It was a game that the Gods wanted to give to the Northwestern Wildcats.
But in a four-hour overtime extravaganza the included nine turnovers and two remarkable comebacks from the Bowl-titleless Wildcats, neither the Gods or Auburn fell for a fake field goal as the Tigers held on to win 38-35.
And so, like the Cubs, fans were left to say wait until next year. Perhaps after 62 years Northwestern will get its first Bowl win.
Auburn scored a 21-yard field goal on its first overtime possession. Twice, it looked like Northwestern lost the game during its drive but a penalty and a referee overruling kept hope alive for the Cats until coming two yards short of a touchdown on the fake field goal.
Mike Kafka was an air force at the Outback Bowl, going a school record 47 of 78 for 532 yards, four touchdowns and five interceptions. He drove the team down the field for a touchdown and a two-point conversation to tie the game at 35 in regulation.
Walter McFadden returned one of Kafka's interceptions for a 100-yard touchdown. Ben Tate at two touchdowns for Auburn and ran for 108 yards.
The two teams had more than 1,000 offensive yards combined.
Kicker Stefan Demos, who left the game injured after a roughing the kicker penalty, missed two field goals, including a 44-yard kick with 3 seconds left in regulation that would have given Northwestern its first bowl win since 1949.
