The votes are in: Writers across the country believe Auburn will be a talented squad this season.
After a top-10 ranking in the summer’s coaches poll, Gus Malzahn’s Tigers found themselves at No. 9 in the season-opening AP Poll, announced Monday morning.
Like in the coaches poll, Auburn is the third-highest ranked team in the SEC behind defending national champion and national runner-up Alabama (No. 1) and Georgia (No. 3), respectively. Auburn’s Week 1 opponent, Washington, remains a top-10 opponent at No. 6.
The No. 9 spot is the highest preaseason ranking for Malzahn's team since 2015, when Auburn began at No. 6. Auburn’s other 2018 opponents in the poll include Mississippi State at No. 18 and LSU at No. 25.
Following SEC Media Days, the Tigers were slated to finish second in the conference behind Alabama, which Auburn beat 26-14 in last year’s Iron Bowl to highlight a 10-4 (7-1 SEC) season. Malzahn and company ended the year at No. 10 after an SEC Championship loss to Georgia and a Peach Bowl loss to UCF.
Full Top 25:
1. Alabama
2. Clemson
3. Georgia
4. Wisconsin
5. Ohio State
6. Washington
7. Oklahoma
8. Miami
9. Auburn
10. Penn State
11. Michigan State
12. Notre Dame
13. Stanford
14. Michigan
15. Southern California
16. TCU
17. West Virginia
18. Mississippi State
19. Florida State
20. Virginia Tech
21. UCF
22. Boise State
23. Texas
24. Oregon
25. LSU
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Nathan King, senior in journalism with a minor in business, is The Plainsman's sports editor.
