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NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Maryland coach Michael Locksley sees bowl games like a movie trailer for coming attractions, now even more true with the transfer portal, the early signing period and players opting out for the NFL draft.
Locksley gets his preview Saturday in the Music City Bowl (1 p.m. CT, ABC) against Auburn eager most to see how Maryland might replace record-setting quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa.
“We’re excited to see what these young players have to offer as well as the quarterback situation we have,” Locksley said Friday. “But to me the biggest thing is to come out and build momentum into the ‘24 season.”
Maryland (7-5) also has a chance at program history while checking out a new starter at quarterback. A victory Saturday would be the Terrapins’ third straight bowl win, something they’ve never done before.
The Auburn Tigers (6-6) can cap coach Hugh Freeze’s first season back in the Southeastern Conference with a winning record. The Tigers finished the regular season losing two straight, the last a stunner when Alabama scored the game-winning touchdown on fourth-and-31.
Freeze also sees this bowl as a big step toward 2024. That’s when Texas and Oklahoma join the SEC. Freeze continues heavily recruiting high school players as he gets used to using the portal to replace players who leave Auburn.
“I’m not doing real well in the speed-dating portal,” Freeze said.
- Line: Auburn by 6½, according to FanDuel Sportsbook
- Series record: Auburn leads 2-1
Replacing Tagovailoa
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Maryland’s record-setting quarterback announced his decision to opt out Dec. 19, leaving Locksley to focus on the “quarterback situation.”
Edwards is expected to make his third career start after running for six TDs this season. Edge is 2 of 3 for 18 yards this season. Both quarterbacks should get plenty of help from a wide receiving corps where four Terrapins had at least 40 catches this season, tied for most in FBS.
It also won’t hurt that Auburn will be starting a secondary filled with freshmen.
Edge in experience
Auburn definitely has that in Payton Thorne, who threw for 6,494 yards in three seasons at Michigan State. He threw for 1,671 yards and 15 touchdowns this season while running for 524 yards more.
Freeze did sign California quarterback Sam Jackson out of the portal. The Auburn coach plans to use Jackson at wide receiver considering he played one high school season in Illinois with Thorne as his quarterback.
“There’s some chemistry there,” Freeze said.
Locksley quickly asked if Jackson would play Saturday. Freeze said: “No. I wish he was.”
Defensive Terps
Maryland is among seven FBS programs that had at least 30 sacks and picked off 15 interceptions coming into bowl season. The Terrapins ranked 11th nationally for interceptions and second in the Big Ten to only Michigan (16).
Healthier Tigers
Auburn has had to deal with Tigers being sick over the past few days. Freeze said his doctor’s report was down to just one with “the fever” having broken. The challenge now is making sure everyone hydrates well to recover as quickly as possible.
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“It’s kind of like everything else we’re dealing with, the opt-outs,” Freeze said. “You can’t control some things. But I do think I had a good report this morning that most everybody was feeling better. I’m sure, if at all possible, they’ll give it a go.”
Honoring Wycheck
Maryland will be wearing a sticker with the initials “FW” on helmets in memory of Frank Wycheck, who played tight end for the Terrapins between 1990 and 1992. He set the school record for most catches by a tight end with 134 receptions.
Wycheck died Dec. 9 at his Chattanooga home at the age of 52. He played 11 NFL seasons and threw the lateral that propelled the Tennessee Titans to the franchise’s lone Super Bowl in January 2000. A ceremony also will honor his part in that play at Nissan Stadium, home to the Titans.
Key matchup
The Tigers come in with the SEC’s third-best rushing attack that ranks 15th in the country averaging 198.4 yards per game. Jarquez Hunter is Auburn’s top rusher with 865 yards and seven rushing touchdowns. He had a career-high 183 yards rushing in the Tigers’ last game in Nashville, a win over Vanderbilt. Maryland ranked 33rd nationally defending the run, allowing just 129.6 yards a game.
Players to watch
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Maryland: QB Taulia Tagovailoa opted out of this game on Dec. 19, so Billy Edwards Jr. is poised to start the third game of his career. Edwards has been more effective using his legs running for six TDs this season as a role player. Cameron Edge also could play and is 2 of 3 for 18 yards passing. Replacing Tagovailoa is a tall task because he left with a handful of school passing records and led the Big Ten with 3,377 yards passing.
Auburn: QB Payton Thorne. Not only did he throw for 6,494 yards in three seasons at Michigan State, Thorne threw for 1,671 yards and 15 TDs this season for the Tigers. He’s also mobile, having run for 524 yards this season.
Facts & figures
Maryland is playing in its 30th bowl all-time and 21st different bowl. The Terrapins are 13-14-2 all-time. ... This will be Auburn’s 47th bowl and third time playing in this game. The Tigers are 2-0 at the Music City Bowl and 24-20-2 all-time in bowls. Auburn is 13-6 in bowls played in December, including a 10-2 record over the last 12 bowls in this month. ... Maryland is playing an SEC opponent in a bowl for the first time since beating Tennessee 30-3 in the 2002 Peach Bowl. ... The Terrapins are 7-4 in bowls since 2002, the best of any current Big Ten team going into this season’s bowl slate. ... Maryland went 3-0 against non-conference opponents this season. The Terrapins have the nation’s second-longest winning streak against non-conference opponents at 11 straight, trailing only Georgia. ... Maryland ranks fifth nationally averaging 41.5 points per game against non-conference opponents since Michael Locksley took over as coach. ... Auburn needs a win to become the 13th FBS team to win 800 games in program history. The Tigers are 799- 466-47 in 131 years.