Memphis player allegedly steals game ball from Auburn ball boy

The Auburn Tigers triumph over the Memphis Tigers in the 10th annual Birmingham Bowl. Jeremy Johnson relieved an ineffective Sean White at quarterback for Auburn and tossed the go-ahead touchdown pass to Jason Smith with 3:12 to play in the third quarter. He’s passed for 2,448 yards and 19 touchdowns this season. tight end/running back Jaylen Samuels has 64 catches so far for 599 yards and seven touchdowns, and has also run for 315 yards and seven more TDs while averaging 5.9 yards per carry. Entering the bowl, he was projected as the No. 1 quarterback prospect in the 2016 NFL Draft. Robinson has 513 yards, while workhorse Peyton Barber has run for 976 yards and 13 touchdowns.

Auburn’s defense forced three-and-outs on Memphis’ next two drives and the offense capitalized, extending the lead on touchdown runs from Johnson and Robinson to put the game out of reach. In Malzahn’s first year, he engineered one of the most impressive one-year turnarounds in the last decade, taking Auburn from 3-9 in 2012 to the BCS National Championship Game in 2013.

Lynch ended the game completing 17-of-38 passes for 104 yards, no touchdowns and an interception.

The Memphis offense (510 yards per game) will face a disappointing Auburn squad, one that scuffled this season defensively. “I give all the credit to the guys up front who worked really hard to make it happen”. On fourth down Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn drew up a lovely fake punt that went for 37 yards, giving the Tigers the ball inside the 5 yard line.

Auburn’s Blake Countess came through with another big play, blocking a Jake Elliott field goal try with 5:55 left in the second quarter.

Auburn AD Jay Jacobs said something important Tuesday morning on WJOX about Malzahn’s future when he flashed back to Gene Chizik’s past.

Auburn’s defense disappointed and underwhelmed for most of the 2015 season, but it was that unit that played a pivotal role in sending the Tigers into the offseason on a high note. There’s a real chance that Auburn’s offense returns to what we’ve come accustomed to over the past few years, but we haven’t seen it all year, so were going to hope it doesn’t show back up. Both have made 22 of 26 attempts….

WHAT’S AT STAKE After opening the season with three consecutive losses, Louisville can finish by winning six of its final seven games and give Coach Bobby Petrino his 100th career victory. Auburn drilled a 20-yard field goal to take a 3-0 lead. He went 8-of-14 with 103 yards and two picks.

This will be the first meeting between the schools since 1966, while USC, which won a pair of Rose Bowls against Wisconsin in 1953 and 1963, leads the series 6-0.