Auburn running back Cameron Artis-Payne (44) carries the ball against Samford .
Auburn head coach Gus MalzahnNobody said it would be easy, especially with the required assignments.
The Auburn Tigers began this football season with the goal of becoming the first Southeastern Conference back-to-back champions since the 1997 and ’98 Tennessee Volunteers. Auburn possessed a hoard of talent but also a schedule that would feature eight ranked teams, and the highs and lows have resulted in an 8-3 record entering Saturday night’s towering task against 10-1 Alabama inside Bryant-Denny Stadium.
“That was one of our goals, and we were committed to that,” Auburn coach Gus Malzahn said, “but down the stretch we just didn’t get it done. There are a lot of great teams in our league, specifically in the West.”
Auburn has been one of those West powers, winning at Kansas State and blasting LSU 41-7 to climb to No. 2 in the rankings before an Oct. 11 showdown at No. 3 Mississippi State. Early turnovers buried the Tigers in a 21-0 hole in their eventual 38-23 defeat in Starkville, but Auburn regrouped and prevailed 35-31 at Ole Miss on Nov. 1, claiming the No. 3 spot in the College Football Playoff rankings.
The Tigers had a brief stay, however, undone by turnovers again in a 41-38 home loss to Texas A&M on Nov. 8.