As the Auburn Tigers are set to take on rival No. 10 Alabama Saturday night in Jordan-Hare Stadium, they are looking to secure a bowl game and win their first matchup with the Tide since 2019. But it’s the Crimson Tide who arguably have more to play for. Not only would an Alabama win secure a spot in the SEC Championship, but it would also greatly improve their path to the College Football Playoff. With all this at stake, a victory over their rivals becomes even more appealing. But if the Tigers want to take home a win in the Iron Bowl, they will have to stop a surging Alabama team that has won nine of its last ten games.
Both Auburn and Alabama have had dramatically different seasons since Week One—a week that saw Auburn earn a dominant road win over Baylor and Alabama surprisingly lose to a now 5–6 FSU team. Since then, the Tigers have gone 1–7 in SEC play and fired head coach Hugh Freeze. Alabama, on the other hand, has gone 9–1 since its loss to the Seminoles, and junior quarterback Ty Simpson has put together a strong Heisman case.
The Alabama offense has been impressive this season, to say the least, scoring 20 or more points in every SEC game. While Alabama’s run game has not been as dominant as in years past, the passing game has been exceptional. The Crimson Tide has five players with more than 300 receiving yards this season. Their dynamic receiving trio of senior Germie Bernard, sophomore Ryan Williams, and junior Isaiah Horton has combined for over 1,500 yards and 15 receiving touchdowns. Senior tight end Josh Cuevas has also been a major contributor, hauling in four touchdowns for the Crimson Tide.
Alabama’s defense has been inconsistent at times this season, but it was locked in during SEC play, not allowing an opponent to score 24 or more points in any game during that span. The Crimson Tide has seen standout seasons from sophomore linebacker Yhonzae Pierre, who leads the team with six sacks and three forced fumbles; junior defensive back Bray Hubbard, who has recorded eight pass deflections, three interceptions, and two forced fumbles; and senior linebacker Justin Jefferson, who leads the team with 58 total tackles.
Alabama has been a tough opponent for the Tigers in recent years, and that will be no different in this year's Iron Bowl. The Tigers will hope to capitalize on a transformed offense under interim head coach DJ Durkin and a defense that has remained strong for much of the year as they attempt to defeat their rival for the first time in six seasons. And with the game taking place in Jordan-Hare Stadium—home to some unforgettable Iron Bowl moments in recent memory—the Tigers will look to make more history Saturday night by defeating their rival and securing a bowl game after missing out last year.
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Jonathan is a freshman majoring in industrial and systems engineering. He started with The Plainsman in the fall of 2025.
