2004 Auburn

You have to give Auburn a lot of credit for the way it's bounced back this season. The Tigers barely beat Kansas State (which now doesn't look that bad), lost at home to South Florida (which now doesn't look that bad), and lost to Mississippi State (which ... ah, never mind. I like Sly Croom a lot), before beating Florida and crushing Vanderbilt.

Saturday is a huge game against Arkansas before visiting LSU, so we're about to find out what this team is all about. But 3-4 weeks ago there was serious talk that Auburn might not get enough wins to play in a bowl game. Too bad it doesn't play Tennessee this season, because that could be an incredible game.

Of course, nothing ever seems to come easy to the Tigers. Despite a 12-0 regular season in 2004, Auburn was only able to celebrate the SEC championship after the BCS rankings paired Oklahoma and Southern California in the national championship. Auburn defeated Virginia Tech in the Sugar Bowl, 16-13, to finish No. 2. Courtesy of the Southeastern Conference.