Want to trade places with South Carolina, Kentucky, Missouri or Vanderbilt?

Auburn under Malzahn accomplished a lot more this season than any of the above mentioned.

It was a team predicted by most to finish in the basement of the SEC West, but instead stands second in the division at 5-3 in league play. Only Alabama (8) and Florida (6) won more conference games than the Tigers. Those two will play in the SEC Championship Game on Saturday.

Sure, an 8-4 overall record and two games above .500 in league play is below the standards of what Auburn is striving for. But it’s also a heck of a lot better than the majority of teams playing in what is widely considered the most competitive conference in the nation, though the SEC has taken a credibility hit this season.

What Malzahn is up against more so than any other coach or program is constantly being measured against Nick Saban and in-state rival Alabama, the most dominant coach and program in all of college football.

Yet Malzahn has still been able to lure Top 10 recruiting classes and build a program on the field that at least has a legitimate chance to win most every time out.