Thanks to Hilary (a.k.a. HMLEE) at the SB Nation blog, The Rivalry, Esq., this year's Outback Bowl will take on more meaning for me. As the Northwestern writer for the Big Ten site, she laid down a challenge this weekend that's hard to pass up. Hilary suggested a friendly wager on the game that involves one of my very favorite things - food.

The bet is simple. The winner receives a catered meal (by mail) from a famous local establishment chosen by the loser.  The dish is to be something regional in flavor and well known among Auburn and Northwestern fans. To say I'm excited is an understatement.

So what do I offer up?  That's been the million dollar question this weekend. The first major hurdle is finding an appropriate dish. After that, it's finding an establishment that's set-up to ship overnight.  That narrows things quite a bit.  Fortunately, I've come up with the perfect solution.

Should Northwestern upset our Tigers, I'm prepared to overnight to Hilary some of Alabama's best barbeque from my favorite place, Dreamland.  Now I know it started in Tuscaloosa, but it has locations all over the state, so I really don't think of it as affiliated any longer with that school up the street.

Here's what she'll receive: 1 slab of ribs, 1 lb. of pork, 1 lb. of hickory smoked sausage, 1 quart of their legendary sauce and 1 bottle of dressing. Also included are wet naps, bibs and a loaf of Sunbeam bread.  To finish it off, I'll throw in a gallon of the finest lemonade in the world from Auburn's very own Toomer's Drug Store.

Does that sound good or what?

What's in it for me?  Can you say world famous Chicago hot dogs?  Hilary has come up with the perfect meal - hot dogs from Portillo's. Here's what I'll be receiving should Chris Todd get it done through the air and Ben Tate on the ground: 10 of Portillo's beef hot dogs with all the fixings. It includes everything you need to create an authentic Portillo's style hot dog including, 10 hot dogs in a cryovac pouch, 10 poppy seed buns, mustard, relish, 1 fresh onion, 2 red ripe tomatoes, 2 whole kosher pickles, sport peppers & Portillo's hot dog seasoning. 

I can hardly wait.

After talking with Hilary Saturday night, she seems fairly confident in her Wildcat's chances and even talked a little smack.  "I like Northwestern's chances in this matchup," says the NU law student. "Oh sure I was surprised when they jumped Wisconsin for the Outback, but, unlike some of my esteemed colleagues, I don't think that's nearly as much of a problem as they do.

"Had Northwestern not jumped Wisconsin and instead found themselves in the Champs Sports Bowl they would be looking to a matchup vs. Miami right now. That potential matchup scares me much more than the current one. Sorry Auburn fans, but unlike Miami, you just don't have any wins on your roster that make me quake in my boots. Miami does. Further, Northwestern and Auburn are both spread offenses, so I feel confident that Coach Fitz can get the team prepared to face the Tigers.

"Finally, it should be noted that I also write on Wisconsin and given what Northwestern did to Wisconsin's normally solid defense, I have no desire to see the Badgers up against Auburn. Maybe Miami isn't any better, but I still like their chances more. For all these reasons, Northwestern is going to trounce Auburn in the Outback bowl and I will be ringing in this new year with my very own box of Alabama treats."

You have to give Hilary credit. While somewhat delusional in her love for Northwestern, she's certainly confident. I have a feeling that Antonio Coleman, Darvin Adams, Todd and Tate will hit a little harder and run a little faster than that weak, showboating school in Miami.

Do you smell hotdogs?

Here's a video that has been floating around the internet for the past day or so.  It shows a house in Merrimac Ridge, Texas that's decked out for Christmas and also shows its love for Auburn.  Pretty cool stuff...

2009 Lights On Merrimac Ridge Animated Lights from Merrimac Ridge on Vimeo.

More photos » by Butch Dill - AP

Browse more photos »

A year ago this past weekend a stunned Auburn family got the news. Former Auburn defensive coordinator Gene Chizik was coming home. This was the same Chizik who bolted from Auburn following the 2004 Perfect Season because Texas offered a better chance at becoming a head coach. This was the same guy who won five games in two years as coach at Iowa State. The Auburn Nation was angry and bewildered.

A year later things are much different.  Chizik has largely won over the Auburn faithful with his recruiting efforts and a surprising seven win season that will culminate in a New Year's Day bowl. Just about everyone will tell you things are moving in the right direction. So far, you'd be hard pressed to find fault with this new coaching staff.

As good as things look today, there are stiff challenges ahead. Unlike Tommy Tuberville, this coaching staff must deal with a cross-state rival that's arguably at an all-time high. In an age of internet and 24 hour sports, Alabama football is on everywhere you turn.

Whether it's Mark Ingram and his Heisman or the talking heads all but guaranteeing an Alabama victory in the national championship game, the Tuscaloosa program is getting positive press from coast-to-coast. Ultimately it will be up to Chizik to answer the challenge.

It's a task that would push the limits of even Lombardi and Bryant. Chizik is taking on a program and a coach that's laid down the gauntlet not only to Auburn, but the rest of the conference. Like him or not, Nick Saban lives football 24 hours a day and demands the same of his staff. You likely wouldn't want to work for him or be his friend, but as far as coaching goes, there are few who are better.

What must Auburn do to answer the challenge?

Most importantly, it has to recruit. Chizik's staff is made for it. If a few chips fall its way, Auburn will end up with a top five class in February. Tuberville liked to say he could take his three-star athletes and beat your five-stars. In these times that's too much of a risk. Auburn must answer power with power.

Chizik will also need to retain his staff.  An eight or nine win season next year means the likes of Gus Malzahn and Trooper Taylor will be in high demand. Auburn hasn't been shy about paying its assistants. That philosophy has to continue. Continuity is key in the early years of a program.

Defensive coordinator Ted Roof must build a defense that can handle being on the field for long periods of time. In Malzahn's book, The Hurry Up, No Huddle: An Offensive Philosophy, he explains that teams must be prepared for a drop-off in defensive stats. When the offense is not clicking, the defense is under more stress than Tiger Woods. Malzahn all but guarantees a team's defense will suffer with his offense. Recruiting should help in this area.

Auburn must continue to upgrade its facilities. After Friday's story, many of you disagreed with my recommendation to increase seating at Jordan-Hare Stadium. All of you had valid points. The key thing about expanding is the addition of luxury boxes. Talk to school officials and they'll tell you that's where you make money. Currently, Auburn has hundreds on the waiting list to purchase these suites. Adding two additional levels of sky boxes along with a few thousand additional seats will bring in millions for the team. That money can then be used to enhance other parts of the football program.  

Most importantly, Auburn people must stand together. We all must be patient while Chizik builds this program. The Auburn experience is unlike any other. Most alumni love their schools, but Auburn people take it to another level. The divisions that existing during the Tuberville years must remain locked away. Bobby Lowder leaving the board of trustees in early 2011 will do wonders for morale.

Finally, Auburn must operate on its own timeline. Everyone's aware of what's happening in Tuscaloosa, Baton Rouge and Gainesville. It alright to be cognizant of the challenge, just don't let it affect the overall plan. Regardless of what happens elsewhere, you have to like Auburn's chances of returning to the BCS in the coming years.

The Tigers have come along way in a year. There's much work to do, but the future is bright.

More photos » by Todd J. Van Emst - AP

Browse more photos »

It was good to see former Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville's name mentioned in connection with the Notre Dame job. On Wednesday the South Bend Tribune reported that his name had come up in discussions. Nobody really expected Tuberville to get the job, but being considered should help him with other programs...

If the non-conference results are any indication, Auburn basketball is in for a struggle this year. Phillip Marshall of Auburn Undercover noted yesterday that only three Auburn coaches have ever had back-to-back winning conference records since 1963. With the new arena set to open next season, Auburn officials will have a tough decision to make on Jeff Lebo should things go south this year. To complicate matters, it appears that Auburn and North Carolina have reached an agreement for the two schools to meet in the first game at the new arena. Lebo was the driving force in making it happen...

As War Eagle Atlanta noted on Wednesday, the Tennessee football program is in big trouble for allowing recruiting hostesses to drive as much as four hours to watch high school games that Volunteer recruits were playing in.  Auburn recruit Marcus Lattimore, the talented five-star running back from Duncan, South Carolina got some ink in a New York Times story on the subject. When asked whether these girls being at his games had an influence he said, "You don't want to go to a college where they ain't pretty." No argument here...

What recession? Auburn officials promised the Outback Bowl they would bring the fans and on Thursday they delivered. In less than four days, Auburn sold its allotment of bowl tickets and have requested more. With tickets going for $70 each plus hotel, gas and food, it's apparent that Auburn people are coping just fine with this economic downturn...

This season was a frustrating one for former Auburn Heisman Trophy winner and current Samford coach Pat Sullivan. The Bulldogs struggled to a 5-6 record...

The move by Tennessee running backs coach Eddie Gran to Florida State is an interesting one. The former Auburn assistant spent one year in Knoxville before bolting to join Jimbo Fisher's staff in Tallahassee. The question is, what made him leave Lane Kiffin's after only a year? Was it the pending NCAA investigation or having to endure the immaturity of Kiffin and his unusual staff? We'll probably never know...

What's the over/under on how many years Mark Richt has left at Georgia? Next season is his best shot at getting off the hot seat. With Urban Meyer rebuilding at Florida and Kiffin struggling internally, but still recruiting strongly, Richt needs to beat both schools in 2010 or he's likely out sooner than later...

Auburn officials need to begin making serious plans for increasing the capacity of Jordan-Hare Stadium. It's been 22 years since any sizable addition. Enclosing the north end-zone and adding skyboxes is a necessity if Auburn is going to keep up with the other top programs in the SEC...

Not since Bo Jackson edged Iowa's Chuck Long for the Heisman Trophy in 1985 has a race come down to the wire like this year's award. It's still unclear who'll join sports most exclusive fraternity tomorrow night in New York. It will likely come down to how many voters held their ballots until after the conference championship games last weekend. If the majority of votes were cast prior to last Saturday, look for Texas quarterback Colt McCoy to take the prize. If voters waited until Sunday, you have to give the edge to Alabama's Mark Ingram. The wild card in all of this is Stanford's Toby Gerhart. There seemed to be a groundswell of support for him in the final weeks of the season. Being the only viable candidate west of Texas, it will be interesting to see how he figures into the balloting...

Have a great weekend and don't forget the last regular season football game tomorrow with Army taking on Navy. These days it rarely means anything to the college football standings, but it still means a lot to the country.  War Eagle!

More photos » by Stephen J. Carrera - AP

Browse more photos »

There's a first for everything. Earlier today, I decided to sit down and write this week's story. I talked about Auburn facing Wisconsin for the second time in seven seasons and discussed its star running back, John Clay. I even broke down Wisconsin's conference wins and losses.

As I finished the story, I logged on to see if the bowl pairings were official. Unfortunately for me, they were. In a surprise to everyone, Auburn will be facing Northwestern instead of the Badgers in the Outback Bowl on New Year's Day. Apparently the Wildcats win over Wisconsin combined with its three-game winning streak to finish the season was enough to give them the edge.

It sounds like Auburn fans played a part in grabbing the Outback Bowl invitation. "When we heard of the Auburn fans chanting at the end of Friday's game, 'It's great to be an Auburn Tiger' we knew there was something special about the excitement around this football team," said Outback chairman Jim McVay.

"The Tigers have everything we're looking for in a New Year's Day team - they are a tough, exciting team, extremely well coached and have what might be the best fans in college football."

For the first time in years, the Tampa bowl has selected an SEC West team instead of one from the East. McVay said it was time to mix things up. "We typically take teams from the East," McVay said. "But we've had a lot of East teams and the Cotton Bowl has had a lot of West teams, and we felt like it as time to mix that up a little bit. This was a perfect opportunity. Everything about Auburn says big-time, tradition-rich and success."

Auburn coach Gene Chizik couldn't be happier. "We are so jacked up about this," he said. "We can't stand it we're so excited." I think all Auburn fans will agree that it's nice to be playing someone from the Big 10 other than Wisconsin for a change.

Northwestern enters the game 8-4 overall and 5-3 in conference play. They have conference wins over Purdue (27-21), Indiana (29-28), Iowa (17-10), Illinois (21-16) and Wisconsin (33-31). Their conference losses include, Minnesota (35-24), Michigan State (24-14) and Penn State (34-14).

Heisman Trophy ballots are due Monday and who the winner will be is anyone's guess. It's expected to come down to Alabama running back Mark Ingram and Texas quarterback Colt McCoy. Even though he wears a crimson uniform, you have to give credit to Ingram for putting himself back into the race. A week ago I would have bet he was done. Saturday's performance against Florida was comparable to Tim Tebow's game against Alabama last season. Like it or not, he made a strong statement.

The problem I have with the Heisman is that it now stretches through the conference championship games. That's highly unfair to players like Stanford's Toby Gerhart whose team was not in action. With Ingram and McCoy playing Saturday, they are a lock for a 1-2 finish in the balloting. I guess one could argue the reason those teams are playing are because of their star players. I still don't like it.

What does your Heisman Trophy ballot look like? Here's how I would vote the top five:

1. Mark Ingram (Alabama) 1542 rushing yards, 15 touchdowns
2. Toby Gerhart (Stanford) 1736 rushing yards, 26 touchdowns
3. Colt McCoy (Texas) 3512 passing yards, 27 touchdowns
4. C.J. Spiller (Clemson) 1145 rushing yards, 11 touchdowns
5. Tim Tebow (Florida) 2413 passing yards, 18 touchdowns

As tough as it is to vote for an Alabama player, it's hard to justify voting against Ingram. Without his play, there's no way Alabama faces Texas for the national championship. While his yards are less than Gerhart's, you have to remember that his level of competition is much tougher. His play in the Wildcat formation is second only to Ronnie Brown with the Dolphins.

Who are your top five?

Teak and JB discuss the disappointing loss to the Bammers.  They break down the good and bad in the loss and look to the future of the program.  They discuss the surprising inclusion of Auburn in the Outback Bowl vs an as yet unnamed Big Ten opponent.

The guys then pick this weeks games:

SEC championship Fla-Bama, Big 12 championship Texas-Neb, and Cinci @ Pitt

More photos » by Butch Dill - AP

Browse more photos »

Apparently last May's Big Cat Weekend was a bigger violation than originally thought. Auburn officials revealed last night that working alongside the SEC office, the school self-imposed recruiting restrictions on its coaches for much of the fall as a result of a secondary NCAA violation.

Auburn was required to halt contact with at least six recruits for much of the fall as part of its punishment. Wide receivers coach Trooper Taylor was banned from off-campus recruiting through the end of November. The rule violation centers around Auburn holding a staged pep rally at Toomer's Corner as part of the weekend's festivities. Taylor played a key role in the planning and staging of the event.

Auburn turned itself in to the conference and offered a reduction of eight official recruiting visits and a letter of reprimand for Taylor. Commissioner Mike Slive felt the measures didn't go far enough and imposed more.

According to Evan Woodbery of the Mobile Press Register, the commissioner, "barred Auburn from contacting six recruits who were present at Toomer's Corner for six weeks, through Sept. 15. Further, a member of Auburn's coaching staff was required to call each of the six recruits -- Jessel Curry, Khairi Fortt, Marcus Lattimore, Eric Mack, Trovon Reed and Lache Seastrunk -- and read a specific, six-sentence statement that said the prospects should "disregard the Toomer's Corner activities when deciding upon the University you will eventually attend.

"Slive also said that Auburn should bar Taylor, one of the team's top recruiters, from any off-campus recruiting until Nov. 30, and that all six of the staff members present at Toomer's Corner should receive a reprimand. Those six coaches are Taylor, offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn, running backs coach Curtis Luper, special teams coordinator/tight ends coach Jay Boulware, offensive line coach Jeff Grimes and safeties coach Tommy Thigpen."

Auburn coach Gene Chizik eventually made the calls to the recruits to read the statement. Auburn issued a statement from Chizik Thursday night that read...

"We unintentionally committed a secondary violation and have cooperated fully with the Southeastern Conference and NCAA, and are moving forward. We're pleased about the foundation that we are setting for this program and are excited for our upcoming bowl game. We will continue to work hard on the recruiting trail to recruit top-notch student-athletes that best fit our needs at Auburn."

Numerous media sources are reporting this morning that Auburn freshman reserve quarterback Tyrik Rollison has been suspended from the team for an unspecified rule violation. Rollison, who's taking a redshirt this season, was expected to compete with Neil Caudle for the starting job next year. There's no word on how long the suspension is for or whether he'll participate in any bowl activities over the next month. At least short term, this is a huge blow to Auburn's 2010 plans.

"We have high standards that we have set and fully expect our team to meet," Auburn coach Gene Chizik said. "When these expectations are not met, I will make decisions based upon what is best for the entire football team and the Auburn Family."

Tommy Tuberville would like to do more than appear in movies.

A year ago yesterday the unthinkable and yet inevitable happened at Auburn. Tommy Tuberville was relieved of his duties as head football coach. Almost immediately following the firing, Tuberville vowed to get back in the game. His plan has always been to take the 2009 season off and jump right back into a big time coaching gig. The question now is whether there are any out there for the taking.

Talking to Fox's Chris Meyer the day before the Georgia game, Tuberville said he spent a good part of the season visiting programs around the country studying coaching philosophies. He reiterated his pledge to coach again in 2010. With the college hiring season in full swing, Tuberville is finding the job market much like the rest of American job seekers - scarce.  

The few high profile openings are at Notre Dame, Virginia, Louisville and Kansas. There's not likely to be many more in the coming weeks. Of the four openings, Tuberville's name is most associated with Louisville and Virginia. Even at those two schools, he's one of many vying for the post. The former Tiger coach is learning that being gone even a year tends to push your name to the back of the pack of candidates.

Tuberville now finds himself in competition with coordinators from successful programs like Florida's Charlie Strong. There's also competition from coaches at smaller programs trying to make the big time like Richmond's Mike London and Al Golden at Temple.

Then there are the other former coaches like Phil Fulmer, Dennis Franchione, Gary Barnett and Glen Mason. All want back into the limelight. For the first time in recent memory there will be no openings in the SEC at year's end. South Carolina's Steve Spurrier appears to be safe and Kentucky's Rich Brooks looks to be headed back for another year in Lexington. Should he leave, coach-in-waiting Joker Phillips is poised to step in for the Wildcats.

Tuberville likely would be at the top of the list at schools like Clemson, Texas A&M and Central Florida. Unfortunately for him, all three programs turned their fortunes around mid-year and no changes are expected.

A hot rumor on the Georgia message boards earlier this week was that Mark Richt was going to make a strong push for Tuberville to be his new defensive coordinator following the firing of Willie Martinez on Wednesday. Don't bet on it dog breath. The days of Tuberville working for another coach are gone forever. Besides, Richt will likely find himself in the same position within the next two seasons.

It looks like two former Auburn head coaches will share the same zip code for another year. Maybe Tuberville and Pat Dye should do a daily sports radio show. Now that would be entertainment. Of course, you'd have to put them in separate rooms to keep the peace. Dye could talk about why the wishbone will still work in the 21^st century and Tuberville can convince listeners that his version of the spread offense is better than Gus Malzahn's.

It would sure beat Paul Finebaum and Jay Barker.