Revenge Scenarios Developing

Auburn Eying the Team at the Top

The Auburn Tigers are rolling and probably do not even care that they are still yet to receive a single first place vote in the Coach's Poll, despite the fact that no team has displayed a similar level of consistent dominance. Apart from the Tigers' 10-9 victory over defending national champion LSU Tigers, Auburn has outscored opponents 230-54, including an astounding 34-10 victory at Tennessee. But these Tigers have heavier thoughts on their minds and dreams of what could come their way if they can simply take care of business from week to week.

The number one team in the country might have no idea that sights are being placed upon them from nearly all the way across the county. To the USC Trojans, last season's 23-0 victory over Auburn must seem to have occurred years ago. But to Auburn, that very shutout loss was just the beginning of what was to become a lost season.

Going in to that game, the Tigers were widely considered a national championship contender. Some publications rated them the number one team in the country and expectations soared to levels not seen since the days of Bo Jackson. And then they played their first game.

USC may or may not recall that the final score of 23-0 does not truly represent the level of physical domination that Auburn endured. But Jason Campbell, having seemingly barely escaped with his life, and the Auburn Tigers remember very well. The loss did not alter their national championship expectations nearly as much as it affected their level of confidence and team identity.

In the following week, the Tigers lost to lightly-regarded Georgia Tech 17-3. Two games, zero touchdowns, one field goal, zero wins. In eight days, the perception and expectations of this team experienced a complete 180-degree turn. And in the unforgiving SEC, Auburn could not fully recover as they would go on to lose three more games (vs. LSU, Ole Miss, and Georgia) to finish at 8-5.

Upon the closure of this lost season, the team went on to experience a bizarre, tumultuous offseason that nearly saw the program run off its head coach only to lose its AD instead. And it all started with the loss at home to USC.

But things are vastly different now. Halfway through the 2004 season, Auburn is one of only five unbeaten teams from a BCS conference. And while the Tigers keep winning, they also keep hoping that if just one other team can finish the regular season with a perfect record, that it will be none other than the USC Trojans. A January rematch in Miami would be everything for which they ask or hope. Ah, the revenge factor mixed with a shot at a national title ... only in college football.

The Others

TCU eying Southern Miss:

TCU was talk of college football last season as they made a run to bust the BCS. The Horned Frogs had won their first 10 games and had cracked the top-10. Then along came the Golden Eagles of Southern Mississippi to end a TCU dream that nearly became a reality. This season, TCU is mired in mediocrity (3-3, 1-2), but is fully aware that Southern Miss (4-1, 3-0), currently tied with UAB atop Conference USA, is fighting for a conference championship.

Further adding to the potential of TCU to exact revenge is the likelihood that TCU may be completely looked beyond by the Gold Eagles. Following a November 20 date with the Horned Frogs, Southern Miss finishes with the aforementioned Blazers of UAB and the top-10 rated California Golden Bears (rescheduled from August 30).

South Carolina eying Clemson (more so than usual):

The Gamecocks were having no special season last year, but could have still managed a bowl appearance with a victory over in-state rival Clemson. While the Tigers were on a bit of a roll entering the game, no one expected the outcome: an embarrassing 63-17 Clemson trouncing of Lou Holtz's team. This year, Holtz has the Gamecocks off to the better start (5-2, 3-2, in comparison to Clemson's 2-4, 1-3 record) and entering the November 20 face-off, Clemson is likely to need the victory to go bowling this season.

Ohio State eying Michigan (also more so than usual):

The Buckeyes are 0-3 in Big 10 play. No one saw this coming, certainly the OSU players did not. Therefore they are left with a victory over hated Michigan atop their list of remaining attainable goals.

Last year, Michigan defeated the Buckeyes in a game that determined the conference championship and the Rose Bowl representative. This season, the Wolverines are tied with Wisconsin at the top of the Big 10. And since Michigan and Wisconsin do not play this year, if Michigan can get by Purdue next week, their matchup with Ohio State on November 22 will almost assuredly see the Wolverines needing a victory to secure another conference championship.