Run defense gashed, rushing offense absent, more observations from Auburn bowl loss
The Outback Bowl has not been kind to Auburn.
The ninth-ranked Tigers (9-4) entered Wednesday’s game against No. 16 Minnesota with just two wins in the annual bowl game, and that number will remain following their 31-24 defeat to the Gophers. It was Auburn’s 44th all-time bowl appearance and fifth Outback Bowl trip, where the Tigers are now 2-3.
Auburn is now 24-18-2 all-time in bowl games and 10-8 in Florida bowl games, per Auburn Athletics.
The Tigers are also winless against Minnesota, as Wednesday’s game was the first between the two programs.
Here are four observations from Auburn’s season-ending Outback Bowl loss to Minnesota.
Run defense gashed
Auburn entered the Outback Bowl giving up an average of 115 rushing yards per game, good for 20th nationally in run defense. Minnesota eclipsed that mark in one half.
The Gophers ran for 218 yards and averaged more than five yards per run. Defensive linemen Derrick Brown and Marlon Davidson were largely quiet — save for a few plays here and there — and the Gophers controlled the line of scrimmage for the full 60 minutes.
The 218 rushing yards were the most Auburn had given up all season (180 yards vs. Alabama was the previous high).
Minnesota’s game-clinching play was a 10-yard run by Mohamed Ibrahim with just over two minutes remaining. It was a fitting end to a disastrous outing for Auburn’s highly-touted run defense.
Rushing offense absent
Auburn had five yards rushing at the half, and it did not get much better for an offense that relies heavily on the run game to have success.
The Tigers ran for just 56 yards, averaging a measly 2.2 yards per carry.
The Tigers this season averaged more than 211 rushing yards per game and 4.83 yards per attempt, neither mark of which they hit on Wednesday.
Special teams a mixed bag
Auburn’s special teams offered some good, and some really bad against the Gophers.
Noah Igbinoghene returned a kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown. Christian Tutt muffed a punt, which led to a Gophers touchdown.
And Auburn’s fake punt attempt to close the third quarter went awry, after a high snap forced punter Arryn Siposs to throw the ball later than he initially wanted to.
A tough final outing in a back-and-forth season for Auburn’s special teams.
Tanner Morgan can sling it, and Tyler Johnson will play on Sundays
Gophers receiver Tyler Johnson gave the Tigers all sorts of fits Wednesday.
The senior caught 12 passes for 204 yards, and added two touchdowns. He scored the go-ahead, 73-yard TD with 10:26 left in the game after beating Tigers defensive back Smoke Monday with a double move.
Johnson averaged more than 15 yards per reception. His quarterback had a big day, too.
Gophers quarterback Tanner Morgan threw for 278 yards and two touchdowns, the lone mistake being an interception on Minnesota’s first offensive drive.
Morgan averaged more than 14 yards per completion.
Outback Bowl scores, stats
First quarter
AUB—FG Carlson 24, 12:17.
MIN—FG Lantz 40, 6:36.
AUB—Igbinoghene 96 kickoff return (Carlson kick), 6:23.
MIN—Ibrahim 16 run (Lantz kick), 4:05.
Second quarter
MIN—Witham 1 pass from Green (Lantz kick), 7:09.
AUB—Cannella 37 pass from Nix (Carlson kick), 4:15.
MIN—T.Johnson 2 pass from Morgan (Lantz kick), :32.
Third Quarter
AUB—Whitlow 3 run (Carlson kick), 5:04.
Fourth Quarter
MIN—T.Johnson 73 pass from Morgan (Lantz kick), 10:26.
... Attendance: 45,652.
... First downs: MIN 23, AUB 13
... Time of possession: MIN 37:35, AUB 22:25
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING—Minnesota, Ibrahim 20-140, R.Smith 16-69, Green 3-7, Morgan 3-2, (Team) 3-(minus 3). Auburn, Whitlow 9-24, D.Williams 5-13, Nix 6-12, Shivers 3-9, Nigh 1-2, Kam.Martin 1-1, Joiner 1-(minus 5).
PASSING—Minnesota, Green 1-1-0-1, Morgan 19-29-1-278. Auburn, Siposs 0-1-0-0, Nix 17-26-0-176.
RECEIVING—Minnesota, T.Johnson 12-204, Bateman 3-49, Witham 2-12, R.Smith 1-8, Autman-Bell 1-7, Spann-Ford 1-(minus 1). Auburn, Schwartz 6-49, S.Williams 4-29, Hastings 2-14, Wilson 2-12, Cannella 1-37, Nigh 1-24, Stove 1-11.
MISSED FIELD GOALS—None.
Keep up with the Tigers
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This story was originally published January 1, 2020 at 4:20 PM.
