NASHVILLE, Tenn. – On Wednesday night, Auburn got the first victory over Maryland in the hot chicken eating contest at Wildhorse Saloon. It was a fun night in what has been an enjoyable bowl week for the Tigers in Nashville.
Next Game:
vs. Maryland
Dec. 28, 2023
1 p.m. CT
TV: ABC
Radio: Auburn Sports Network
But make no mistake about it. Auburn wants a win Saturday in the Music City Bowl.
"We'll have a good time while we're there, but at the end of the day, we're sitting at 6-6 – we want to win this game," Auburn quarterback Payton Thorne said. "This is an important game to finish the year above .500 and have a good taste in our mouth moving forward into the offseason. We'll have fun in Nashville, but what's fun is winning."
First-year head coach Hugh Freeze understands there's a balance between having fun and enjoying the bowl experience and taking care of business on the field. He's navigated it well in the past with a 6-2 record in bowl games, including a 3-0 mark at Liberty.
"I think any time we put Auburn on our jersey it's important that we go compete in a way," Freeze said. "We haven't been as consistent in that in Year 1 as I wanted to be. At times we were really good, and I hope we can finish this 2023 campaign here in Nashville with that kind of effort and execution and get a win for Auburn, for our team, for our fans and for the SEC."
This will be the 47th bowl appearance for Auburn in program history. The Tigers are 24-20-2 all-time but have not won a bowl game since the last time they played in the Music City Bowl in 2018 when they beat Purdue and set the SEC record for points in a bowl (63).
Only one current Auburn players was on that team in 2018: Kam Stutts.
"I've been a part of some pretty cool bowl games," tight end Luke Deal said. "I think what's more valuable for some of us who haven't won a bowl game is that we're hungry to win one. Especially the guys who either transferred in and are really trying to build this culture or the guys who didn't have a bowl game last year – they're so hungry. Everybody is so excited to be here and so ready to put our best foot forward and hopefully get a win Saturday."
Auburn and Maryland will kick off at 1 p.m. CT from Nissan Stadium in Nashville. The game will be televised on ABC with Taylor Zarzour, Matt Stinchcomb and Alyssa Lang on the call. You can also listen to Andy Burcham, Jason Campbell, Ronnie Brown and Will Herring who will have the radio call on 94.3 FM, online at AuburnTigers.com and on the Auburn app.
Fans attending the Music City Bowl are encouraged to wear navy to the game.
Three questions with QB Payton Thorne
Q: Describe what the last 12 months have been like for you.
A: It's been a lot. It's been a whirlwind. I went from being all-in on one program to being all-in on another program. It's weird to think six months ago I was brand new down here. In March or April, if you would have told me I was down here, I would have had no clue what you were talking about. I'm blessed to be here and excited for what the future holds for us.
Q: How much will it help you to be at Auburn for a full offseason?
A: It helps a ton. Those months are so vital to the success in the fall. You can really get into the details of things and work on small things with receivers, tight ends, running backs and the offensive line. You're able to meet a ton in the offseason as well, meet with Coach (Freeze) and talk about certain things and what he's seeing. For me, I've played a lot of football. I feel like I can really talk with Coach and get familiar with what we're going to be doing.
Q: What is it like to face Maryland now in a different uniform?
A: It will be interesting playing another Big Ten team, a Big Ten East team as well. I played them twice the last two years. They've got some new players this year. Both their corners last year were really good players – very physical, very fast. I'm excited we don't have to play them again, but they still have good players. They've won some good games this year and played a few teams really close. I have a lot of respect for Maryland. I'm excited to play them.
Inside the Series: Maryland
Against Maryland, Auburn is 2-1 all-time. The Terrapins won a 1952 matchup 13-7 in Birmingham while Auburn has won both contests played in Auburn. The Tigers beat Maryland 20-7 in 1958 and 35-23 in the most recent matchup between the teams in 1983.
In 1983, it was the first time three Auburn players had run for 100 yards in the same game. Tommie Agee led the way with 24 carries for 219 yards and two touchdowns. Lionel James ran for 115 yards and a touchdown. And Bo Jackson added 105 yards on the ground.
Auburn is 12-12-2 overall against current members of the Big Ten Conference and is 8-6 against Big Ten teams in previous bowl games.
By the Numbers
47: Auburn is making its 47th bowl appearance. The Tigers are 24-20-2 in previous bowl games, including a 2-0 mark in the Music City Bowl previously with a 28-14 win over Wisconsin in 2003 and a 63-14 win over Purdue in 2018.
521: Payton Thorne currently ranks 10th in single season rushing yardage among Auburn quarterbacks all-time with 521 yards. Next is Phil Gargis (534 yards, 1976). He's the third Auburn QB to go over 500 rushing yards in the last 10 years.
17: Coming into bowl season, the Tigers rank third in the SEC in turnovers forced with 17 (11 interceptions, 6 fumbles recovered). Second Team All-SEC selection Jaylin Simpson is tied for third in the SEC with four interceptions on the season.
63: The last time Auburn played in the Music City Bowl, the Tigers set the SEC record for most points in a bowl game with 63 against Purdue in 2018. The 56 first-half points were the most ever by a team in any conference in one half of a bowl game.