Auburn defense again stubborn

DALLAS -- In every big win this season, Auburn's defense has risen to the occasion and usually bailed out the Tigers' sputtering offense. At the same time, in Auburn's losses to Arkansas and Georgia, the Tigers' defense was pushed around and picked apart.

In Monday's Cotton Bowl, the Auburn defense looked weak early, but got better as the game went along and shut Nebraska out for the final 39 minutes of the Tigers' 17-14 win.

Nebraska coach Bill Callahan said the speed of Auburn's defense played a big part in shutting the Cornhuskers down. Size vs. speed was a popular subject in the media all week because some thought the game would boil down to whether Nebraska's size would negate Auburn's speed, or vice versa.

"That was the fastest defense we've seen this year," Callahan said.

It didn't look fast in the first half, when Nebraska was driving right through and around it. The Cornhuskers were a perfect 4-for-4 on third downs on their opening, 80-yard drive that put them in front 7-0.

Things looked a bit bleak for the Tigers at that point, but their performance on third down changed and that changed the outcome of the game. Nebraska was 0-for-8 the rest the game on third down, including an interception by Karibi Dede that set up Auburn's first touchdown.

"Once we settled down, we played well and we played hard," Auburn defensive coordinator Will Muschamp said. "That's what we have done all season."

Auburn only managed 178 yards of offense, but the defense, just like in the 7-3 win over LSU and the 27-17 win over Florida, both BCS teams, made plays at crucial times to give the Tigers a chance to win.

"We played good third-down defense in the second half and were able to get them off the field and our offense back on," Auburn head coach Tommy Tuberville said.

Nebraska slows Irons

All week long, Auburn running back Kenny Irons talked about how well he was going to play because he was finally healthy for the first time since the season opener against Washington State.

Irons said the Cornhuskers size and strength in their front seven on defense would be no match for his speed. Apparently, he was wrong.

The SEC's leading rusher in 2005, Irons was held to 72 yards on 24 carries in his final game, with a long of just 14 yards.

"I thought (our guys) pounded him pretty good today," Callahan said.

After the game, Irons said he had a headache and that "there were some big guys out there."

Wind a big factor

The strong wind blowing through the Cotton Bowl not only affected the ball, but also the decision-making process of the coaches.

No decision might have been more important than Callahan's decision to go for it on fourth-and-11 from the Auburn 30 with less than two minutes to play. Instead of trying for the tie with a long field goal, after getting the ball following a fumble by Auburn quarterback Brandon Cox, the Cornhuskers went for it and quarterback Zac Taylor's pass was well overthrown, giving the Tigers the ball back with 1:36 to play.

Callahan said kicker Jordan Congdon didn't have the leg to kick what would have been about a 45-yarder into the wind and that he had decided on a field goal cut-off point prior to the start of the game.

By the numbers

4 -- Wins in a row by SEC teams in the Cotton Bowl

7 -- Tackles by Auburn linebacker Will Herring, who was named the Defensive Most Valuable Player

11 -- Wins for Auburn this season, just the third time that's been done in program history

34 -- Times Auburn quarterback Brandon Cox was sacked this season, including five against Nebraska

41 -- Career wins for this year's senior class at Auburn, a school record

John C. Frierson can be reached at 740-5730 or john.frierson@timesdaily.com.