Division Western Division AP No. 22 Head coach Gus Malzahn (2nd year) | Coaches No. 23 2014 record 8–5 (4–4 SEC) | |
Conference Southeastern Conference | ||
The 2014 Auburn Tigers football team represented Auburn University in the 2014 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was coached by Gus Malzahn, who was in his second season as head coach at Auburn. 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 finished the season 8–5, 4–4 in SEC play to finish in a tie for fourth place in the Western Division. They were invited to the Outback Bowl where they lost to Wisconsin.
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Previous season
The 2013 Auburn Tigers football team had a big turnaround in Gus Malzahn's inaugural year as head coach, finishing 12–2 after 3–9 campaign in 2012. The season included last-minute victories against Mississippi State and Texas A&M and particularly stunning games against rival Georgia, in the game dubbed the Prayer at Jordan–Hare, as well as against in-state rival Alabama, in the game dubbed Kick Bama Kick. The win over Alabama earned Auburn a spot in the SEC Championship Game.
The Tigers became Southeastern Conference champions after defeating Missouri in the SEC Championship Game and earned a bid to the BCS National Championship Game against Florida State. There Auburn lost to Florida State, 34–31, after a late lead-changing touchdown pass by the Seminoles with 13 seconds left in the game. The Tigers finished the season ranked #2 in both the AP and Coaches polls.
Shortly after the season, Heisman Trophy finalist junior running back Tre Mason—who broke Bo Jackson's school record for rushing yards in a single season—as well as redshirt sophomore left tackle Greg Robinson declared their intentions to forgo their remaining eligibility and enter the NFL Draft.
Recruiting class
The Tigers notched their fifth consecutive recruiting class ranked within the top 10 nationally. Five signees enrolled prior to spring practice, while the rest enrolled in the summer.
Spring game
The Tigers spring game 'A-Day' was held on Saturday April 19. The Blue team defeated the White team 58-3 with quarterback Nick Marshall and linebacker Kenny Flowers earning offensive and defensive MVP honors respectively. 70,645 fans attended the game, the second most in school history after the previous years A-Day which had 83,401 in attendance.
Fall practice and preseason
Auburn lost starting DE Carl Lawson and reserve defensive end Keymiya Harrell to ACL injuries as well as starting OG Alex Kozan to a back injury. DT Tyler Nero's career is likely over after he collapsed during spring practice. OL Shane Callahan transferred to the University of Colorado, while Auburn added two transfers in former Ole Miss starting OG Austin Golson and former Georgia starting SS Trey Matthews—both will have to sit out the 2014 season per NCAA transfer rules before regaining eligibility for the 2015 season.
Auburn had a league high 13 players make it on the all SEC list. The 1st team players included QB Nick Marshall, WR Sammie Coates, C Reese Dismukes, DT Gabe Wright. The 2nd team players included TE CJ Uzomah, OG Alex Kozan (out for season) and ST Robenson Therezie. 3rd team selections were RB Cory Grant, OG Chad Slade, DT Montravius Adams, DE Carl Lawson (out for season), LB Cassanova McKinzy and CB Jonathan Mincy.
Senior starting CB Jonathan Mincy was arrested for 2nd degree marijuana possession and senior starting QB Nick Marshall was cited for possession of a small amount of marijuana (under once ounce) during the off-season. It was both players' first drug-related offenses. Mincy is currently going through a pre-trial diversion after his arrest. Both players did not start for the first game against Arkansas (however they would both see the field later in the game) and served some other undisclosed punishment.
Senior starting ST Robenson Therezie faced an undisclosed eligibility issue during fall camp, however he would be cleared to play just prior to the season opener against Arkansas.
Depth chart
As of November 4th, 2014
Injured/Suspended