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NASHVILLE, Tenn. — With such a recent emphasis on the College Football Playoff, bowl games across the country have lost some luster over the years.
But there’s a few reasons why Auburn football’s matchup with Maryland (7-5, 4-5 Big Ten) in the Music City Bowl on Saturday (1 p.m. CT, ABC) should mean something to the Tigers. Chief among those is that Auburn can secure a winning season for the first time since 2020.
If the Tigers (6-6, 3-5 SEC) lose and finish with a 6-7 record, it’ll be the third straight season in which they’ve finished under .500. That hasn’t happened since they went a combined 11-20-2 from 1975-77.
A victory over the Terrapins would also end coach Hugh Freeze’s first year at the helm on a high note after Auburn was inexplicably blown out by New Mexico State in Week 12 and let a signature win over Alabama slip through its fingers in the Iron Bowl.
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After becoming the Big Ten’s all-time passing leader with 11,256 air yards in a Maryland uniform, fifth-year senior quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa won’t be leading the Terrapins onto the field one last time.
Tagovailoa became one of Maryland’s bowl opt outs Dec. 19, coach Mike Locksley announced. The younger brother of former Alabama QB and current Miami Dolphins star Tua Tagovailoa, Taulia began his collegiate career as a four-star freshman at Alabama before he transferred and joined the Terrapins in May 2020.
Locksley said both redshirt sophomore Billy Edwards Jr. and freshman Cameron Edge will play QB against Auburn. They’ve combined to complete six of their 13 passes this season for 20 yards and an interception. They’ve also added 30 rushing yards on 17 attempts. Edwards himself has…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/auburn-football-vs-maryland-score-100838890.html
Author : The Montgomery Advertiser
Publish date : 2023-12-29 10:08:38
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