In today's edition of Auburn Tigers News, the Iron Bowl kickoff time is announced and Hugh Freeze discusses facing Alabama
The second Iron Bowl of the Hugh Freeze era is set. The Auburn football team will travel to Tuscaloosa for a 2:30 p.m. kickoff against Kalen DeBoer and the Alabama Crimson Tide, and the game will be broadcast on ABC.
Freeze's first Iron Bowl on the Plains ended in disaster. Last year, the Tigers had nearly won the game when, on the last play, on fourth down with 31 yards to go, Jalen Milroe completed a pass to wide receiver Isaiah Bond in the endzone. The Tide won the game 27-24.
Hugh Freeze discusses facing Alabama
After last year's devastating loss, Freeze and the Tigers will be looking to get revenge, but it won't be easy, especially in the hostile environment of Bryant-Denny Stadium.
It's been a tough year for Freeze and Auburn football. The Tigers have won only one conference game so far, and many of their losses have been self-inflicted through mistakes and penalties that cost them the win in the fourth quarter.
Only Texas A&M stands between Auburn and Alabama. The Tide is currently ranked #7 overall and have lost two games this season to Vanderbilt and Tennessee. While the post-season stakes are much lower for Auburn than Alabama, head coach Hugh Freeze doesn't believe it will be a problem for his team to find motivation to play their biggest rival, regardless of Alabama's playoff intentions.
"I mean, if you're needing extra motivation in the Iron Bowl, you're probably not ready for it, so that game has enough within it that I don't think — talking about playoffs or not playoffs — really has a big impact," said Freeze, per Auburn Undercover. "That's my initial thought is our kids should be ready to play in that game every single year no matter what's going on."