College football is a unique sport. For years, the top two teams in the country didn’t even have to play each other to determine the national champion. Instead, the title was left up to voters in separate polls like the AP and Coaches.
What’s worse, some programs would simply declare themselves national champions, regardless of record or circumstance.
Auburn is resurrecting that idea, apparently.
The Tigers are now claiming four additional national championships from the 1910, 1914, 1958 and 2004 seasons, per AuburnSports.com.
The 2004 claim stands out most. That year, USC and Oklahoma met in the BCS national championship game, where the Trojans won convincingly. Both entered undefeated — but so did Auburn, which was left to face Virginia Tech in the Sugar Bowl.
The Tigers beat the Hokies and finished No. 2 in the AP poll. Since then, USC has been forced to vacate its national title due to NCAA sanctions, and Auburn now deems itself the rightful champion of that season.
“For too long, Auburn has chosen a humble approach to our program’s storied history – choosing to recognize only Associated Press national championships. Starting this fall, we have made the decision to honor the accomplishments of our deserving student-athletes, coaches, and teams from Auburn’s proud history,” Auburn athletic director John Cohen said. “Our visible national championship recognitions now align with the well-established standard used by the NCAA’s official record book and our peers across the nation.”
There’s an added layer of irony here involving Auburn’s greatest rival, Alabama. For years, the Tigers mocked the Crimson Tide, who have claimed 18 national titles. Though a few of those come with eye rolls.
“The best part about this entire situation of Auburn adding titles is that fans have been joking with Alabama over the years about how many ‘championships’ the Tide has claimed over the past 100 years,” OutKick’s Trey Wallace wrote.
“Oh, and the fact that Tommy Tuberville is now a national-championship-winning football coach. So, the potential Governor of the State of Alabama can now claim a title, which should make for a few interesting campaign commercials.”
Only in college football. Only in the SEC. Only in Alabama.