Maryland football coasts to Music City Bowl victory over Auburn

Maryland football had a short-handed offense and started fast nevertheless against Auburn in Saturday's Music City Bowl at Nissan Stadium.

The Terrapins scored 21 first-quarter points and coasted to a 31-13 victory over the Tigers in front of an announced crowd of 50,088.

Maryland scored touchdowns on its first three drives and compiled 226 yards in the first quarter. Maryland quarterback Billy Edwards, getting the start for Taulia Tagovailoa, had a touchdown run and a touchdown pass to Preston Howard in the speedy start. Cameron Edge, normally the Terps' No. 3 quarterback, also threw a touchdown pass to Dylan Wade in the first quarter.

Auburn's offense struggled throughout the game. Starting quarterback Payton Thorne was 13-of-27 for 84 yards with a touchdown and an interception. The latter was a Maryland pick-six by Glendon Miller on a 44-yard interception return in the third quarter to shut down any thoughts of an Auburn comeback.

Lipscomb Academy's Hank Brown, a true freshman, made his collegiate debut and led an Auburn touchdown drive in the fourth quarter.

Recap the 2023 Music City Bowl below.

Music City Bowl score, live updates: Auburn vs. Maryland

Final: Maryland 31, Auburn 13

Mike Locksley and Maryland finish at 8-5. Year 1 for Hugh Freeze at Auburn ends at 6-7 with major questions on offense and specifically with the quarterback position.

Saturday's attendance was announced as 50,088.

Maryland 31, Auburn 13, 6:59 left in fourth quarter: Lipscomb Academy's Hank Brown stakes claim to Auburn's QB job in 2024

Hank Brown, a freshman from Lipscomb Academy, is the third Auburn QB to try to move the ball, and he does successfully. He completes a 12-yard pass to Camden Brown before hitting Caleb Burton on a deep shot for 53 yards. Jeremiah Cobb caps the drive with a 1-yard TD run.

Two-point conversion attempt is no good. Auburn's subsequent onside kick is recovered by Maryland.

That was Brown's first action this season. The true freshman was a 3-star recruit out of Lipscomb Academy who led the Mustangs to the 2022 Division II-AA TSSAA state championship last December.

Maryland 31, Auburn 7, 11:05 left in third quarter: Payton Thorne throws pick-6

We said earlier that Auburn's offense is not built to come from behind. It may not be built to throw the forward pass, either. Payton Thorne throws a really bad ball right to Maryland's Glendon Miller, who returns the interception 44 yards for a TD. Bad throw, bad decision, bad offense by Thorne and Auburn.

PAT good. Maryland leads by 24.

Thorne is 9-of-21 for 62 yards and a touchdown with the interception. He also has six carries for minus-1 yard.

Halftime: Maryland 24, Auburn 7

Billy Edwards returns as QB for Maryland in the two-minute offense, and the Terps add a field goal before halftime.

Edwards began the drive with a 26-yard completion to Jeshaun Jones and converted a 4th down with his legs. After a badly missed facemask by a Maryland offensive lineman on third down, Maryland kicker Jack Howes hits a 49-yard field goal.

That missed facemask may loom large if Auburn can comeback. For now, the Terrapins lead by 17 at halftime.

Maryland 21, Auburn 7, 2:34 left in second quarter: Auburn gets on the board

Auburn goes on a 14-play, 80-yard drive, with Payton Thorne finding Rivaldo Fairweather four times for 41 yards on the drive.

Thorne completed the drive with a 3-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Frazier to get the Tigers on the board.

Maryland gets another shot before halftime, but Auburn has cut into the lead.

A Maryland punt!

Maryland drives into field goal range, but Cameron Edge is sacked and loses a lot of yardage. Maryland will punt for the first time today.

Auburn's offense is not built to come from 21 points down, but what offenses are? The Tigers have plenty of time but need to get going as soon as possible.

Maryland is outgaining Auburn 231-55 with 7:30 left in the first half.

Maryland 21, Auburn 0, 3:24 left in first quarter: Maryland is 3-for-3 on drives in first quarter

Cameron Edge rotates in at quarterback for Maryland, and his first pass is a deep shot to Kaden Prather for 57 yards. On the next play, Edge finds Dylan Wade for a 3-yard TD pass. PAT good.

Auburn overran Purdue five years ago in its last appearance at the Music City Bowl. This might be a reversal. Maryland has scored touchdowns in all three drives so far today.

Maryland 14, Auburn 0, 5:58 left in first quarter: Billy Edwards doing it all for the Terps

Billy Edwards has 35 rushing yards and a touchdown and now a passing touchdown after a 5-yard strike to Preston Howard on 3rd and goal.

PAT good. Maryland's offense has not missed a beat.

That scoring drive came after an Auburn 3-and-out. Maryland has been the aggressor to start the Music City Bowl.

Maryland 7, Auburn 0, 13:34 left in first quarter: Terps strike quickly on opening drive

Maryland's Roman Hembry takes a short pass 61 yards to set up 1st and goal on the Terps' first drive. Maryland QB Billy Edwards Jr. sprints into the end zone for a 2-yard TD run. PAT good.

Good start for Maryland's offense without its star QB.

Pregame: Cold day in Nissan Stadium

Temperatures in Nashville will struggle to surpass 40 degrees on Saturday, so it's football bowl game weather for Auburn vs. Maryland.

Can the Terps offense continue to play well without QB Taulia Tagovailoa? Is Payton Thorne able to throw the ball well enough to produce a balanced offense for Auburn?

Kickoff is upcoming.

What channel is Auburn vs. Maryland in the Music City Bowl on today?

• TV channel: ABC

Auburn football vs. Maryland start time

• Date: Dec. 30

• Kickoff: 1 p.m. CT

• Venue: Nissan Stadium, Nashville, Tennessee

• Reach Mike Organ at 615-259-8021 or on X @MikeOrganWriter.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Auburn live score updates vs. Maryland in Music City Bowl