Tigers earn Sugar Bowl bid

AUBURN | Auburn is Sugar Bowl bound.

The final CFP Rankings were released Sunday and the 14th-ranked Tigers are the second-highest SEC team, which gives Auburn an automatic bid to the 2017 Allstate Sugar Bowl.

Auburn will face No. 7 Oklahoma, which beat Oklahoma State 38-20 Saturday to secure the Big 12 Championship.

“We are thrilled about the opportunity to play in the historic Sugar Bowl against a great Oklahoma team," Auburn coach Gus Malzahn said. "I’m excited for our players, coaches and the Auburn family to experience one of the best bowl games in all of college football. We can’t wait for this opportunity and look forward to our trip to New Orleans.”

This will be Auburn’s sixth appearance in the Sugar Bowl and first since a 16-13 win over Virginia Tech in 2004. The Tigers have a 2-2-1 record in the Sugar Bowl and are 23-15-2 in 40 bowl appearances.

Auburn finished the regular season 8-4 and second in the SEC West with a 5-3 conference record. The Tigers started the season 1-2 and than reeled off six-straight wins before closing the season with two losses in its last three games.

Gus Malzahn is 1-2 in bowl games with losses in the BCS Championship game in 2013 and the Outback Bowl in 2014, and a 31-10 win over Memphis in last year’s Birmingham Bowl.

The Sooners finished 10-2 and 9-0 in the Big 12. Oklahoma has won nine-straight games after September losses to Houston and Ohio State.

Auburn and Oklahoma have played just one time, with the Sooners winning the 1971 Sugar Bowl 40-22 in Pat Sullivan’s final college game.

"This will be an outstanding matchup for our team and a great bowl trip for the Auburn family," Auburn athletics director Jay Jacobs said. "I’m especially happy for our seniors, who will have a chance to play in a big-time game environment one more time as Auburn Tigers.

"Playing in the Sugar Bowl in 1983 was a highlight for me and our team, so I know from experience it’s a special experience. The hospitality is second to none in New Orleans, and I look forward to enjoying it with our loyal fans."

The 83rd Sugar Bowl will be played in the New Orleans Superdome on Jan. 2 at 7:30 p.m. CT on ESPN.