2010 Auburn Tigers football team

2010 Auburn Tigers football
Consensus national champion SEC champion SEC Western Division champion
SEC Championship Game, W 56–17 vs. South Carolina
BCS National Championship Game, W 22–19 vs. Oregon
Conference	Southeastern Conference
Division	Western Division
Ranking
Coaches	No. 1
AP	No. 1
2010 record	14–0 (8–0 SEC)
Head coach	Gene Chizik (2nd year)
Offensive coordinator	Gus Malzahn
Offensive scheme	Spread
Defensive coordinator	Ted Roof
Base defense	4–3, Tampa 2
MVP	Cam Newton
Captain	Kodi Burns Josh Bynes Zac Etheridge Lee Ziemba
Home stadium	Jordan–Hare Stadium (Capacity: 87,451)
Seasons ← 2009 2011 →

The 2010 Auburn Tigers football team represented Auburn University in the 2010 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Tigers, led by second-year head coach Gene Chizik were members of the Western Division of the Southeastern Conference and played their home games at Jordan–Hare Stadium. The Tigers completed a 12–0 regular season record and defeated South Carolina in the 2010 SEC Championship Game. On January 10, 2011, Auburn defeated Oregon in the BCS National Championship Game in Glendale, Arizona, 22–19, to win the first undisputed national championship in school history, and their second overall. The Tigers' previous national title came in 1957, when the Associated Press crowned them as their national champions.

References

In the second year of the Chizik era of Auburn football, offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn continued use of his no-huddle hurry-up schemes. This offense relies on an attacking ground game from different spread sets, using fakes and misdirection, to set up a play action passing attack through the air, while snapping the ball almost as soon as it is placed to give the defense less time to react to different looks. Defensive coordinator Ted Roof's efforts were aided by replenished depth at the linebacker and secondary positions, utilizing a collection of the 3–4 and 4–3 defensive formations, also known as Multiple D strategy.

Eventual Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Cam Newton led the Tiger offense to a 13–0 record, SEC Championship, and a berth in the BCS Championship game, which was played on January 10, 2011. Auburn led the SEC in scoring offense, total offense, rushing offense, pass efficiency, first downs and first down conversions. Defensively the Tigers were improved from 2009 but less impressive than on offense, ranking in the lower half of the SEC for most defensive categories. However, the Tiger defense was notably improved in the second halves of its 2010 games, allowing an average of only 3.7 fourth-quarter points and shutting out five opponents (Mississippi State, South Carolina, Louisiana-Monroe, Georgia and Alabama) in the final period.