The Alabama Crimson Tide and Auburn Tigers both have stakes on Saturday night when the two Yellowhammer flagship programs take Pat Dye Field at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Alabama's are just more consequential in the grand scheme.
As The Austin American-Statesman's David Eckert correctly framed it, things could get very scary if Kalen DeBoer's team drops a third game this season, and second in three weeks, against their 5-6 rivals.
"Matt Stahl, a Crimson Tide beat reporter at AL.com, bought ghost-hunting equipment to conduct research on what paranormal activity may or may not be happening at Jordan-Hare Stadium, where Alabama must travel this week. Weird things happen to the Crimson Tide in Auburn, and a loss there this year would be particularly haunting, considering it would likely eliminate Alabama from the CFP discussion," Eckert wrote in his SEC rankings, where he slotted the Tide at No. 5.
Of course, DeBoer bolting for the Penn State Nittany Lions becomes realer with every loss. State College, Pennsylvania, is a better personality fit, and Alabama has a once-in-a-lifetime chance to hire Lane Kiffin if the 50-year-old's mind isn't already made up on his next career move being with the LSU Tigers or Ole Miss Rebels.
Lose to this AU team, with an interim head coach and lead play-caller? DeBoer may as well pack his bags that night.
History won't forgive or remember the Tide being without tight end Josh Cuevas on the Plains on a fateful November night, if that's how it plays out.
Only Alabama fans will remember that.
And then Auburn fans will point to the chaotic state of the program in response while rubbing it in.
The Tide have everything to lose Saturday night. The Tigers do too, with a chance to go a bowl game a nice potential NIL opportunity for players. But this is DeBoer's last chance to handle business and get Alabama into the College Football Playoff before the program potentially pulls the plug after more disappointment.