All of the efforts and practices in the 2024 season come down to one game for head coach Hugh Freeze and the Auburn Tigers on Saturday. As the team prepares for rivalry weekend, the Tigers are carrying back-to-back wins with them into Tuscaloosa, looking to take down the Alabama Crimson Tide in the regular season finale.
However, for the first time since 2007, a new head coach stands on the opposite sideline from Auburn in the Iron Bowl.
Led by former Washington head coach Kalen DeBoer, the Crimson Tide are looking to bounce back and keep their slim College Football Playoff hopes alive following a 24-3 defeat to the Oklahoma Sooners.
Seemingly nothing went right for Alabama in this late-season matchup, as it only picked up 234 yards of total offense on the night, its lowest mark of the year. Its only points of the game were the result of a 22-yard field goal in the first quarter off the foot of Grant Nicholson.
Turnovers were a huge problem in the defeat, as quarterback Jalen Milroe accounted for three interceptions throughout the game. The final one of the three proved to be the dagger in this one, as Milroe threw a screen pass in the flats that was picked off by Kip Lewis and returned 49 yards for a touchdown to make it a 21-point game.
While last weekend was disastrous for the Crimson Tide, the Tigers partied into the night at Jordan-Hare Stadium with a 43-41 upset over then No. 15 Texas A&M in four overtimes. Auburn tallied 469 yards of total offense in this game, with the vast majority of those coming through the air.
Quarterback Payton Thorne posted another solid showing in the victory, going 19-for-31 for 301 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. Wide receivers Cam Coleman and KeAndre Lambert-Smith both crossed the century mark in receiving yards, making impressive catches to total a combined 232 yards and two touchdowns.
Senior running back Jarquez Hunter also found another successful performance on the night, as the rushing game was crucial at times. Hunter saw a large workload with 28 carries for 130 yards and three touchdowns.
Following last season’s devastating defeat in the late seconds of the fourth quarter, Freeze understands what this year’s renewal of the rivalry means, knowing it is going to take the perfect strategy and performance to pull this one out.
“You’ve got to have good designs, and they have got to be called at the right time against the right defense. That’s not always the easiest thing,” Freeze said. “You can have some that have a chance to work against multiple things but usually the biggest ones need to be called against the right coverages at the right time, without pressure. All those are, sometimes, a guessing game, but I think we do have a knack for having good designs for some. We will need those to go multiple drives. You are not going to drive the football 75 yards every time without some explosive plays. That will be a big part of winning in Tuscaloosa on Saturday.”
Here are some players to watch on Saturday, along with keys to victory for both squads.
Players to Watch
Alabama Crimson Tide:
Jalen Milroe (QB):
Milroe may not be having the season that Alabama fans had hoped for on the stat sheet, that does not take away from the danger he poses as a dual-threat quarterback. While the senior leader of the Crimson Tide has passed for 2,396 yards this year, he does his best work with his legs. Milroe is the team’s leading rusher with 615 rushing yards and 17 rushing touchdowns, making teams pay when he is in space.
Ryan Williams (WR):
The 17-year-old phenom is far and away Alabama’s top receiver in his freshman season. His speed and athleticism cause him to be a threat along the sideline, allowing for many deep pass opportunities with the potential of a huge play should he secure it. Williams’ has racked up 804 receiving yards and eight receiving touchdowns, with his longest reception being good for 84 yards.
Malachi Moore (DB):
The graduate student has spent all five of his collegiate years with the Crimson Tide, becoming a reliable leader in the defensive secondary. While he may not be the team’s top tackler, his versatility allows him to fly all over the field and make plays at any given moment. He has recorded two interceptions and two forced fumbles because of this, being a serious threat to capitalize on a quarterback’s bad decisions.
Auburn Tigers:
Jarquez Hunter (RB):
The Tigers’ senior running back has been performing well at the end of the season. In the team’s three wins in the last four weeks, Hunter has totaled 510 rushing yards and five touchdowns. His ability to change direction and find an extra burst of speed in the open field will prove to be crucial should he find space on Saturday.
Cam Coleman (WR):
The freshman receiver is finally starting to perform at the level that Auburn expected him to coming out of high school. Coleman has recorded a combined 15 receptions for 228 yards and five touchdowns over the last two games, finding ways to create space and make phenomenal plays, assets that will be more than necessary in this rivalry contest.
Dorian Mausi Jr. (LB):
Mausi has quietly caused havoc all season on the defensive side of the football, posting the most tackles of anyone on the team. The linebacker’s ability to read offensive formations and make plays in the backfield with his speed always causes opponents to keep a watchful eye on him, opening things up for more players to make plays.
Keys to victory:
Alabama Crimson Tide:
In the times that Alabama has looked like the best team in the country, Milroe has been able to use his legs at will. In last week’s loss to Oklahoma, Milroe was held to just seven rushing yards on 15 carries. While putting the ball in the air is still important in this game, the Auburn defense has struggled all season long with mobile quarterbacks. Being able to run the ball and spread the field in that aspect puts the Crimson Tide in a position to cause carnage amongst the Tigers’ defense, setting them up for success.
As for their defense, the best tactics that will work to Alabama’s advantage will be initiated by gaining pressure up front. Finding ways to get in Auburn's backfield causes quick decision-making from Thorne, which has not worked well for him at many points this season. It can also cause containment of the Tigers’ rushing game, which can lead to a one-dimensional game plan and possibly some turnovers down the stretch.
Auburn Tigers:
Every Iron Bowl feels the same for Auburn as of late, as the Tigers must quite literally be strong in every aspect of their offense to succeed in this game. This is the first time since 2010 that the Crimson Tide has seen three losses in a season, but it does not mean that their skill level is any less than what it has been in the past. Using strength to break tackles, make tough runs and win the one-on-one receiving battles will build confidence throughout this rivalry.
The same goes for the defense, but it is specifically targeted towards containing Milroe from using his legs. If and when he chooses to run the ball, the defense must always have a spy on him ready to track him down at any moment, filling any open holes efficiently. When he is not running the ball, they must stay on top of any deep routes to prevent big plays. Doing that will increase Auburn’s chances of success tremendously.
The Tigers will take on Alabama in Bryant-Denny Stadium at 2:30 p.m. CST on Saturday, Nov. 30. The Iron Bowl will be broadcast on ABC.
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Tyler Raley is a senior from Birmingham, Alabama, majoring in journalism. He joined the Plainsman in the spring of 2022.
You can follow him on X (Twitter) at @traley34.
