No. 1 Alabama’s treacherous path goes through No. 6 Auburn

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — No. 1 Alabama’s path to the Southeastern Conference championship and an assured spot in the playoffs is clear but awfully treacherous.

The Crimson Tide (11-0, 7-0 SEC, No. 1 CFP) can secure a spot in the league title game with a road win at No. 6 Auburn (9-2, 6-1) on Saturday.

Even coach Nick Saban, who has a noted distaste for hypefueled distractions, had to admit that the Iron Bowl has “got lots of ramifications this year.”

Lose and Alabama’s run of three straight SEC titles comes to an end, and a fourth-consecutive playoff berth isn’t a sure bet.

Win and the Tide gets another big task against No. 7 Georgia in Atlanta. It’s a big change from the past three years when neither Auburn nor the SEC East champion was ranked in the top 10.

This is only the eighth Iron Bowl in which both in-state rivals were top 10 teams.

But Alabama is used to big games with high stakes and loads of national attention. Safety Minkah Fitzpatrick boiled down the stakes to their most essential element.

“You go into the game trying to get a win. That’s it,” Fitzpatrick said Monday. “That’s the only thing at stake is the win.”

The Tide is a slender four-point favorite to do just that. Alabama is trying to extend its Iron Bowl winning streak to four. Alabama senior linebacker Rashaan Evans would like to end his career perfect against his hometown team but is trying not to dwell on it.