Auburn is more than likely heading into the Iron Bowl with the chance for its best season since 2019. Just Samford stands in the way of 7-4 for the Tigers after a 41-9 win over Mississippi State in Week 11.
Alabama is more than likely a shoo-in for the CFP regardless of what happens in the Iron Bowl after unimpressively knocking off Vanderbilt 21-6. The Crimson Tide's one-man offensive machine, Keelon Russell, has been nursing an ankle injury. Russell was still his dominant self, but you have to wonder whether he sits out the Chattanooga game and whether or not he'll be the same in two weekends in Tuscaloosa.
With the way Auburn's pass rush looked against the Bulldogs in Starkville, anything less than 100% from Russell could be a problem. The Tigers had seven sacks, 13 TFLs, and forced four turnovers as a defense at Davis Wade Stadium.
Better yet, Auburn has the wind at its back, while Alabama has the typical pressure cooker that having any regular-season losses, let alone two, heading into the final weeks of the season brings.
Auburn's chemistry is surging late in the season, but is Alabama's?
As Tigers quarterback Byrum Brown and Coach Alex Golesh both said, the FAA ground stop that changed Auburn's travel plans for the Mississippi State game was actually advantageous for the team's chemistry.
"We all just went to the gas station, grabbed some snacks, hopped on the bus, chopped it up. We were chopping it up the whole time, just enjoying each other's company and connecting," Brown said postgame.
“It was more team bonding on the buses. The challenge is next play. It is what it is. The guys have handled it well," Golesh said. “Kids are resilient. We as adults make something bigger. The guys have been great.”
Meanwhile, up north, you have Kalen DeBoer and Co. rug-pulling Austin Mack, whom he brought from Seattle to Tuscaloosa, by not giving him the starting role in Nashville because of a lack of trust. Imagine if Russell had been injured yesterday against the Commodores...
You have to like how the Tigers look right now with the Crimson Tide looming in two weekends. Playing spoiler, even finishing the season ranked and potentially on the CFP bubble is on the table. AU won't make the CFP, but the Tigers can still finish fairly high in the rankings, especially with a bowl game win.
Even with the losses Auburn has had this season, injury-wise or otherwise, Golesh has the right guys playing right now. The last six quarters of football have been the best stretch of the season, all things considered.
Bring on that Iron Bowl after the Samford appetizer.
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