Sugar Bowl 2017 live stream: How to watch Auburn vs. Oklahoma online

It wasn’t always expected that these two teams would meet in the Sugar Bowl as the season progressed. Auburn’s season got off to a 1-3 start, and head coach Gus Malzahn was once again on the hot seat. However, from there, the Tigers got back on the right track, winning their next six straight games, including victories over No. 18 LSU and No. 17 Arkansas. The win over the Razorbacks was a 56-3 rout — it marked biggest victory against a ranked opponent in Auburn school history, and the 563 rushing yards was the most allowed by a Razorback defense in school history. However, a 13-7 loss to Georgia, as well as getting beaten 30-12 in the Iron Bowl, brought their record to 8-4 on the season.

Oklahoma, on the other hand, went into the season as the Big 12’s best shot to make it into the College Football Playoff, which they attended last year. But losses to both Houston and Ohio State during the first three weeks of the season made that hope look a little dimmer. The Sooners would go on to win their next nine games to win the Big 12 title, but a two-loss conference champ that didn’t play in a conference title game wasn’t good enough for the committee to give them a spot.

TV: 8:50 p.m. ET, ESPN2, then shifting to ESPN after the Rose Bowl. The announcers are Brent Musburger, Jesse Palmer and Kaylee Hartung.

Radio: Oklahoma and Auburn

Online streaming: You can watch this game through WatchESPN.

Spread: OU is currently a 5.5-point favorite.

Make friends: SB Nation’s Crimson and Cream Machine covers Oklahoma, and College And Magnolia covers Auburn.

1. Auburn QB Sean White should be healthy. The junior missed the final two games of the season due to a shoulder injury he suffered in late October. Malzahn said that White participated fully in Auburn’s first bowl practice, and that he “didn’t miss a beat.” White threw for over 1,600 yards and nine interceptions this season. When healthy, White is a valuable component to the Tiger offense.

2. Can Auburn’s secondary stop Baker Mayfield? The OU quarterback has been outstanding all year, having thrown for over 3,600 yards, along with a whopping 38 touchdowns with just eight interceptions on the season. Auburn’s secondary has held up pretty well this season, allowing around 113 yards in the air per game.

3. Gus Malzahn is 1-3 in bowl games. Malzahn has just a single bowl win in his career at Auburn, and it came last season with a Birmingham Bowl victory over Memphis. His two losses came in the 2013 BCS Title Game against Florida State, and then in the Outback Bowl to Wisconsin after the 2015 season.