Going out with a clang: Auburn loses to Wisconsin on missed FG in OT

TAMPA – Almost everything Auburn felt for nearly two months has been disappointment.

The Tigers will continue feeling that way about the last third of this season after yet another heartbreaking defeat.

Daniel Carlson's 45-yard field goal attempt to tie the game hit the right upright and was no good, giving No. 18 Wisconsin a 34-31 overtime win over No. 19 Auburn in the Outback Bowl.

"I thought it was good," said running back Cameron Artis-Payne, who ran for 126 yards and two touchdowns. "When it hit the post, I was speechless. I didn't know what to say after."

Auburn coach Gus Malzahn was supportive of Carlson, who made a career-long 51-yard field goal on his first kick of the game, the redshirt-freshman's first attempt from beyond 50 yards, and also missed a 44-yard attempt. Carlson, who was 18-for-24 on field goals this season, was not available for interviews.

"I told him to keep his head up," Malzahn said. "He's a great kicker. He'll have his day. He'll win games for us in the future. He's down right now, just patted him on the back. It's tough being a kicker but he's a great kicker, he's had an outstanding year and done some great things for us."

Auburn (8-5) took a 31-28 lead with 2:55 to go on Artis-Payne's second touchdown, but Wisconsin rallied 64 yards on 13 plays in 2:48 to tie the game on a 29-yard field goal by Rafael Gaglianone with 0:07 left.

Wisconsin (11-3) converted a fourth-and-five from Auburn's 33-yard line to extend the game-tying drive.

"We have them kind of backed up and they drove the ball down the field," Malzahn said. "The fourth down-and-10 play was a big play for them to convert on their part. That was the game right there but they got it done."

Nick Marshall (15-for-22 for 217 yards with two touchdowns) finished his career with another strong outing with a pair of crisp scoring passes to Ricardo Louis (66 yards) and C.J. Uzomah (20 yards).

But Marshall, Artis-Payne and 435 yards of offense were not enough as the defense was inept against the run and committed several undisciplined penalties in Auburn's fourth straight loss to FBS teams.

Melvin Gordon led the Badgers to their first bowl victory in five years behind a game-record 251 yards and three touchdowns. It was the most rushing yards ever by against Auburn, topping the mark of 241 yards by Arkansas' Fred Talley in 2002.

The Heisman finalist and nation's leading rusher, who was named game MVP, finished the season with 2,587 yards rushing.