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Auburn again had to look to its senior quarterback for a spark.
Wisconsin held the SEC’s top rushing attack to a modest 46 yards in the first half, requiring Nick Marshall to ignite the Tigers in a game the Badgers controlled early.
Marshall amassed 131 total yards in the first half, most of that coming through the air. He had another brilliant game passing, following his record-setting performance against Alabama with another respectable outing. The senior finished 15-of-22 for 217 yards and two touchdowns.
The numbers aren’t as eye-popping, but if you watched the game, the throws were just as impressive. Marshall got things going for Auburn with a 66-yard bomb to Ricardo Louis, who didn’t have to break stride to catch the football and stroll into the endzone to give the Tigers a 14-7 lead.
Marshall was dealt a hand with which he’s become all too familiar. Though it took time for Cameron Artis-Payne to crack the Wisconsin defense — the senior tailback finished with 126 yards and two touchdowns — Marshall got the offense humming with dart after dart to his receivers, which didn’t include leading receiver Duke Williams and a hampered Sammie Coates.
The Tigers’ offensive leader also overcame another abysmal defensive effort, being left to outscore the Badgers. Marshall responded all game, matching Wisconsin star Melvin Gordon score for score. That magic, which seemingly had worked the past two seasons, ran out in overtime. The offense stalled on its lone drive due to questionable play-calling from Malzahn and offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee.
Despite the loss, Marshall further solidified his place among the great Auburn quarterbacks. Following a 2013 season comprised of his lethal running ability and mother-of-all-lucky passes, Marshall proved himself a more-than-capable quarterback this season. The senior was more balanced and turned heads as a passer this season, highlighted by his 456 yards in the Iron Bowl.
Marshall threw for more yards, more touchdowns, less interceptions and had a higher completion percentage this season. Though expected replacement Jeremy Johnson is a better passer mechanically, Marshall possessed an athleticism and ability to change games with big plays not seen since Cam Newton.
Marshall has an NFL career ahead of him, but Thursday’s Outback Bowl was likely his last game as a quarterback. He made it count, vaulting himself into the conversation of top Auburn signal-callers along the way.
He welcomed the spotlight and played his best in the biggest games.
His Outback Bowl performance is just another piece of evidence.
After living in Birmingham, Ala., Jordan left the ground zero of SEC Nation to head south to Florida to tell the unique stories of the renowned tradition of SEC football. In his free time, his mission is to find the best locales around.
