The Iron Bowl is set to take on heightened significance as the Auburn Tigers prepare to face their archrivals, the Alabama Crimson Tide. With Auburn striving for bowl eligibility and Alabama fighting for a spot in the College Football Playoffs, the stakes have never been higher. This past Saturday, Alabama suffered a narrow defeat to No. 11 Oklahoma at home, with a final score of 23-21, leaving their season record at 8-2.
Oklahoma”s defense proved to be the difference maker in this contest, stepping up when it mattered most and securing the win with a critical fourth-down stop. As the season progresses, Auburn finds itself in a position where they have little to lose. After enduring six losses in the SEC, their focus is now on finishing the season strong, and there is no better way to do that than by playing spoiler against a fierce rival.
Auburn interim head coach DJ Durkin will be leading the team in his second Iron Bowl, and notably, his first as the interim head coach. The Iron Bowl has seen a series of unusual coaching matchups since 2020, with the likes of Nick Saban going against Gus Malzahn in 2019, while in 2021, it was Saban versus Bryan Harsin. This year, Saban will face Hugh Freeze, and next year”s matchup will feature Kalen DeBoer against Freeze. This year”s game will mark another chapter in this storied rivalry.
The Iron Bowl will take place at Jordan-Hare Stadium, a venue where the Tigers have historically challenged Alabama down to the wire. For Alabama, the urgency is palpable; they cannot afford any more losses if they wish to keep their playoff hopes alive. It has been a while since Alabama last made the College Football Playoff, which was during Saban”s final season in Tuscaloosa. However, Auburn cannot dwell on Alabama”s aspirations just yet as they prepare for a formidable opponent in the Mercer Bears, who boast an impressive 9-1 record, with their only loss occurring in the opening week of the season.
Auburn had the luxury of a bye week, allowing them time to strategize and recover as they head into the final stretch of the season. The stage is nearly set for this crucial Iron Bowl, where Auburn will not only be competing for bowl eligibility but also looking to spoil Alabama”s playoff ambitions. Next Saturday, Auburn is scheduled to host Mercer at 1 PM CST, and according to ESPN”s matchup predictor, they hold a 95.8% chance of victory. Nonetheless, they must avoid a repeat of the previous season”s upset at the hands of New Mexico State.
