Game on.
For the second time in five football seasons, the Alabama-Auburn showdown will be a winner-take-all in the Western Division of the Southeastern Conference.
This Saturday's stellar scenario inside Auburn's Jordan-Hare Stadium seemed unlikely after Gus Malzahn's Tigers blew a 20-0 lead in the second quarter at LSU on Oct. 14 and lost 27-23. That was just the first league setback for Auburn, but the Tigers had an early November schedule consisting of a trip to Texas A&M and a home date against undefeated Georgia.
Auburn defeated the Aggies 42-27 before pulling off a surprise 40-17 rout of the Bulldogs, who were No. 1 in the playoff rankings at the time of their encounter. Now the Tigers have a chance to top another No. 1 program when their chief nemesis invades this weekend.
Auburn sophomore running back Kam Martin, with ball, had 12 carries for 83 yards and a touchdown Saturday against Louisiana-Monroe in relief of junior starter Kerryon Johnson, who rushed 22 times for 137 yards and a score. (Anthony Hall/Auburn Photo)"I'm proud of our team," Malzahn said in a news conference after this past Saturday's 42-14 thumping of Louisiana-Monroe. "Four weeks ago, if somebody would have said we're in this position, I don't think there would be a whole lot of people around the country who would have believed it. We're playing the No. 1 team in the country again on our home field again.
"Our crowd is second to none, and they'll be ready. Our players are going to be ready, and our coaches are going to be ready. It's going to be a special game."
Alabama (11-0, 7-0 SEC) remained No. 1 in both major polls Sunday, while the Tigers (9-2, 6-1) held steady at No. 6. The Crimson Tide opened Sunday as four-point favorites.
The last Iron Bowl with the West at stake in 2013 produced one of the best games in SEC history and certainly the most memorable finish, as Auburn defensive back Chris Davis returned a missed field-goal attempt out of his end zone and covered 100 yards as time expired for a 34-28 Tigers triumph.
Amazingly, the past eight Alabama-Auburn winners have either competed for the BCS national championship or in the four-team playoff, which replaced the BCS after the 2013 season.
"It's going to be a tough week for us mentally and physically," Tide senior receiver Cam Sims told reporters in Tuscaloosa after Saturday's 56-0 trampling of Mercer. "We just have to go out to practice, starting Monday, and give everything we have to get ready to execute against a really good Auburn team."
Alabama had the more impressive tuneup this past weekend, scoring on each of its first five possessions for a 35-0 lead. Sophomore quarterback Jalen Hurts guided the Tide to scores in each of his four drives before coming out of the game with a 7-for-7 passing line for 180 yards and three touchdowns.
Though the Tigers eventually won comfortably, they were tied 7-7 just before halftime, when Jarrett Stidham found Darius Slayton for a 50-yard score.
"We didn't have that edge we've had the last five or six times to start the game," Malzahn said. "Even though we didn't start fast, we came out in the second half and took care of business."
Alabama's shutout occurred with freshman Dylan Moses making his first start at middle linebacker. Moses had come off the bench to replace Keith Holcombe the week before at Mississippi State but struggled against the Bulldogs in a 31-24 Tide escape.
Against Mercer, the five-star talent dazzled with a team-high 11 tackles, four tackles for loss and an interception he returned 11 yards.
"I think Dylan has a lot more confidence," Alabama coach Nick Saban said. "This last week was a little much for him, but this week, he was better in practice and had a better understanding. We simplified things a little more, and this was easier preparation from that standpoint.
"The knowledge and experience he got out there will help his development in the future. I thought he did a good job. He was really active in the game."
Saban will attempt to become the first Alabama coach to win four consecutive Iron Bowls since legendary Paul "Bear" Bryant won nine straight (1973-81). The Tigers have since had two coaches accomplish that feat, with Pat Dye winning four in a row (1986-89) and Tommy Tuberville six straight (2002-07).
Auburn had a 3-2 record against LSU when Saban coached in Baton Rouge from 2000 to 2004. Auburn is just 3-7 against Saban during his time in Tuscaloosa, but a fourth win would be more than any other SEC team has accomplished.
"It's going to be a crazy atmosphere," Auburn junior running back Kerryon Johnson told reporters Saturday. "It should be one for the ages, but we've got to come out and play. We've got to protect the ball. We've got to limit our penalties.
"We've got to execute, and I'm confident that we'll come out on top if we do that."
Tide tidbits
Alabama's senior class improved to 51-4 with its win over Mercer and could set a new NCAA record with a triumph at Auburn. ... The Tide set a Football Bowl Subdivision record Saturday with their 73rd consecutive win over an unranked team. ... Alabama has scored in 49 consecutive quarters, a streak that began with the fourth quarter of last year's Peach Bowl against Washington. ... Junior receiver Calvin Ridley had three catches for 103 yards against the Bears and now has at least one reception in all 41 of his college games. ... Starting kicker Andy Pappanastos was held out Saturday with a muscle pull, so punter JK Scott filled in and made all eight extra-point attempts.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.