BCS Championship: Auburn players from Florida anticipate showdown

Florida State mined the vast majority of its talented roster from Florida, and Auburn also has a significant Florida presence.

Auburn running back Tre Mason, from Palm Beach, is one of 18 Floridians on the Tigers’ roster.

“We take pride in our state,” said Mason, who was a Heisman Trophy finalist. “We’re always bragging.”

Mason is friends with many Florida State players, including Seminoles defensive backs Terrence Brooks, Lamarcus Brutus and Lamarcus Joyner and receiver Kelvin Benjamin.

So Mason is looking forward to Monday’s Bowl Championship Series title game, indicating that it will be as full of emotion as the annual Iron Bowl game between Auburn and Alabama.

“This is the Florida guys’ Iron Bowl because we’re playing our state,” he said. “This is our rivalry game. This is big to us.”

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