College Football: 10 most disappointing teams of 2018

4. Auburn

Perhaps the most predictable collapse of the 2018 season took place on the Plains, as a Gus Malzahn coached team with expectations rarely lives up to the hype. It’s the team with low expectations, like his 2017 and 2013 squads, that should make opposing SEC coaches wary, which means, if Malzahn is retained, the 2019 Tigers might be scary.

Auburn won the SEC West last season on the strength of home upsets over then No. 1 Georgia and then No. 1 Alabama before falling in a rematch to the ‘Dawgs in Atlanta along with a Peach Bowl defeat at the hands of UCF.

Last season was successful enough to lead to a $49 million contract extension for Malzahn, and with a potential first round pick at QB in Jarrett Stidham returning, the Tigers entered the season ranked in the Top 10 in both polls.

That hyped seemed legitimate after a 21-16 win over No. 6 Washington in Atlanta to open the season, although those paying attention could see the early chinks in the Auburn armor.

The Tigers fell at home to LSU by a single point two weeks later, but that loss did little to quell optimism that Auburn could contend in the West.

A few weeks later they were physically manhandled by Mississippi State, and then lost a baffling home game to Tennessee that dropped them to 4-3.

A couple of blowout defeats at the hands of rivals Georgia and Alabama has led to increased chatter about Malzahn potentially being removed from his post, despite a vote of confidence from his Athletic Director a few weeks ago.

A 7-5 season was far from what was expected on the Plains this season, and with rival Alabama the favorite to capture yet another national championship, it could lead to some drastic measures as Auburn desperately tries to close the Iron Bowl gap.