Game Information
Opponent: Auburn Tigers (6-6, 3-5 Southeastern Conference)
Location: Nissan Stadium (69,143)
Date: Saturday, December 30, 2023
Time: 2:00 PM ET
TV/Radio Broadcasts: ABC, Maryland Sports Radio Network
Series Record: 2-1 Auburn
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After finishing their regular season with a record of 7-5 (4-5 Big Ten Conference) and earning their third straight winning season for the first time since 2001-03, Maryland will face off against Auburn in the TransPerfect Music City Bowl. This will be their first meeting with an SEC school since 2002, when they faced off against Tennessee in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl. The Tigers finished their regular season with six wins, and would’ve knocked off Alabama in their final game if not for a miraculous 31-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Jalen Milroe on a fourth-and-goal play with less than a minute to go.
Auburn Tigers Preview
Hugh Freeze is in his first year as the Tigers’ head coach after spending the previous four at Liberty. Prior to that, he was the head coach at Ole Miss for five years before resigning following multiple personal, academic, and recruiting-related scandals. As is typically the case in the current era of collegiate athletics, he oversaw plenty of roster turnover before his first season. 20 players transferred to Auburn, including former Maryland defensive lineman Mosiah Nasili-Kite who suffered an unfortunate season-ending arm injury just a few weeks into the season.
One of those transfers was quarterback Payton Thorne, who made the trip to the Plains from Michigan State, where he’d spent the previous four seasons. While his numbers as a passer were significantly worse than in the previous two years, he had his best season as a rusher in 2023. Auburn is a team led by their running game, and Thorne is a major contributor to that. Running back Jarquez Hunter finished the year with more than 850 yards on the ground and seven touchdowns, while averaging nearly six yards per carry.
When Auburn does throw the ball, which isn’t often, they typically turn to tight end Rivaldo Fairweather. The Florida International transfer leads them in receiving yards with 349, and has six touchdown catches. Four of their wide receivers have entered the transfer portal, including top option Ja’Varrius Johnson, so they’ll be turning to a group of less experienced players on the perimeter.
Defensively the Tigers defend the pass better than they do the run, but their secondary has been hit by a number of key departures. Starting cornerbacks DJ James and Nehemiah Pritchett have both opted out of this game, which will force a number of younger players into action. Additionally, defensive lineman Marcus Harris has opted out of this game. He was an imposing presence as a run-stopper and interior pass-rusher, leading the team in both tackles for loss and sacks. Defensive coordinator Ron Roberts is a seasoned veteran however, and will have his unit ready regardless of any holes in their typical lineup.
Maryland Terrapins Preview
Maryland will be without their fair share of key players in this game, most notably quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa. While he initially announced he’d be playing, that changed last week when he elected to opt out. In his stead, the Terrapins are expected to turn to a combination of Billy Edwards, Jr. and Cameron Edge behind center. Both will be competing for the starting job during the off-season with incoming N.C. State transfer MJ Morris, and will have the opportunity to use this game as a launching point. In addition to Tagovailoa the offense will be without tight end Corey Dyches, who has entered the transfer portal.
Offensive coordinator Josh Gattis will likely employ a different game plan than he ran during the regular season with Tagovailoa at his disposal. Success in the running game would take some weight off of both quarterbacks’ shoulders, though it’s been inconsistent at best this year. When Edwards, Jr. is behind center there will likely be a heavy dose of run-option plays to take advantage of his dual-threat abilities. When they do throw the ball, expect plenty of screen passes to wide receivers and running backs coupled with simple reads. Edge provides more of a down-field passing element, so don’t be surprised to see some shots down the field when he’s in the game.
Defensively, Maryland took a number of big hits in the transfer portal. Star linebacker Jaishawn Barham transferred to Michigan, and defensive backs Corey Coley, Jr. and Tamarcus Cooley are both headed to N.C. State. Additionally, cornerback Tarheeb Still has opted out of this game as he prepares for the NFL Draft. Defensive coordinator Brian Williams will need to lean on a mostly-intact front seven to provide support for a decimated group of cornerbacks. Expect to see plenty of zone coverages while also loading the box as much as possible to defend against Auburn’s run-heavy offensive attack.
Terps Analyst
Zack is a financial analyst for a defense contractor in Washington, DC. The Owings Mills native focuses most of his efforts on Maryland Football recruiting and individual coach and player pieces; but also covers Terps Basketball. He has established relationships with Big Ten beat reporters across the conference, which he utilizes in his game previews. Now a Sr. Terps Analyst for BSL, Zack can be reached at: zack.kiesel@baltimoresportsandlife.com.