Heisman challenge for Auburn's defense
AUBURN | No. 14 Auburn began the season facing a Heisman Trophy finalist and will end it facing two more in the Sugar Bowl.
No. 7 Oklahoma is led by quarterback Baker Mayfield and wide receiver Dede Westbrook, who are two of five Heisman finalists. Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops compares this year’s offense to his 2008 unit, which lost to Florida in the BCS Championship game.
“The offense has been very prolific,” Stoops said. “There's no doubt it begins with Baker Mayfield, his ability to get us in and out of plays and his incredible accuracy. Then the offensive line has been so positive with great backs and the deep threat to Dede Westbrook. There's kind of threats everywhere you look.
“Really, in my 18 years, if not the most prolific, it's right there with the 2008 offense that set some records and was really strong with Sam Bradford, DeMarco Murray and Jermaine Gresham and on and on and on.”
Mayfield has completed 235-of-330 passes for 3,669 yards with 38 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He ranks first nationally in passing efficiency (197.8), yards per attempt (11.1) and completion percentage (71.2).
Westbrook has 74 catches for 1,465 yards and an Oklahoma single-season record 16 touchdowns. He’s also averaging 19.8 yards per punt return including a 71-yard touchdown.
Auburn faced several Top 20 offenses this season including Clemson and Heisman Trophy finalist Deshaun Watson in the opener and Alabama in the regular season finale. But neither have been as prolific as Oklahoma, which ranks third in the country in total offense averaging 557.3 yards per game and third in scoring offense averaging 44.7 points per game.
“You are talking about a team that’s very impressive on offense,” Auburn coach Gus Malzahn said. “The thing that really stands out to me is they run the football so well. They have explosive guys down the field and have one of the better quarterbacks in college football. It will be a good challenge. I think that will probably be a key to the game.”
Balancing out Oklahoma’s big-play passing attack is a pair of running backs that have combined for 2,157 rushing yards and 19 touchdowns. Joe Mixon has 168 carries for 1,183 yards and eight touchdowns along with 32 receptions for 449 yards and five touchdowns. Samaje Perine has rushed for 974 yards and 11 touchdowns on 179 carries.
Tasked to slow down the Sooners is an Auburn unit that ranks 20th in the nation allowing 348.4 yards per game and fifth allowing 15.6 point per game. The Tigers held Clemson to 19 points, 21 points below their average, and Alabama to 30 points, 10.5 points below their average.
“We’ll definitely be motivated,” Malzahn said. “We’re playing one of the top teams in the country. Our team is extremely excited to be playing in a game like the Sugar Bowl. That’s a very big deal and our players understand that. We’ve got very strong leadership on this team. We’ll be ready to play and we’ll have to be ready to play.”
The 83rd Sugar Bowl will be played in the New Orleans Superdome on Jan. 2 at 7:30 p.m. CT on ESPN.