Gus Malzahn will look to send a disappointing 2018 off on a high note in the Music City.
Auburn is set to face Purdue in the 2018 Music City Bowl in Nashville, Tennessee, on Dec. 28, announced Sunday afternoon. The game will be aired on ESPN starting at 12:30 p.m. CT.
It will be the Tigers' second appearance in the bowl in program history after Tommy Tuberville led Auburn to a win over Wisconsin in 2003. Auburn's meeting with the Boilermakers will also mark the first matchup between both programs.
Purdue finished its 2018 season with an even record at 6-6. Despite just six wins on the season, Purdue's 29-point win over then-No. 2 Ohio State in October pushed the Boilermakers toward a bowl berth.
Jeff Brohm's Purdue squad ranks No. 24 in the nation averaging 459 offensive yards per game while ranking 103rd after allowing 441.5 yards per game.
Auburn entered the 2018 season with lofty expectations after a 10-4 campaign that included an SEC Western division title last season. The team returned most of its talent, including a proven defense and second team All-SEC quarterback Jarrett Stidham.
After a Week 3 loss to LSU, 22-21, things spiraled out of control for Auburn as Malzahn's squad finished 7-5 (3-5 SEC). Auburn is now 7-7 since beating No. 1 Alabama in last year's Iron Bowl.
Auburn has participated in 41 bowl games in its history, the 16th-best mark in the nation. The Tigers have a record of 23-16-2, with their most recent postseason win coming in 2015 against Memphis in the Birmingham Bowl.
Malzahn is 1-4 in bowl games as Auburn's head coach. If he falls to 1-5, it would be the worst six-game stretch in program history.
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Nathan King, senior in journalism with a minor in business, is The Plainsman's sports editor.
