The 2013 Auburn Tigers football team represented Auburn University in the 2013 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was coached by Gus Malzahn, who was in his first season as head coach at Auburn, although he served as offensive coordinator from 2009 to 2011. The Tigers played their home games at Jordan–Hare Stadium in Auburn, Alabama and competed in the Western Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC).
The 2013 season saw one of the biggest single-season turnarounds in college football history. Only a year after their worst season in 60 years—including only their third winless record in SEC play—the Tigers won their eighth SEC title and third of the championship game era, tallying a record of 12–2 (7–1 in SEC play). The season also contained two of the most memorable winning plays in college football history for Auburn in back to back nationally televised games against Georgia and Alabama.
Preseason After Gene Chizik's termination on November 25, 2012, Athletic Director Jay Jacobs formed a search committee headed by former Auburn Heisman Trophy winners Bo Jackson and Pat Sullivan along with fellow former player Mac Crawford to find the program's next head coach. The committee unanimously selected Arkansas State University head coach Gus Malzahn. On December 4, 2012, it was announced that Malzahn was the new head coach at Auburn University.
On April 20, 2013, Auburn played their Spring game, known as the A-day game. 83,401 people attended the game at Jordan–Hare Stadium, breaking the previous record of 83,217 set in 2010.
Recruiting class
Note: E. Robinson was kicked out due to academic reasons
Schedule
Rankings
Game summaries Washington State
Statistics WSU AUB First downs 28 16 Total yards 464 394 Rushing yards 120 295 Passing yards 344 99 Turnovers 3 1 Time of possession 31:27 28:33 Team Category Player StatisticsWashington State Passing Connor Halliday 35/65, 344 yards, TD, 3 INT Rushing Teondray Caldwell 7 rushes, 53 yards Receiving Gabe Marks 9 receptions, 81 yardsAuburn Passing Nick Marshall 10/19, 99 yards Rushing Corey Grant 9 rushes, 146 yards, TD Receiving Sammie Coates 3 receptions, 44 yards
The Auburn Tigers got the Gus Malzahn era off to a winning start with a 31–24 victory over the Washington State Cougars. The Tigers forced three turnovers and were able to hang on late in the fourth quarter for the win. They were without defensive starter Dee Ford, Jeff Whitaker and Justin Garrett.
The Tigers' passing offense didn't wow in Malzahn's debut as head coach, but Auburn 3 headed rushing attack amassed 297 yards on the ground. Tre Mason also returned a kickoff 100 yards for a score while Corey Grant broke free for a 75-yard touchdown run. Nick Marshall finished 10-of-19 for 99 yards in his Auburn debut with 31 yards on the ground.
Star Robensen Theirize filling in for injured starter Justin Garrett won SEC Defensive Player of the week with 7 tackles and 2 interceptions, the last one preventing the game from going to overtime. Freshman DT Montravius Adams recorded a sack on his first play from scrimmage and halted several Halliday passes from his pressure.
Arkansas State
Statistics ARST AUB First downs 24 23 Total yards 422 468 Rushing yards 138 301 Passing yards 284 167 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 32:54 27:06 Team Category Player StatisticsArkansas State Passing Adam Kennedy 30/42, 284 yards Rushing Adam Kennedy 12 rushes, 74 yards Receiving David Oku 6 receptions, 70 yardsAuburn Passing Nick Marshall 10/17, 147 yards, 2 TD Rushing Cameron Artis-Payne 19 rushes, 102 yards, TD Receiving Sammie Coates 1 reception, 68 yards, TD
QB Nick Marshall found his passing game early going 4 for 5 on his opening drive and hitting freshman wide out Marcus Davis for his first touchdown pass of his Auburn career. Arkansas State marched down the field but Auburn halted them for a field goal then the offense once again marched down the field and scored on a 17-yard touchdown run by running back Corey Grant. The offense hit a lull but Auburn's defense played bend but not break stopping them on 2 consecutive 4th down tries. Before the half after missing receiver Sammie Coates several times, Marshall connected on a 68-yard streak pass for a touchdown to build the lead to 21–3 at the half. Out of the locker room once again the Red Wolves marched the field, but Auburn's red zone defense held up and held them to a field goal. On Auburn's following possession, Marshall fumbled the ball at the Auburn 17 yard line. A big play by reserve end Justin Delaine once again forced a field goal making it 21–9. That boosted the defense confidence has they shut down the Red Wolves from then out collecting 23 QB Hurries, 13.5 tackles for loss, two sacks and a fumble recovery. Cameron Artis Payne and Tre Mason punched in touchdowns. Payne had 19 touches for 102 yards and Mason at 14 touches for 99 yards. Corey Grant finished with 40 yards on 8 touches. Nick Marshall finished 10 of 17 for 167 yards and 2 touchdowns with 53 yards rushing. He was sacked twice and fumbled the ball away once but still had no interceptions. Chris Davis lead the team on defense with 10 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and 3 pass break ups. Highly touted end Carl Lawson recorded his first sack and a forced fumble that was recovered by LB Jake Holland. LB Kris Frost was ejected for targeting on the QB Adam Kennedy, he played a good game after a poor game vs Washington State, he had 5 tackles at the time. Left tackle Shon Coleman after sitting out three years from a battle with leukemia came in late in the 4th quarter. Auburn outgained Arkansas State 468–422. The Red Wolves were penalized for their uniforms before kickoff.
Mississippi State
Statistics MSST AUB First downs 19 22 Total yards 415 459 Rushing yards 202 120 Passing yards 213 339 Turnovers 0 3 Time of possession 34:23 25:37 Team Category Player StatisticsMississippi State Passing Dak Prescott 15/28, 213 yards Rushing Dak Prescott 22 rushes, 133 yards, 2 TD Receiving Robert Johnson 4 receptions, 84 yardsAuburn Passing Nick Marshall 23/34, 339 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT Rushing Corey Grant 8 rushes, 44 yards Receiving Quan Bray 3 receptions, 80 yards, TD
Auburn overcame a 3-point deficit with 2:06 remaining in the game after QB Nick Marshall and WR Marcus Davis lead them down the field. Marshall went 6 for 8 on the final drive hitting Davis 4 times and he picked up a first down on a 3rd and 10 to set up the final play. An 11-yard touchdown grab by TE CJ Uzomah in the back on the end zone to go up 24–20. The defense held up for one more play. Marshall started off the game hot going 11 for 15 for 151 yards that included a 74-yard bomb to WR Quan Bray leading to a touchdown. The offense lost their rhythm and Mississippi St was able to overcome an 11–0 deficit to come back and take the lead early in the 3rd Qtr 20–14. After that the defense held Mississippi St to 23 yards on 6 possessions. Marshall got his own pass in the 3rd qtr for 37 yards after the ball got batted in the air and he spun around the defender down the sideline. Auburn's ground game was shut down only registering 120 yards as Mississippi St loaded the box. This ended Auburn's 10 game SEC losing streak.
At No. 6 LSU
Statistics AUB LSU First downs 21 16 Total yards 437 457 Rushing yards 213 228 Passing yards 224 229 Turnovers 3 2 Time of possession 30:49 29:11 Team Category Player StatisticsAuburn Passing Nick Marshall 17/33, 224 yards, 2 INT Rushing Tre Mason 26 rushes, 132 yards, 2 TD Receiving Sammie Coates 4 receptions, 139 yardsLSU Passing Zach Mettenberger 14/22, 229 yards, TD, INT Rushing Jeremy Hill 25 rushes, 184 yards, 3 TD Receiving Jarvis Landry 7 receptions, 118 yards, TD
Two 1st quarter turnovers put Auburn in a hole 14–0 in at a wet Death Valley. Auburn trailed 21–0 at halftime but a quick interception lead to a Tre Mason touchdown run. The teams went back and forth but when it appeared place kicker Cody Parkey recovered his onside kick the refs overturned it ending it for Auburn 35–21. LSU's Jeremy Hill rushed for a career-high 184 yards and 3 rushing touchdowns. Auburn's Tre Mason had 132 yards rushing in the game.
No. 24 Ole Miss
Statistics MISS AUB First downs 24 19 Total yards 464 375 Rushing yards 124 282 Passing yards 340 93 Turnovers 2 2 Time of possession 32:05 27:55 Team Category Player StatisticsOle Miss Passing Bo Wallace 25/48, 336 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT Rushing Jeff Scott 6 rushes, 66 yards Receiving Donte Moncrief 6 receptions, 122 yards, 2 TDAuburn Passing Nick Marshall 11/17, 93 yards Rushing Nick Marshall 14 rushes, 140 yards, 2 TD Receiving Tre Mason 3 receptions, 62 yards
QB Nick Marshall rushed for 140 yards and 2 touchdowns and threw for 93 yards as Auburn held on after nearly blowing a big lead. Auburn raced to a 27–9 lead before Marshall injured his knee. Auburn had back to back fumbles by Tre Mason and Cameron Artist Payne, letting Ole Miss close the game to 27–22. Safety Ryan Smith with Ole Miss driving intercepted the pass and Auburn raced down the field for a field goal to go up 30–22. Auburn finished off Ole Miss with back to back sacks by DT Gabe Wright and DE Carl Lawson. Robensen Theirize had a pick six in the 1st Quarter and freshman phenom Carl Lawson recorded 6 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and 2 sacks. The Auburn defense finished with 6 sacks has DE Dee Ford and Gabe Wright also had 2 sacks a piece.
Western Carolina
Statistics WCU AUB First downs 6 30 Total yards 173 712 Rushing yards 66 511 Passing yards 107 201 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 28:42 31:18 Team Category Player StatisticsWestern Carolina Passing Eddie Sullivan 3/11, 73 yards Rushing Garrett Brown 3 rushes, 17 yards Receiving Karnorris Brown 3 receptions, 63 yardsAuburn Passing Jeremy Johnson 17/21, 201 yards, 4 TD, INT Rushing Cameron Artis-Payne 7 rushes, 133 yards, TD Receiving Ricardo Louis 3 receptions, 53 yards, TD
Freshman QB Jeremy Johnson earned his first start for an injured Nick Marshall. In 2 1/2 quarters he threw for 201 yards with 4 touchdowns and a pick and he rushed for 26 yards. Auburn amassed a school record 712 yards against an overmatched Western Carolina. TE Brandon Fulse and RT Patrick Miller were suspended prior to the game.
At No. 7 Texas A&M
Statistics AUB TAMU First downs 27 29 Total yards 615 602 Rushing yards 379 133 Passing yards 236 469 Turnovers 1 2 Time of possession 32:16 27:44 Team Category Player StatisticsAuburn Passing Nick Marshall 11/23, 236 yards, 2 TD Rushing Tre Mason 27 rushes, 178 yards, TD Receiving Sammie Coates 5 receptions, 104 yards, TDTexas A&M Passing Johnny Manziel 28/38, 454 yards, 4 TD, 2 INT Rushing Johnny Manziel 18 rushes, 48 yards, TD Receiving Mike Evans 11 receptions, 287 yards, 4 TD
Auburn's defense came up with a huge final stand to upset 7th rank Texas A&M. With 1:19 left in the game Auburn held a 45–41 lead. A&M's QB Johnny Manziel completed two big pass plays to WR Mike Evans to get it down to Auburn's 18 yard line. DE Dee Ford had with an 8-yard sack then Manziel threw an incompletion. On the next play Manziel tried to run but was tackled by LB Kris Frost. Then on 4th and long Auburn Dee Ford sacked Manziel once again ending the game. QB Nick Marshall passed for 236 yards and two touchdowns, ran for 100 yards and two touchdowns, and had one fumble. Tre Mason added 178 yards rushing on 27 carries and 1 touchdown. The defenses recorded 7 tackles for loss, 3 sacks and 2 interceptions on the 3rd best offense in the nation. Ryan White who moved to safety that morning after Josh Hosley was injured recorded 5 tackles and an interception without knowing the proper alignments. Auburn's DE LaDarius Owens injured Johnny Manziel early in the 4th Quarter and he missed a series. Auburn vaulted to No. 11 in the first BCS poll of the year.