pieces back together.
Because in the SEC, if you don’t have a quarterback who can go shot-for-shot with the best in the country, you’re not just behind - you’re forgotten.