Defending SEC champion Auburn heads to LSU

Remember Auburn?

The defending Southeastern Conference champions, last season’s passed-over team in the Bowl Championship Series logjam with USC and Oklahoma, started this season with a loss at home to Georgia Tech and there’s been little talk about the Tigers since.

Quietly and against less-than-noteworthy competition, Auburn has won five straight, moved up to No. 16 in the AP Top 25 and remained very much in the mix to defend its SEC title.

The Tigers (5-1, 3-0) play at No. 7 LSU (4-1, 3-1) today, with a chance to all but eliminate one of their main competitors in the SEC West. Auburn’s first major hurdle cleared on its way to an unbeaten 2004 season was a 10-9 victory over LSU.

There’s no Carnell Williams, Ronnie Brown or Jason Campbell on this Auburn team, but Brandon Cox is the third-most efficient passer in the SEC, Kenny Irons is fifth in the league in rushing and the defense is still nasty.

Auburn regrouped from the 23-14 loss to the Yellow Jackets with wins against four I-A opponents with a combined record of 8-16.