imported>Abhiramakella at 22:26, 14 June 2025

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{{short description|American college football season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox college sports team season
| year = 1971
| team = Auburn Tigers
| sport = football
| image = Auburn Tigers logo (pre-1971).png
| image_size = 125
| conference = [[Southeastern Conference]]
| short_conf = SEC
| CoachRank = 5
| APRank = 12
| record = 9–2
| conf_record = 5–1
| head_coach = [[Ralph Jordan]]
| hc_year = 21st
| captain = [[Pat Sullivan (American football)|Pat Sullivan]]
| stadium = [[Jordan-Hare Stadium|Cliff Hare Stadium]]
| bowl = [[1972 Sugar Bowl (January)|Sugar Bowl]]
| bowl_result = {{Tooltip|L|Lost}} 22–40 vs. [[1971 Oklahoma Sooners football team|Oklahoma]]
}}
{{1971 Southeastern Conference football standings}}
The '''1971 Auburn Tigers football team''' represented [[Auburn University]] in the [[1971 NCAA University Division football season]]. The Tigers offense scored 335 points while the defense allowed 182 points. SEC Champion Alabama handed Auburn their only conference loss of the year. [[Pat Sullivan (American football)|Pat Sullivan]] won the [[Heisman Trophy]].

In the [[Iron Bowl]], both teams entered the regular season finale undefeated: Auburn lost to [[1971 Alabama Crimson Tide football team|Alabama]], 31–7. On New Year's Day, the Tigers lost to [[1971 Oklahoma Sooners football team|Oklahoma]] in the [[1972 Sugar Bowl (January)|Sugar Bowl]], 40–22.

==Schedule==
{{CFB schedule
| rankyear = 1971
| poll = AP

|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 18
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| rank = 7
| opponent = [[1971 Chattanooga Moccasins football team|Chattanooga]]
| site_stadium = [[Jordan-Hare Stadium|Cliff Hare Stadium]]
| site_cityst = [[Auburn, Alabama|Auburn, AL]]
| score = 60–7
| attend = 45,000
| source = <ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/85347084/war-eagles-toy-with-mocs-607/|work=The Montgomery Advertiser|title=War Eagles toy with Mocs, 60–7|date=September 19, 1971|accessdate=September 14, 2021|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 25
| w/l = w
| away = y
| rank = 5
| opponent = [[1971 Tennessee Volunteers football team|Tennessee]]
| opprank = 9
| site_stadium = [[Neyland Stadium]]
| site_cityst = [[Knoxville, Tennessee|Knoxville, TN]]
| gamename = [[Auburn–Tennessee football rivalry|rivalry]]
| score = 10–9
| attend = 62,990
| source = <ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/101324776/sullivan-finally-whips-auburn-past-vols/|work=The Selma Times-Journal|title=Sullivan finally whips Auburn past Vols 10–9|date=September 26, 1971|accessdate=May 7, 2022|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 2
| w/l = w
| rank = 5
| opponent = [[1971 Kentucky Wildcats football team|Kentucky]]
| opprank = 9
| site_stadium = Cliff Hare Stadium
| site_cityst = Auburn, AL
| score = 38–6
| attend = 48,000
| source = <ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-park-city-daily-news-auburn-aerial-c/133874101/|work=The Park City Daily News|title=Auburn aerial circus frolics past UK 38–6|date=October 3, 1971|accessdate=October 22, 2023|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 9
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| rank = 4
| opponent = [[1971 Southern Miss Southerners football team|Southern Miss]]
| site_stadium = Cliff Hare Stadium
| site_cityst = Auburn, AL
| score = 27–14
| attend = 42,000
| source = <ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74205169/auburn-pressed-to-record-2714-victory-o|work=The Selma Times-Journal|title=Auburn pressed to record 27–14 victory over S. Miss|date=October 10, 1971|accessdate=March 23, 2021|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 16
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| away = y
| rank = 5
| opponent = [[1971 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team|Georgia Tech]]
| site_stadium = [[Bobby Dodd Stadium|Grant Field]]
| site_cityst = [[Atlanta|Atlanta, GA]]
| gamename = [[Auburn–Georgia Tech football rivalry|rivalry]]
| score = 31–14
| attend = 60,204
| source = <ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/austin-american-statesman-auburn-cuts-lo/133884490/|work=Austin American-Statesman|title=Auburn cuts loose for 31–14 triumph|date=October 17, 1971|accessdate=October 22, 2023|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 23
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| homecoming = y
| rank = 5
| opponent = [[1971 Clemson Tigers football team|Clemson]]
| site_stadium = Cliff Hare Stadium
| site_cityst = Auburn, AL
| score = 35–13
| attend = 55,000
| source = <ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-charlotte-observer-auburn-closes-doo/133884624/|work=The Charlotte Observer|title=Auburn closes door on scrappy Clemson|date=October 24, 1971|accessdate=October 22, 2023|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 30
| w/l = w
| rank = 5
| opponent = [[1971 Florida Gators football team|Florida]]
| site_stadium = Cliff Hare Stadium
| site_cityst = Auburn, AL
| gamename = [[Auburn–Florida football rivalry|rivalry]]
| score = 40–7
| attend = 63,500
| source = <ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-bradenton-herald-sullivan-led-tigers/133884715/|work=The Bradenton Herald|title=Sullivan-led Tigers drub Gators, 40–7|date=October 31, 1971|accessdate=October 22, 2023|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 6
| w/l = w
| rank = 5
| opponent = [[1971 Mississippi State Bulldogs football team|Mississippi State]]
| site_stadium = Cliff Hare Stadium
| site_cityst = Auburn, AL
| score = 30–21
| attend = 45,000
| source = <ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-spokesman-review-auburns-string-now/133873315/|work=The Spokesman-Review|title=Auburn's string now 10 in win over Mississippi State|date=November 7, 1971|accessdate=October 22, 2023|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 13
| w/l = w
| away = y
| rank = 6
| opponent = [[1971 Georgia Bulldogs football team|Georgia]]
| opprank = 7
| site_stadium = [[Sanford Stadium]]
| site_cityst = [[Athens, Georgia|Athens, GA]]
| gamename = [[Deep South's Oldest Rivalry|rivalry]]
| score = 35–20
| attend = 62,891
| source = <ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tennessean-super-sully-sizzles-352/133884876/|work=The Nashville Tennessean|title=Super Sully sizzles, 35–20|date=November 14, 1971|accessdate=October 22, 2023|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 27
| w/l = l
| neutral = y
| rank = 5
| opponent = [[1971 Alabama Crimson Tide football team|Alabama]]
| opprank = 3
| site_stadium = [[Legion Field]]
| site_cityst = [[Birmingham, Alabama|Birmingham, AL]]
| gamename = [[Iron Bowl]]
| score = 7–31
| attend = 68,821
| source = <ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-progress-bad-bama-bears-down/133885012/|work=The Daily Progress|title='Bad Bama' Bears down on Auburn, 31–7|date=November 28, 1971|accessdate=October 22, 2023|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = January 1
| w/l = l
| nonconf = y
| neutral = y
| rank = 5
| opponent = [[1971 Oklahoma Sooners football team|Oklahoma]]
| opprank = 3
| site_stadium = [[Tulane Stadium]]
| site_cityst = [[New Orleans|New Orleans, LA]]
| gamename = [[1972 Sugar Bowl (January)|Sugar Bowl]]
| score = 22–40
| attend = 84,031
| source = <ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-advertiser-sooners-smack-aubur/133885104/|work=The Daily Advertiser|title=Sooners smack Auburn in Sugar Bowl matchup|date=January 2, 1972|accessdate=October 22, 2023|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>
}}
}}
<ref name=aumediaguide2005>''[https://web.archive.org/web/20051106040156/http://www.cstv.com/auto_pdf/p_hotos/s_chools/aub/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/fbmg_history_072805 2005 Auburn Tigers Football Media Guide]'', Auburn University Athletic Department, Auburn, Alabama, pp. 142–142, 180 (2005). Retrieved August 19, 2011</ref>

==Roster==
{{American football roster/Header
| year = 1971
| team = Auburn Tigers
| teamcolors = f
| offensive_players=
{{American football roster/Player|num=7|class=Sr|first=Pat|last=Sullivan|dab=Pat Sullivan (American football)|pos=QB|link=y}}
{{American football roster/Player|num=88|class=Sr|first=Terry|last=Beasley|pos=WR|link=y}}
| defensive_players=

| special_teams_players=

}}
{{American football roster/Footer|roster_url=https://auburntigers.com/sports/football/roster/1971
| head_coach = *[[Ralph Jordan]]
| asst_coach =
| accessdate=
}}

==1972 NFL Draft==
{|class="wikitable" width="80%"
|- align="center" style="background:orange;color:#01025E;"
| '''Player''' || '''Position''' || '''Round''' || '''Pick''' || '''NFL club'''
|- align="center" bgcolor=""
| [[Terry Beasley]] ||Wide receiver|| 1 || 19 || [[1972 San Francisco 49ers season|San Francisco 49ers]]
|- align="center" bgcolor=""
| [[Pat Sullivan (American football)|Pat Sullivan]] ||Quarterback|| 2 || 40 || [[1972 Atlanta Falcons season|Atlanta Falcons]]
|- align="center" bgcolor=""
| Dick Schmalz ||Wide receiver|| 17 || 440 || [[1972 Minnesota Vikings season|Minnesota Vikings]]
|- align="center" bgcolor=""
|}<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/1972.htm| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071221231837/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/1972.htm| archive-date = 2007-12-21| title = 1972 NFL Draft Listing - Pro-Football-Reference.com| website = [[Pro-Football-Reference.com]]}}</ref>

==Awards and honors==
*[[Pat Sullivan (American football)|Pat Sullivan]], [[Heisman Trophy]]
*Pat Sullivan, [[Walter Camp Award]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://collegefootball.about.com/od/collegefootballawards/a/award-camp.htm|title=Football|access-date=2009-01-12|archive-date=2011-07-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707074829/http://collegefootball.about.com/od/collegefootballawards/a/award-camp.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Auburn Tigers football navbox}}

[[Category:1971 Southeastern Conference football season|Auburn]]
[[Category:Auburn Tigers football seasons]]
[[Category:1971 in sports in Alabama|Auburn Tigers football]]

1971 Auburn Tigers football team - Revision history

imported>Abhiramakella at 22:26, 14 June 2025