In a game that saw a total of five quarterbacks, the Maryland Terrapins won the 2023 Music City Bowl 31-13 over the Auburn Tigers. The Terrapins got off to a great start with a 21-0 first-quarter lead. The Tigers were the favorite coming into the game for many reasons. Two are the fact that the crowd would be pro-Auburn and Taulia Tagovailoa not playing for Maryland. The Tigers offense could never get going in the game and had three straight three-and-outs to open the game.
Maryland quarterback Billy Edwards threw for 126 yards and rushed for 50 yards. He had two total touchdowns. On the Auburn side, Payton Thorne struggled going 13 for 27 with 84 yards and one touchdown. The run game never took flight with Jarquez Hunter rushing for just 44 yards on 13 carries. The Tigers three second-half turnovers halted any comeback attempt. By Maryland winning the 2023 Music City Bowl, they end the season with an 8-5 record. Auburn falls to 6-7 and three straight seasons with a losing record.
Maryland Terrapins Win 2023 Music City Bowl 31-13
Maryland Up 21-0
On the opening drive the Terrapins may have been without Tagovailoa but running back Roman Hemby picked up the slack. After rushing for seven yards and a first down, Hemby took a screen pass for 61 yards to the Auburn two-yard line. On the following play, Edwards ran it in for six points. Maryland took an early 7-0 lead in less than two minutes of play.
After a three and out by Auburn, the Maryland offense put more points on the board to go up 14-0 with 5:58 in the first quarter. The Tigers could not stop Edwards from throwing or running on the drive. He had 33 yards rushing and 37 yards passing with a 17-yard run to get to the Tigers’ six. He connected with tight end Preston Howard on a five-yard touchdown pass.
After another three and out by the Tigers, the offensive onslaught by Maryland continued with a different quarterback. Cameron Edge was inserted into the game, and on the second play found Kaden Prather for 57 yards. That play put the Terrapins on the Tigers’ three-yard line, and on the following play, Edge found Dylan Wade for the touchdown. Maryland ran away with a 21-0 first-quarter lead with 3:24 remaining.
Auburn Gambles
Auburn tried to inject some energy into the team with a gamble on their next possession. Facing a fourth and five at their own 15, Hugh Freeze called a fake punt. Punter Oscar Chapman picked up 10 yards for the first down. Auburn slowly made it to midfield and faced another fourth down. This time needing four yards, quarterback Thorne looked to Damari Alston on a screen pass. The throw was behind Alston, and the Tigers gave it back to Maryland at 11:42 in the second.
Auburn was able to hold the Terrapins scoreless and get their first stop. Maryland did make it to the Tigers 32, but a big sack by Auburn linebacker Austin Keys pushed them back to the 41. That forced the first punt of the game for Maryland. The Auburn offense then went on a 14-play, 80-yard drive that resulted in a Brandon Frazier three-yard touchdown catch to make 21-7 with 2:34 until halftime. Thorne and Rivaldo Fairweather connected four times on the drive for 41 yards.
The Terrapins added three more points before halftime when Jack Howes hit a 49-yard field goal. Maryland got to the Auburn side of the field after a 26-yard pass from Edwards to Jeshaun Jones on the second play of the drive. Jones caught the pass after it was tipped by Colton Hood to get to the Auburn 43. Maryland went into halftime with 201 yards passing between Edge and Edwards.
Maryland Defense Turns Over Auburn
Both teams exchanged punts to begin the second half. Auburn started their second drive of the half at the Maryland 28. After gaining a first down by Hunter, Thorne was intercepted by Glendon Miller. The pick resulted in a 44-yard touchdown return to put Maryland up 31-7 with 11:05 in the third. Thorne was looking for a quick pass to Caleb Burton, but Miller read the play and jumped the route. On the ensuing kickoff, Auburn returner Brian Battie fumbled to give the ball back.
The Auburn defense was able to hold the Maryland offense and force a punt on the next possession. The Tigers started at their own 3 and eventually were forced to punt once again. The Maryland offense did not make many mistakes in the 2023 Music City Bowl, but Edge made one late in the third. With 45 seconds remaining, he was intercepted by Caleb Wooden on a deep pass attempt.
It was another opportunity the Tigers could not capitalize on. The Tigers got into Maryland territory after Thorne was hit late and roughing the passer was called. The penalty put Auburn at the Maryland 37, but the roughing play was the last of Thorne. Freshman quarterback Holden Geriner was inserted into the game. He did not fair any better than Thorne. He was one of six for eight yards. Geriner was intercepted by Colby McDonald at the five-yard line with 10:21 remaining in the game.
Maryland Closes Out 2023 Music City Bowl
The third Auburn quarterback would enter the game at 7:42 when Hank Brown replaced Geriner. On the first play for Brown, he connected with Camden Brown for 12 yards. On the next play, he found Burton for 53 yards to the one-yard line. Running back Jeremiah Cobb finished the drive off with a one-yard touchdown. The failed two-point attempt made the score 31-13 with 6:53 remaining. Auburn would get another chance at scoring but turned it over on downs with 2:45 left at the Terrapins 15. The Maryland Terrapins win the 2023 Music City Bowl 31-13.
