Fansided

College football 2019: Biggest trap game facing every Top 25 team

By Cody Williams

CLEMSON, SC - NOVEMBER 24: Tee Higgins #5 of the Clemson Tigers gets away from R.J. Roderick #10 of the South Carolina Gamecocks during their game at Clemson Memorial Stadium on November 24, 2018 in Clemson, South Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
CLEMSON, SC - NOVEMBER 24: Tee Higgins #5 of the Clemson Tigers gets away from R.J. Roderick #10 of the South Carolina Gamecocks during their game at Clemson Memorial Stadium on November 24, 2018 in Clemson, South Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
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ATLANTA, GA SEPTEMBER 01: Auburn defensive lineman Derrick Brown (5) tells the fans to get loud during the Chick-fil-A Kickoff classic game on September 1st, 2018 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, GA. The Auburn Tigers defeated the Washington Huskies by a score of 21 16. (Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA SEPTEMBER 01: Auburn defensive lineman Derrick Brown (5) tells the fans to get loud during the Chick-fil-A Kickoff classic game on September 1st, 2018 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, GA. The Auburn Tigers defeated the Washington Huskies by a score of 21 16. (Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

21. Auburn Tigers

Biggest Trap Game: at Arkansas (Oct. 19)

Jarrett Stidham’s final year as the quarterback of the Auburn Tigers ended up being nothing more than mediocre. The signal-caller led the way to just an 8-5 overall record on the year. More pressingly, the Tigers finished in fifth place in the SEC West last season and now look to start a new era where they not only hit reset on key personnel but also compete in their vaunted division of the conference.

Miraculously (or maybe not considering how hefty his buyout is), Gus Malzahn returns to Auburn for another year now looking for the new man to take over his offense. In all likelihood, that battle under center will be won by either true freshman Bo Nix or Joey Gatewood. Whoever wins, how they perform will determine the Tigers’ ceiling.

Regardless of that, though, Auburn’s success will first come from their defense in 2019, specifically with the strength that they have coming from their defensive line. Derrick Brown, Nick Coe and Marlon Davidson can be a dominant force up front and, flanked by a solid and talented group, this could be one of the best defenses in college football.

Even so, Auburn’s schedule is anything but kind in the 2019 season and their trap game against the Arkansas Razorbacks is easy to define. While the Hogs aren’t expected to be good, having the second game of a three-game road trip sandwiched between matchups with Florida and LSU is a recipe for a team with a young quarterback to slip up and take a shocking loss.