For No. 10 Alabama, the stakes for Saturday’s Iron Bowl vs. Auburn are clear.
If the Crimson Tide (9-2, 6-1 Southeastern Conference) beat the rival Tigers on the road, they will clinch a berth in the SEC championship game the following week in Atlanta and likely lock up a College Football Playoff berth.
If they lose, the SEC title game is out the window, as is the CFP for the second time in as many seasons under coach Kalen DeBoer.
“Onto the Iron Bowl, I know what that means to the state here. Huge deal for us as well,” DeBoer said. “It’s a big game for a lot of reasons. We just focus on what it is, and it’s our big rivalry game. It’s an SEC game on the road. It’ll be an awesome environment, just blessed to be a part of it.”
DeBoer passed his first Iron Bowl test last year, coming away with a 28-14 home win over Auburn. It didn’t prove to be enough, with Alabama finishing as the first team left out of the CFP.
The Crimson Tide bounced back last with a resounding 56-0 win over FCS foe Eastern Illinois after their eight-game winning streak was halted by Oklahoma on Nov. 15. Alabama ran for eight touchdowns against Eastern Illinois — its most in a game since 1979 — but quarterback Ty Simpson had his worst statistical game of the season.
With the running game thriving, Simpson threw for a season-low 147 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions — as many as he had in the team’s first 10 games combined. Over the last two games, Simpson has one touchdown to three interceptions.
“I was happy with where he’s at,” Alabama offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb said.
Auburn’s defense will be the side of the ball likely to present a challenge to Alabama. Needing a win for bowl eligibility, the Tigers (5-6, 1-6) have been anchored by interim head coach/defensive coordinator DJ Durkin’s unit.
In SEC play, Auburn ranks sixth in the conference in scoring defense (23.1 points per game) and total defense (353.0 yards). That’s in stark contrast from its 13th (out of 16) SEC rank in total offense (326.0 yards) and 14th in scoring offense (18.3 points) in conference games.
Durkin, whose future at Auburn beyond this week is uncertain, is embracing the opportunity that this week’s game provides.
“We’re looking forward to the challenge and the task. They’re a really good football team,” Durkin said. “They’re well coached in all three phases, they have playmakers at all spots. Their numbers, their stats, their numbers, their record all speak to that.”
Auburn quarterback Deuce Knight made his first career start last week, accounting for six touchdowns in a 62-17 win over FCS Mercer. But after Ashton Daniels sat out to preserve a year of eligibility, he’ll be back at QB this week.
“He approached (last week) the right way and he’ll be just fine,” Durkin said of Daniels.
In three games this season, Daniels has thrown for 538 yards, two touchdowns and an interception with 172 rushing yards and two scores.
Alabama has won five straight Iron Bowls, its longest rivalry winning streak since a nine-game streak between 1973-81.
