Dec. 30, 2015
| | Quick Stats | AU | UM | | Total Plays | 71 | 68 | | 1st Downs | 23 | 13 | | 3rd down efficiency | 5-12 | 8-19 | | 4th down efficiency | 2-3 | 0-2 | | Total Yards | 402 | 205 | | Passing Yards | 151 | 108 | | Comp-Att | 10-16 | 16-37 | | Yards per pass | 9.4 | 2.9 | | Rushing Yards | 251 | 97 | | Rushing attempts | 55 | 31 | | Yards per rush | 4.6 | 3.1 | | Penalties-Yards | 3-45 | 6-40 | | Turnovers | 3 | 1 | | Fumbles lost | 0 | 0 | | Interceptions thrown | 3 | 1 | | Time of Possession | 34:17 | 25:43 |
| Stat Leaders | | Passing | C-Att | Yds | TD | Int | | AU - White | 8-13 | 103 | 0 | 3 | | UM - Lynch | 16-37 | 108 | 0 | 1 | | Rushing | Car | Yds | TD | Long | | AU - Robinson | 27 | 126 | 1 | 20 | | UM - Dorceus | 11 | 46 | 0 | 16 | | Receiving | Rec | Yds | TD | Long | | AU - Ray | 2 | 50 | 0 | 29 | | UM - Frazier | 4 | 49 | 0 | 29 |
| 2015 Schedule | | 09/05 | W | (6) Auburn 31, Louisville 24 | | 09/12 | W | (6) Auburn 27, JSU 20 (OT) | | 09/19 | L | (18) Auburn 21, (14) LSU 45 | | 09/26 | L | Auburn 9, Miss. State 17 | | 10/03 | W | Auburn 35, San Jose State 21 | | 10/15 | W | Auburn 30, Kentucky 27 | | 10/24 | L | Auburn 46, Arkansas 54 (4OT) | | 10/31 | L | Auburn 19, Ole Miss 27 | | 11/07 | W | Auburn 26, (19) Texas A&M 10 | | 11/14 | L | Auburn 13, Georgia 23 | | 11/21 | W | Auburn 56, Idaho 34 | | 11/28 | L | Auburn 13, (2) Alabama 29 | | 12/30 | W | Auburn 31, Memphis 10 |
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By Charles Goldberg
AuburnTigers.com
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Jeremy Johnson helped Auburn close out the season in fine fashion Wednesday when he came off the bench to lead the Tigers to a 31-10 victory over Memphis in the Birmingham Bowl.
Johnson threw the go-ahead touchdown pass in the third quarter, ran for another score early in the fourth and brought life to what had been a hard-fought game. It was 10-10 before the dramatics began in front of a Birmingham Bowl record crowd of 59,430 in Legion Field.
After the game, coach Gus Malzahn announced he hired Kevin Steele as his defensive coordinator. That's the same position he held at LSU.
Auburn running back Jovon Robinson was named the game's MVP after rushing for 126 yards. The Tigers' defense turned in an MVP performance, too, holding Memphis to 205 yards.
Johnson's play, coupled with an Auburn defense that allowed three points and Peyton Barber crossing the 1,000-yard rushing barrier for the season, allowed the Tigers to finish the season with a 7-6 record. Memphis fell to 9-4.
Johnson, subbing for starter Sean White, threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Jason Smith for the lead with 3:12 left in the third quarter. His 5-yard touchdown run on the first play of the fourth quarter made it 24-10.
Barber's running allowed Auburn to have at least one 1,000-yard rusher in seven straight seasons.
Auburn showed a little trickery early in the game before pounding away at Memphis in the second half.
A fake punt set up a 20-yard Daniel Carlson for Auburn's first score and Kerryon Johnson scored on an 8-yard run out of the Wildcat formation for a 10-0 first quarter lead.
A Memphis field goal and a Reggis Ball 56-yard interception return tied things up in the second quarter.
Carlson's field goal was a record-setter. It gave him 23 on the season, a single-season Auburn record. Johnson's TD run came with 1:58 left in the first quarter.
Auburn's Blake Countess came through with another big play, blocking a Jake Elliott field goal try with 5:55 left in the second quarter.
Other Birmingham Bowl stories
Jeremy Johnson provides offensive spark
Kevin Steele hired as defensive coordinator
Gus Malzahn happy with the win
