Auburn will take ‘ugly’ win over Nebraska

DALLAS – Even though only Auburn managed to beat two teams playing in the BCS, Tommy Tuberville never thought he had a great team this season.

Imagine how good the No. 10 Tigers might be if they can find some consistent big playmakers.

Auburn took advantage of Nebraska mistakes, got two short touchdowns from Carl Stewart on his only touches of the game and beat the No. 22 Cornhuskers 17-14 in the Cotton Bowl on Monday despite only 178 total yards.

“That was typical Auburn, win and win ugly,” Tuberville said. “That’s how this team has done it all year. They scrap and claw.”

Even without any superstars, Auburn (11-2) made its seventh straight bowl game – and third in a row in January. Its 33-5 record the past three seasons is bettered only by Southern California and Texas, the last two national champions.

John Vaughn’s 42-yard field goal midway through the third quarter accounted for the only points after halftime.

Nebraska (9-5), trying to return to national prominence under coach Bill Callahan, opened with a dominating 15-play, 80-yard drive capped by Zac Taylor’s 13-yard TD pass to Nate Swift. But the Cornhuskers couldn’t do much else right.

Nebraska turnovers gave Auburn short fields for its two first-half touchdowns.

Nebraska still had a chance with 5:24 left when Stewart Bradley sacked Brandon Cox, stripped the ball and recovered at the Auburn 42. But on fourth down, Taylor, under pressure, threw the ball out of bounds.