There is a certain college football game taking place Saturday.
It involves Alabama and Auburn, and it will be housed in Auburn's Jordan Hare-Stadium.
"I don't think I have to tell anybody anything they don't already know about this game," Alabama coach Nick Saban said Monday in a news conference. "The Iron Bowl is one of the great rivalries in college football. It means a lot to a lot of people in this state as well as all over the country, and it's an opportunity that you appreciate as a competitor.
"Our team has created an opportunity for themselves, and I think it's all about staying focused on what you need to do to play your best football on the road and not let the outside noise affect your ability to focus against a very good team."
Auburn quarterback Sean White (13) throws a pass during warmups before an NCAA football game against Georgia, Saturday, Nov. 14, 2015, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)Tide, take three
1. Alabama is just 7-15 in Iron Bowls that have been held on the two campuses.2. The Crimson Tide have compiled 35 10-win seasons in school history and are seeking a 19th 11-win season.3. Alabama is seeking its 60th consecutive win over an unranked team.
That outside noise includes revisiting the 2013 thriller at the same locale.
Saban's Crimson Tide entered the Iron Bowl two years ago ranked No. 1 in the country and seeking a third consecutive national championship. Alabama tried to break a 28-28 deadlock with one second remaining on Adam Griffith's 57-yard field-goal attempt, but Chris Davis returned the short try out of the back of his end zone and covered more than 100 yards to produce one of the most memorable touchdowns in the sport's history.
And a 34-28 Auburn win that propelled the Tigers to the Southeastern Conference title and a spot in the national championship game.
"I don't think what happened two years ago there has any impact on what's going to happen in this game," Saban said.
The Iron Bowl winner went on to claim four consecutive national championships from 2009 to 2012, with Auburn nearly making it five in a row after the 2013 season before falling to Florida State 34-31 in the BCS title. The Crimson Tide won the highest-scoring Iron Bowl last November, 55-44, and reached the sport's inaugural four-team playoff.
Alabama is in the playoff picture again this year with its 10-1 record and can clinch a second straight SEC West title by downing the Tigers, who began this season in the top-10 but have struggled to a 6-5 record. Auburn attained bowl eligibility with Saturday's 56-34 drubbing of Idaho, but coach Gus Malzahn wasn't adhering to any 24-hour celebration rule.
Asked after the game when his attention would turn to the Tide, Malzahn said, "Here in about 30 minutes. As soon as I'm done with television, I'm heading to the office."
Alabama's preparation for Auburn will include getting ready to face Jeremy Johnson and Sean White at quarterback. Johnson began this season as a Heisman Trophy candidate but faltered and was replaced by White, who suffered a knee injury late in the four-overtime loss at Arkansas on Oct. 24.
Johnson guided Auburn to its biggest win, a 26-10 whipping of Texas A&M on Nov. 7, but struggled the ensuing week in a 20-13 loss to Georgia.
"They run their offense regardless of who's playing quarterback," Saban said. "The fact one of the quarterbacks has been a little bit injured probably has limited his ability and maybe how much they ask him to run relative to what Jeremy Johnson does. When both guys were healthy, I didn't see a whole lot of difference in what they try to do with them."
Alabama's victory last season increased its Iron Bowl advantage to 43-35-1. The Crimson Tide have won five of the last seven meetings, which followed Auburn's streak of six straight series wins.
The Crimson Tide are two-touchdown favorites, but at least one SEC coach doesn't believe an Alabama blowout is a given.
"When you have a rivalry game, I think it really just changes everything that's going on," Mississippi State's Dan Mullen said. "Auburn seems to have found a little bit more of its identity this year and a little bit more of a rhythm over the last couple of games it would seem. Alabama obviously has its identity for the year, but any time it's a rivalry game, it makes for a great matchup."
Alabama began Iron Bowl practices Monday with a 90-minute workout.
"We've just got to work hard this week and do what we're supposed to do," Tide senior defensive lineman Jarran Reed told reporters.
Tide tidbits
Senior linebacker Reggie Ragland, who has a team-high 85 tackles and 6.5 tackles for loss, was named Monday among the five finalists for the Butkus Award. Senior running back Kenyan Drake practiced Monday for the first time since fracturing his arm at Mississippi State and is "day-to-day" according to Saban.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.