Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn understands the hype heading into Saturday's Iron Bowl.
He has been interviewed multiple times by national media outlets on the game between No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide and his No. 4 Auburn Tigers, a game that will determine the SEC Western Division. He has fielded constant questions about Auburn's turnaround in his first year on The Plains.
So in the frenzy that is Iron Bowl Week, has Malzahn had time to reflect on how far Auburn has come this year? Thought about what could happen if Auburn wins this one?
Not a chance.
"Like I told our players, we've got a job to do," Malzahn said. "We'll pat ourselves on the back at the end of the year, but we can't let anything distract us. You can't let your mind go there.
"We're not going to hype up things. It's already big enough."
Malzahn's tried-and-true "one game at a time focus" continues to be the mantra of this Auburn team ahead of its biggest challenge of the season -- a Top-5 matchup against the defending national champions and bitter in-state rivals.
"Our team's goal was to get better every week, and I think we've done that," Malzahn said. "So for us to have a chance to win, we're going to have to play our best game."
Defensively, the Tigers will be tasked with slowing down an Alabama offense led by senior quarterback AJ McCarron, who is beginning to get Heisman Trophy considerations. McCarron will enter Jordan-Hare Stadium with a 36-2 career record and an offensive line that has allowed only two sacks in its last eight games.
"(Alabama has) an amazing offense," Malzahn said. "We've got to find a way to make them uncomfortable and slow them down."
According to junior defensive end Dee Ford, the Auburn defense is not focused on shutting down McCarron's Heisman campaign.
"We want to stop him," Ford said. "I'm not thinking about him not winning the Heisman. He's not going to come in here and just have his way."
On offense, Auburn faces an Alabama defense that ranks No. 1 in the country in scoring and rushing defense. While Malzahn's hurry up, no huddle offense has zoomed to the top of several conference charts this season, the Alabama defense leads the nation in allowing only 9 points and 91 rushing yards per game.
"(Alabama's defensive line) will be the best we've played all year," said junior center Reese Dismukes. "We're going to run the ball as we've been running the ball, or we're going to try to, and we're going to have to throw the ball too. We're just going to do what we do and that's move the ball down the field no matter how we have to do it, it's going to be alright."
Even with a 10-1 record and a high-powered offense, junior running back Tre Mason knows there are doubts surrounding Auburn's ability to succeed against Alabama's defense.
But to Mason, the doubt is only making the Tigers stronger.
"We've been pretty much fueled by doubt," Mason said. "We've been fueled by doubt all season. A lot of guys are fired up and we like being the underdog."
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