Auburn will not be facing Taulia Tagovailoa, the Big Ten’s all-time passing yards leader, when it faces Maryland in the Music City Bowl on Dec. 30.

Maryland head coach Mike Locksley announced Tagovailoa would opt out of the game during a press conference Tuesday. Tagovailoa is expected to enter the 2024 NFL Draft.

Maryland had a top 20 passing offense in the country under Tagovailoa and the best in the Big Ten by passing yards per game.

Without him, Locksley will get his first look at life for Maryland after Tagovailoa as he uses both redshirt sophomore Bill Edwards and redshirt freshman Cam Edge in the game against Auburn.

Edwards has 32 career pass attempts across two seasons and Edge, who did not play at all in 2022, has two career pass attempts this season.

Maryland received the commitment of MJ Morris, a quarterback transfer from N.C. State, last week. But he will not be playing in the Music City Bowl.

Kickoff for the Music City Bowl is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Dec. 30 at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee.

Matt Cohen covers Auburn sports for AL.com. You can follow him on X at @Matt_Cohen_ or email him at [email protected]