We won’t overlook the Tigers anymore, will we?

On a day where five of the nation’s top eight teams fell for the first time ever, fifth-ranked Auburn not only avoided an upset, it dominated a division rival and made a statement to the rest of the country that the road to the SEC Championship will again come through the state of Alabama’s least talked about program.

Don’t forget about us.

The Tigers’ public decree put the West on notice and delivered in a way that’s sure to alter national perception of contenders and pretenders in the College Football Playoff picture, revealing a new pecking order near the season’s halfway point.

Auburn certainly impressed ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit who now has the Tigers No. 1 in his updated playoff projections.

Lack of respect is a coach’s dream at an established program like Auburn where winning comes natural, daily motivational fuel and bulletin board fodder for Gus Malzahn and his staff inside the Tigers’ football facility.

Auburn used LSU as its prime-time platform and punching bag to drive home its point, ripping apart a team regarded in much higher respect than previous quality wins over Kansas State and Arkansas could justify.

The first of six games against ranked teams the rest of the way was never close and gave us a look inside at a multi-level offense which produced a rhythmic nightmare for John Chavis’ poor-tackling defense. Auburn picked up yards in chunks on the ground and through the air and suffocated LSU freshman quarterback Brandon Harris with an expert plan defensively from Ellis Johnson.

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Explosive plays were prevalent throughout the first half as Auburn scored on each of its first four possessions to lead 24-7 early in the second quarter. The rout was on when Nick Marshall hooked up with Sammie Coates for a 56-yard man-child score eight minutes into the game, the first time since the opener the Tigers appeared to have matched the standard set by last season’s success.

Coates bullied his way into the end zone with two defenders draped on his back, sparking an instantaneous roar that rattled Jordan-Hare Stadium and commenced an onslaught of reactionary pro-Auburn tweets.

Many non-believers calling for Jeremy Johnson to replace Marshall began to disappear after the senior quarterback essentially played himself back into the Heisman picture with 326 total yards and four touchdowns.

Marshall was the fire and Tre Mason the lighter fluid during Malzahn’s first season assault on the SEC and there’s plenty of flammable pieces still remaining on this offense. Cameron Artis-Payne’s more than just an average fill-in as the Tigers’ primary ballcarrier while Duke Williams has provided a substantial wrinkle to the passing game.

One of only nine Power 5 unbeatens (including Notre Dame) remaining after six weeks of the season, Auburn’s a threat and the Tigers proved their value on Saturday night.