The Auburn Tigers football team hopes to make sweet music in the Music City to help salvage a season that began on a high note but fell flat.
Auburn takes on the Purdue Boilermakers Friday at 12:30 p.m. Central Time in the Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl in Nashville. The game will be televised by ESPN.
The Tigers were ranked No. 9 in the Associated Press preseason poll and climbed to No. 7 after a season-opening win against Washington in a matchup of Top 10 teams. But Auburn struggled through the season and finished with a 7-5 record, including 3-5 and a fifth-place finish in the Southeastern Conference West Division.
Purdue lost its first three games on the way to a 6-6 record and placed second in the Big Ten West. The Boilermakers inflicted a 49-20 beating on Ohio State – the Buckeyes’ only loss of the season – which kept them out of this year’s College Football Playoff.
During that game, fans learned of Purdue super fan Tyler Trent, who has terminal cancer and was on the sideline with the team. ESPN reported that Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay flew Trent and his family to Nashville on the Colts’ plane Wednesday. Friday, Trent will join captains for both teams on the field for the coin toss.
Coach Gus Malzahn talks about his Auburn Tigers at a Music City Bowl practice on Monday in Nashville. (Todd Van Emst/AU Athletics)
Auburn’s Derrick Brown should be among the top picks in the NFL Draft, analyst Mel Kiper Jr. says. (Todd Van Emst/AU Athletics)
Anthony Schwartz catches the ball at Auburn’s final practice for the Music City Bowl on Wednesday. (Todd Van Emst/AU Athletics)
Kam Martin runs the ball during Auburn’s Monday practice. (Todd Van Emst/AU Athletics)
JaTarvious Whitlow carries the football during practice at Vanderbilt on Monday. (Todd Van Emst/AU Athletics)
Deshaun Davis practices with the Tigers on Monday for Friday’s Music City Bowl. (Todd Van Emst/AU Athletics)
Coach Gus Malzahn talks to his Auburn Tigers during a practice on Monday for Friday’s Music City Bowl. (Todd Van Emst/AU Athletics)
Sal Cannella catches the ball during Auburn’s final practice at Vanderbilt for Friday’s Music City Bowl. (Todd Van Emst/AU Athletics)
Auburn practices at Vanderbilt on Monday in preparation for Friday’s Music City Bowl game with Purdue. (Todd Van Emst/AU Athletics)
Coach Gus Malzahn talks to his team after the last Music City Bowl practice at Vanderbilt on Wednesday. (Todd Van Emst/AU Athletics)
Quarterback Jarrett Stidham throws a pass during Auburn’s final practice for the Music City Bowl on Wednesday. (Todd Van Emst/AU Athletics)
Ryan Davis catches the ball during Auburn’s final practice before Friday’s Music City Bowl in Nashville. (Todd Van Emst/AU Athletics)
Marlon Davidson practices for Auburn’s Music City Bowl game against Purdue. (Todd Van Emst/AU Athletics)
Auburn running back coach Tim Horton talks to his guys after a team meeting on Sunday in Nashville. (Todd Van Emst/AU Athletics)
Coach Larry Porter talks to his guys after a meeting in Nashville on Sunday. (Todd Van Emst/AU Athletics)
Tigers Shaun Shivers and Jatarvius Whitlow practice at Vanderbilt on Tuesday. (Todd Van Emst/AU Athletics)
