What would a Birmingham Bowl win really mean for Auburn football?

A victory in an exhibition game disconnected from the regular season isn't a guarantee for future success. But the Tigers could really use it.

(Todd Van Emst/Auburn Athletics)

One of the most spot-on points about Auburn football in the Birmingham Bowl came from the head coach of its opponent.

On Monday, Houston’s Dana Holgorsen was asked about the possibility that Auburn would play freshman quarterback Dematrius Davis — a high school standout from the Cougars’ own backyard — and whether the team was ready for that.

“Bowl games are like first games,” Holgorsen replied. “You kinda gotta prepare for just about anything.”

The answer was about Auburn potentially using a young dual-threat weapon for the first time in an exhibition game, but it extends to the game as a whole.

Tuesday in Birmingham will feel like a first game. While Auburn’s 0-4 finish to the 2021 season means that the bowl game won’t actually happen in 2022, the matchup might as well have that year slapped on the end of it.

Several of the biggest multi-year stars from the end of the Gus Malzahn era won’t be out there for the Tigers. Roger McCreary, Zakoby McClain and Bro…