Auburn's streak of 1,000-yard rushers is more unique than you think

The last few seasons in The Plains have been about as unpredictable, and potentially rewarding, as playing the lottery.

In 2009, Auburn went 8-5 (3-5 in the SEC) before going 14-0 and winning a national title. In 2012, the team went 3-9 (0-8 in the SEC) before reaching the national title game with first-year coach Gus Malzahn the following season.

The cloudy skies surrounding this year’s Tigers make 2016 just as unpredictable with a starting quarterback yet to be determined, two offensive tackles to replace, a head coach on the hot seat and a new defensive coordinator.

Yet one thing has remained extremely consistent for Auburn, and that’s the running game. The program has finished among the top five in the SEC in rushing yards per game in six of the last seven seasons, finishing first in the two aforementioned seasons that led to national title game appearances.

Auburn has done that on the back of a remarkable string of seven straight seasons with a 1,000-yard rusher. That dates back to 2009, the year after Tommy Tuberville stepped down as coach after 10 years.

How unique is the Tigers’ streak? It’s by far the longest in SEC history. Take a look:

MOST CONSECUTIVE SEASONS WITH A 1,000-YARD RUSHER IN SEC HISTORY

Auburn got done topping the conference’s best mark back in the 2013 season, which saw RB Tre Mason (1,816 yards) and QB Nick Marshall (1,068 yards) both hit the plateau.

As a team, the Tigers’ commitment to the ground game over that span is clear as they’re one of only 10 FBS teams to rush for 20,000 yards and they’re also in the top 10 in rushing attempts.

With Wisconsin’s string of 10 straight seasons with a 1,000-yard rusher ending in 2015, Oregon now has the longest active streak at nine dating back to 2007. Auburn’s seven is tied with Boise State for the second-longest in the country, and that’s not including teams that haven’t been in the FBS during that whole stretch.

In terms of total 1,000-yard rushers since Auburn’s tear began in 2009, only Nevada has had more.

MOST 1,000-YARD RUSHERS IN THE FBS SINCE 2009

There have been some real close calls for Auburn, which nearly saw the streak get snapped in 2012 and 2015.

Tre Mason was sitting at 920 yards entering the team’s last game of the season in the 2012 Iron Bowl. The Crimson Tide defense, playing at home, led the FBS by allowing just 76.4 rushing yards per game and 2.4 yards per rush. Incredibly, Mason’s 5-yard carry on the game’s (and the season’s) final play pushed him over the mark.

Last season, Peyton Barber didn’t hit it until the team’s first possession of the second half against Memphis in the Birmingham Bowl. Taking a backseat to Jovon Robinson, who got the majority of the team’s carries down the stretch, Barber kept the school’s streak alive on his third-to-last carry in a Tigers uniform.

Here’s a look at each of Auburn’s nine 1,000-yard performances over its record-setting pace.

AUBURN’S 1,000-YARD RUSHERS DURING STREAK