2021 Citrus Bowl

The 2021 Citrus Bowl was a college football bowl game played on January 1, 2021, with kickoff at 1:00 p.m. EST on ABC.^[4] It was the 75th edition of the Citrus Bowl, and was one of the 2020–21 bowl games concluding the 2020 FBS football season. Sponsored by Vrbo, a vacation rental marketplace owned by the HomeAway division of Expedia, the game was officially known as the Vrbo Citrus Bowl.

2021 Vrbo Citrus Bowl
75th Citrus Bowl
Auburn Tigers Northwestern Wildcats (6–4) (6–2) SEC Big Ten 19 35 Head coach:  Kevin Steele (interim) Head coach:  Pat Fitzgerald AP Coaches CFP 15 13 14
1 2 3 4 Total Auburn 0 6 7 6 19 Northwestern 14 0 7 14 35
Date	January 1, 2021
Season	2020
Stadium	Camping World Stadium
Location	Orlando, Florida
MVP	Peyton Ramsey (QB, Northwestern)[1]
Favorite	Northwestern by 3.5[2]
Referee	Jerry Magallanes (ACC)[3]
United States TV coverage
Network	ABC
Announcers	Dave Flemming (play-by-play) Rod Gilmore (analyst) Paul Carcaterra (sideline)
Citrus Bowl  < 2020  2022 >

Teams

The game featured the Auburn Tigers of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) and the Northwestern Wildcats of the Big Ten Conference. This was the second meeting between the two programs, and first since the 2010 Outback Bowl, won by Auburn, 38–35.^[5]

Auburn Tigers

Main article: 2020 Auburn Tigers football team

Auburn entered the game with a 6–4 record, unranked in the AP Poll. They finished in third place in the SEC's West Division. The Tigers faced four ranked teams during the season, losing to Georgia, Alabama, and Texas A&M while defeating Kentucky. Their only other loss was to South Carolina. Prior to the Citrus Bowl, Auburn fired head coach Gus Malzahn, who had led the program for eight seasons.^[6] Defensive coordinator Kevin Steele served as interim head coach for the Tigers.^[7]

Northwestern Wildcats

Main article: 2020 Northwestern Wildcats football team

Northwestern entered the game with a 6–2 record, ranked 15th in the AP Poll. The Wildcats won the Big Ten's West Division, but fell to Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship Game, 22–10. Their only other loss was to Michigan State. Northwestern faced two ranked opponents, losing to Ohio State and defeating Wisconsin. The Wildcats were led by head coach Pat Fitzgerald, in his 15th season with the program.^[8]

Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Auburn	0	6	7	6	19
No. 14 Northwestern	14	0	7	14	35

Game information

First quarter (11:32) NU – Ramaud Chiaokhiao-Bowman 35 yard pass from Peyton Ramsey, Charlie Kuhbander kick (Drive: 9 plays, 75 yards, 3:28; Northwestern 7–0) (3:14) NU – John Raine 6 yard pass from Peyton Ramsey, Charlie Kuhbander kick (Drive: 10 plays, 68 yards, 4:21; Northwestern 14–0) Second quarter (6:03) AUB – Anders Carlson 50 yard field goal (Drive: 8 plays, 20 yards, 2:36; Northwestern 14–3) (0:17) AUB – Anders Carlson 27 yard field goal (Drive: 15 plays, 72 yards, 3:45; Northwestern 14–6) Third quarter (8:32) AUB – Elijah Canion 57 yard pass from Bo Nix, Anders Carlson kick (Drive: 6 plays, 75 yards, 2:10; Northwestern 14–13) (1:34) NU – Peyton Ramsey 30 yard rush, Charlie Kuhbander kick (Drive: 9 plays, 87 yards, 2:10; Northwestern 21–13) Fourth quarter (12:13) NU – Cam Porter 1 yard rush, Charlie Kuhbander kick (Drive: 7 plays, 50 yards, 2:16; Northwestern 28–13) (7:49) NU – Riley Lees 8 yard pass from Peyton Ramsey, Charlie Kuhbander kick (Drive: 6 plays, 24 yards, 3:35; Northwestern 35–13) (4:41) AUB – D.J. Williams 2 yard rush, 2-point pass failed (Drive: 10 plays, 75 yards, 3:08; Northwestern 35–19)

2021 Vrbo Citrus Bowl

at Camping World Stadium • Orlando, Florida

• Date: Friday, January 1, 2021
• Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
• Game weather: Partly sunny • Temperature: 83 °F (28 °C) • Wind: S 15 mph
• Referee: Jerry Magallanes (ACC)
• TV announcers (ABC): Dave Flemming (play-by-play), Rod Gilmore (analyst), and Paul Carcaterra (sideline)
• ESPN game summary

Statistics

Statistics	AUB	NU
First downs	18	25
Plays–yards	69–361	86–457
Rushes–yards	26–61	51–166
Passing yards	300	291
Passing: comp–att–int	26–43–0	24–35–0
Time of possession	24:18	33:47

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Auburn	Passing	Bo Nix	25/42, 292 yards, 1 TD
	Rushing	Bo Nix	10 carries, 32 yards
	Receiving	Elijah Canion	3 receptions, 80 yards, 1 TD
Northwestern	Passing	Peyton Ramsey	24/35, 291 yards, 3 TD
	Rushing	Cam Porter	33 carries, 98 yards, 1 TD
	Receiving	John Raine	6 receptions, 76 yards, 1 TD

See also

• 2020 Cure Bowl, played at the same venue six days earlier
• 2020 Cheez-It Bowl, played at the same venue three days earlier

References

1. @insidenu (January 1, 2021). "Northwestern quarterback Peyton Ramsey is named the 2021 Vrbo Citrus Bowl MVP" (Tweet). Retrieved January 1, 2021 – via Twitter.
2. "College football bowl betting lines released". 247Sports. Retrieved December 20, 2020.
3. Austro, Ben (December 23, 2020). "2020-21 bowl officiating assignments". footballzebras.com. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
4. "College Football Bowl Schedule | 2020". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved June 21, 2020.
5. "Auburn Tigers vs. Northwestern Wildcats football series history". winsipedia.com. Retrieved December 20, 2020.
6. "Auburn announces football coaching change". Auburn University Athletics. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
7. "Auburn to play Northwestern in Vrbo Citrus Bowl". auburntigers.com. CBS Interactive. December 20, 2020. Retrieved December 20, 2020.
8. "Vrbo Citrus Bowl Bound - 'Cats Battle Auburn on New Year's Day". nusports.com. CBS Interactive. December 20, 2020. Retrieved December 20, 2020.

External links

• Game statistics at statbroadcast.com