Outback Bowl Score Goes for Auburn on Third Try in OT

The Outback Bowl score was back and forth all game long - even when it ended. The Outback Bowl score favored Auburn over Northwestern most of the way, but they couldn't finish them off. The Tigers blew several two touchdown leads, almost fumbled away the game in regulation, then had a victory overturned twice in overtime. But it took a failed fake field goal for the Outback Bowl score to go for Auburn, 38-35 in OT.

Every New Years Day, the Outback Bowl is the first college football game of the calendar year. In 2010, the game was easily the most overlooked on today's schedule, at least starting out. After all, today featured Bobby Bowden's last game, Joe Paterno in the Capital One Bowl, the Rose Bowl, and a slew of goodbyes in the Sugar Bowl.

But as has often been the case this year, the most overlooked game of the day may turn out to be the best one. At the least, the 2010 Outback Bowl set the bar high for madness and mayhem on New Years Day.

Auburn got the score started early, highlighted by a 100 yard interception return for a touchdown by Walter McFadden. In this game, the Tigers had leads of 14-0, 21-7, and 35-31. But Northwestern came back every time, with quarterback Mike Kafka at the center of it all.

The Outback Bowl score was altered by Kafka in various ways. He threw for 533 yards and four touchdowns, and rushed for one more. Yet he also threw five interceptions, leading to a lot of Auburn points. But Northwestern kicker Stefan Demos also played a part, when a late fourth quarter PAT was blocked. So the Wildcats then needed a touchdown and two points to tie the score at 35 - after the Tigers had a face mask penalty on fourth down.

Auburn then almost blew it in regulation, as Ben Tate fumbled the ball with over a minute left. However, the Wildcats sent the Outback Bowl to overtime anyway, when Demos missed a long field goal. But the insanity truly began in overtime, after Auburn got a field goal.

First, the Tigers forced a fumble from Kafka to get the win - but Kafka was ruled down. Then, Demos tried another long field goal and missed, giving Auburn the win again - but a roughing the kicker penalty was called. Demos was injured on the play, so Northwestern needed to get a touchdown, but they failed.

Instead of trying another kick, a fake field goal was called. However, the run fell two yards short, and Auburn got the Outback Bowl win for the third and final time. It was the craziest finish of the bowl season, save for the Humanitarian Bowl.

Auburn finished an 8-5 year that revived the program, under first year coach Gene Chizik. His debut year couldn't have ended with more anxiety, after a near miss upset of Alabama and today's madness. But despite blowing so many leads, and so many chances in overtime, they prevented Northwestern from their first bowl win in 60 years.

The Outback Bowl score was the first one of 2010, and may be the most memorable for a while. The bar has been set for the Gator, Capital One, Rose and Sugar Bowls today - and for the remaining BCS games in the next week. It is often the most unlikely bowls that are the most thrilling, while the major ones are more disappointing. Hopefully, that isn't the case for the rest of the day.

Sources

The Birmingham News- "It's a final: Auburn wins wild one in overtime"

Chicago Tribune- "Northwestern falls short in Outback Bowl, 38-35"

Yahoo Sports- "Northwestern Wildcats/Auburn Tigers Box Score"