Tennessee’s Nashville In light of the growing significance of the College Football Playoff, bowl games nationwide have become less exciting over time.
However, Auburn football’s Saturday (1 p.m. CT, ABC) Music City Bowl game against Maryland (7-5, 4-5 Big Ten) should mean something to the Tigers for a few reasons. The main one is the possibility that Auburn, for the first time since 2020, will have a winning season.
The Tigers (6-6, 3-5 SEC) will have ended below.500 for the third consecutive season if they fall short and end with a 6-7 record.
Hugh Freeze’s first season as head coach would likewise come to a successful conclusion with a win over the Terrapins. In Week 12, Auburn was unexpectedly destroyed by New Mexico State and failed to secure a memorable victory over Alabama in the Iron Bowl.
Taulia Tagovailoa, a fifth-year senior quarterback for Maryland, set a Big Ten passing record with 11,256 air yards. However, he will not be sending the Terrapins onto the pitch for a final time.
Since they went a combined 11-20-2 from 1975 to 1977, that hasn’t occurred.
The Tigers (6-6, 3-5 SEC) will have ended below.500 for the third consecutive season if they fall short and end with a 6-7 record. Since they went a combined 11-20-2 from 1975 to 1977, that hasn’t occurred.
On December 19, coach Mike Locksley stated that Tagovailoa had become one of Maryland’s bowl opt-outs. Prior to transferring and joining the Terrapins in May 2020, Taulia was a four-star freshman at Alabama. He is the younger brother of former Alabama quarterback and Miami Dolphins star Tua Tagovailoa.
Redshirt sophomore Billy Edwards Jr. and rookie Cameron Edge will both start at quarterback for Auburn, according to Locksley. Together, they have completed six of their 13 throws for 20 yards and one interception thus far this season. On 17 attempts, they have also added 30 rushing yards. Edwards has racked up six rush touchdowns.
Although Maryland’s receivers have put up some great numbers because to Tagovailoa’s throwing prowess, the Terrapins’ offence in 2023 has been rather evenly distributed. With an average of 62.3 receiving yards per game, Jeshaun Jones is fourth in the Big Ten. Kaden Prather (50.8) is ranked No. 15, and Tai Felton (60.3) is ranked No. 5.
Redshirt junior tight end Corey Dyches, who entered the portal on December 4, is ranked No. 19 at 44.6.
But losing Tagovailoa will undoubtedly make Maryland’s passing game more difficult. Roman Hemby, a running back who concluded the regular season with 951 yards from scrimmage and seven touchdowns, may see greater playing time for the Terrapins.
Maryland’s self-serving defence
This season, the Terrapins’ defence was mediocre in the Big Ten; in 8th place in the conference with an average of 336.9 yards allowed per game, they are among the top 35 in the country. In contrast, the Tigers are ranked No. 50.
