Fansided

College football rankings 2018: FanSided preseason Top 25

By Connor Muldowney

NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 01: Alabama Crimson Tide running back Damien Harris (34) runs with the football during the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Allstate Sugar Bowl between the Alabama Crimson Tide and Clemson Tigers on January 1, 2018, at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, LA. (Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 01: Alabama Crimson Tide running back Damien Harris (34) runs with the football during the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Allstate Sugar Bowl between the Alabama Crimson Tide and Clemson Tigers on January 1, 2018, at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, LA. (Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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ATLANTA, GA – JANUARY 01: Jarrett Stidham #8 of the Auburn Tigers looks to pass in the second half against the UCF Knights during the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 1, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA – JANUARY 01: Jarrett Stidham #8 of the Auburn Tigers looks to pass in the second half against the UCF Knights during the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 1, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

Long has the SEC been considered the best conference in college football, but this season it might get a run for its money with the Big Ten. While the latter is loaded, the SEC might be slightly top-heavy, including a team like Auburn which has playoff potential.

The Tigers may have lost to the UCF Knights in the Peach Bowl to close out the 2017 season, but they have high hopes for 2018 with star quarterback Jarrett Stidham returning.

As a sophomore, Stidham — a Baylor transfer — passed for 3,158 yards and 18 touchdowns with six interceptions. He started the season slowly, but gradually worked his way up to his normal, high-octane production through the air. He’ll have targets aplenty this season, but both of his running backs have departed, leaving the duties to Kam Martin behind an inexperienced line.

While the offense may be slightly concerning outside of Stidham and the wide receivers, the defense will be (insert a dozen fire emojis).

How good was Auburn’s defense last season? Well, it held Alabama and Georgia to just 14 points, winning both games against then-No. 1 opponents. It returns six starters and has a defensive line that rivals that of Clemson.

So yeah, the Tigers’ defense will be straight fire again.