College Football: 5 reasons Auburn wins 2017 National Championship

2. Underdog role

Over the last decade, especially, the Auburn Tigers have been overlooked on a local and national scale. With Alabama ranking among the top of the polls once again, Auburn is already taking a back seat to its cross-state counterpart once again. During the Nick Saban era, the Tide have dominated the SEC and especially Auburn. The Tigers have often embraced that underdog role, with 2013 being the prime example. This year is no exception.

But, it’s not just in the state of Alabama, either. The Tigers are predicted to finish third in the SEC West. They are also the third-highest ranked SEC team in the preseason coaches poll (behind Alabama and LSU). However, with new quarterback Jarrett Stidham and a veteran defense, the Tigers can make some noise in the SEC West and shake up the national rankings.

To doubt is to motivate. Every sports fan will tell you a moment in which their team was doubted, but came out on top. Strangely enough, being the underdog is a tremendous advantage in most cases, just ask the 2013 Auburn Tigers. Now, four years later, Auburn is in a similar position.

The Tigers have a chance to bring the trophy back to Auburn for the first time since 2010. Although most polls have them ranked between 10-12, they are still ranked below Alabama once again in every poll and rightfully so. However, the Tide roll into Jordan-Hare Stadium for just the second time since the kick-six. If there’s one thing Auburn taught us in 2013, it was to never count the Tigers out.

That same message goes for this season. Auburn looks to embrace its doubters and attempt to shock the nation once again. The talent is there and most importantly, so are the haters.