There is no competition when it comes to Southeastern Conference football programs that defy logic.
Auburn retired that trophy years ago.
When the Tigers ended the hugely successful Pat Dye era with a disappointing 5-5-1 record in 1992 and were facing NCAA sanctions, Terry Bowden was hired and promptly went 11-0. When Bowden was 1-5 midway through the 1998 season and bolted, Tommy Tuberville was hired and had the Tigers playing for an SEC title two seasons later.
Gene Chizik guided Auburn to the 2010 national championship two years after Tuberville resigned following a 5-7 finale, and a season after the Chizik era imploded at 3-9, Gus Malzahn came within 13 seconds of leading the Tigers to another national crown in 2013.
What about any of that makes sense?
Unfortunately for Auburn, what really doesn't make sense was the decision to fire Malzahn amid a pandemic in December 2020 without having a replacement lined up. There was a faction of boosters who desired Kevin Steele, the defensive coordinator at that time, but athletic director Allen Greene ultimately landed Boise State's Bryan Harsin and his sparkling 69-19 record at the Mountain West Conference power.
Greene is no longer Auburn's AD, and Harsin may not be long for his role following Saturday's inept performance in a 41-12 embarrassment against visiting Penn State. Harsin is 8-8 early in his second year, having survived an offseason inquiry into multiple player departures, and that record becomes 3-8 when removing contests against Akron, Alabama State, Georgia State, Mercer and San Jose State.
"I'm always coaching for this football team and these players, and I can't control that," Harsin said Saturday night in a news conference when asked about the increasing noise surrounding his job security. "I can control what I do each and every day. What I've always done is coach for this team, these players and these coaches and make sure I'm doing my job in having our team prepared.
"I don't control any of those other things."
Last year's win over Georgia State actually required a mini miracle, but Harsin did guide Auburn to its first triumph at LSU since 1999.
Auburn is loaded with history, whether its the eight SEC titles, three Heisman Trophy winners, two Associated Press national championships or quite possibly the best pregame moment in the sport with the eagle flight. There is also a historical resiliency that was often reflected during the Malzahn era, as evidenced by rival Alabama winning four national tiles during the 2010s yet going 6-4 in Iron Bowls.
Malzahn went 68-35 during his eight seasons on the Plains, which wasn't to the level of Dye or the legendary Shug Jordan but sure beats 8-8. He recruited well most years yet wasn't going to top Alabama and Georgia on that front, but he did offer a unique offensive system that occasionally gave fits to more talented teams.
Harsin certainly hasn't done that, with Tennessee's Josh Heupel now the league's entertaining innovator seeking to dent the league's top duo.
There has been a roller-coaster element to Auburn football since the Dye era apex with four SEC titles from 1983-89, but the stranglehold of Alabama and Georgia at the SEC summit coupled with the looming arrivals of Oklahoma and Texas could relegate the Tigers to second-tier status for a much longer stint than they've been accustomed to.
Malzahn did not leave Harsin a strong offensive line by any stretch, but the Tigers have since regressed in other areas, too, judging by their unimpressive start.
"We put more expectations on ourselves than anybody else," Harsin said, "and it's always been that way. The standard needs to be better, and that's all that we need to focus on."
Auburn could have the perfect get-well opponent this week with struggling Missouri coming to town. Then again, it could signal an abrupt ending for a marriage on the Plains that has never seemed quite right.
In his four career starts as Florida's quarterback entering this week's game at Tennessee, Anthony Richardson has no touchdown passes and six interceptions.
Georgia's weekly beatdowns have become so predictable that any story angle is appreciated.
Even if it involves Stetson Bennett vomiting in Saturday's 48-7 win at South Carolina.
At the start of the second quarter, Bennett threw a pass in the flat to Kearis Jackson that didn't have enough zip to even bounce to the receiver. As it turns out, Bennett was dry heaving and would eventually toss his tacos on a nine-play, 67-drive that culminated with a 6-yard touchdown pass to tight end Brock Bowers and a 21-0 lead.
"It was overhydration and heat hydration," Bennett told reporters afterward. "It was weird. I've probably thrown up before, but I've probably been sick before. I wasn't sick today. I just threw up.
"This is the hottest place in the world."
South Carolina's Shane Beamer was dissecting the worst loss of his 16-game head-coaching career as well as could be expected when he was asked whether he sensed "any give up in the locker room."
"Hell no," Beamer snapped. "What kind of question is that? We're 1-2, and we've got a bunch of fighters in that room. Give up? That's not a part of this football program.
"Get out of here, man."
Through his first three games at Alabama, former Dalton High and Georgia Tech running back Jahmyr Gibbs routinely has displayed his versatile talents.
Gibbs leads the Crimson Tide with 22 rushes, 14 receptions and three kickoff returns, averaging 6.9 yards per rush, 10.3 per catch and 31.0 per return.
"He is an explosive guy, and we need as many weapons as possible on offense," Alabama coach Nick Saban said. "He's certainly been one of the most consistent weapons we've had to this point."
LSU made its 1,300th football game a memorable one, spotting Mississippi State a 13-0 lead before roaring back for a 31-16 triumph inside Tiger Stadium. Since the Tigers and Bulldogs were placed in the SEC West in 1992, LSU has posted a 27-4 series record.
Following Georgia's latest blowout, Bennett said, "We're going to have to play a four-quarter game at some point."
What a relevant true or false question.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com.