The 2021 Auburn Tigers football team represented Auburn University in the 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Tigers played their home games at Jordan–Hare Stadium in Auburn, Alabama, and competed in the Western Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). They were led by first-year head coach Bryan Harsin. They finished the season at 6–7, the program's first season finishing below .500 since 2012.
Preseason
Spring game The A-Day spring game was held on Saturday, April 17. Team Auburn defeated Team Tigers 17–3. Running back Tank Bigsby was named Offensive MVP, cornerback Trey Elston was named Defensive MVP, and kicker Anders Carlson was named Special Teams MVP.
Award watch lists Listed in the order that they were released
Lott Trophy Zakoby McClain LB Sr.Maxwell Award Bo Nix QB Jr. Tank Bigsby RB So.Bednarik Award Zakoby McClain LB Sr.Doak Walker Award Tank Bigsby RB So.John Mackey Award John Samuel Shenker TE Sr.Jim Thorpe Award Smoke Monday DB Sr.Butkus Award Zakoby McClain LB Sr.Outland Trophy Nick Brahms OL Sr.Bronko Nagurski Trophy Zakoby McClain LB Sr. Smoke Monday DB Sr.Lou Groza Award Anders Carlson K Sr.Wuerffel Trophy Nick Brahms OL Sr.Walter Camp Award Tank Bigsby RB So.
SEC media days The SEC Media Days were held July 19–22, 2021 at the Hyatt Regency Birmingham – The Wynfrey Hotel in Hoover, Alabama. Coach Bryan Harsin, quarterback Bo Nix, and linebacker Owen Pappoe spoke on Thursday, July 22.
Media poll (West Division) 1 Alabama 932 (130) 2 Texas A&M 760 (1) 3 LSU 633 (1) 4 Ole Miss 529 (1) 5 Auburn 440 6 Arkansas 241 (1) 7 Mississippi State 217
Media poll (SEC Championship) 1 Alabama 84 2 Georgia 45 3 Ole Miss 1
Preseason All-SEC teams
Offense
1st team
Tank Bigsby – RB
Nick Brahms – C
3rd team
Bo Nix – QB
Defense
2nd team
Zakoby McClain – LB
Smoke Monday – DB
3rd team
Derick Hall – DL
Owen Pappoe – LB
Roger McCreary – DB
Specialists
2nd team
Tank Bigsby – AP
3rd team
Anders Carlson – PK
Staff
Bryan Harsin Head coach 1stMike Bobo Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks 1st Derek Mason Defensive coordinator 1st Brad Bedell Tight ends coach 1st Eric Kiesau Wide receivers coach 1st Will Friend Offensive line coach 1st Cadillac Williams Running backs coach 3rd Nick Eason Defensive line coach 1st Jeff SchmeddingInside Linebackers Coach 1st Bert Watts Special Teams & Outside Linebackers Coach 1st Zac Etheridge Cornerbacks coach 1st Cornelius Williams was fired as wide receivers coach after 4 games. Mike Bobo was fired as Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach on November 29, 2021.
Schedule
Schedule source:
Game summaries
Akron
Alabama State
At No. 10 Penn State
Georgia State
At LSU
No. 2 Georgia
At No. 17 Arkansas
No. 10 Ole Miss
At No. 14 Texas A&M
Mississippi State
At South Carolina
No. 3 Alabama
No. 20 Houston (Birmingham Bowl)
Rankings
References