Auburn heads to Outback Bowl against Northwestern team seeking first bowl win in 60 years

more images

more images

Auburn to face Northwestern in Outback Bowl

Northwestern and Auburn will meet for the first time, playing in the Outback Bowl in Tampa, Fla., on New Year’s Day.

Both teams finished the regular season with statement games.

Northwestern (8-4) upset No. 24 Wisconsin 33-31, prompting the fans to storm the field. Auburn (7-5) led No. 1 Alabama until the final two minutes before losing 26-21.

Northwestern is seeking its first postseason win since the 1949 Rose Bowl.

Auburn will finish Gene Chizik’s first season as head coach in a New Year’s Day game after ending last season with a losing record and sitting out the postseason.

The Tigers haven’t played in the Outback Bowl since a 43-14 loss to Penn State in 1996, the first year under the game’s current name.