Game between Alabama, Auburn has SEC, national title implications
AUBURN, Ala. — This Iron Bowl has a familiar feel for Gus Malzahn.
Both Alabama and Auburn are harboring national championship aspirations, to go along with the always huge statewide braggin' rights . Malzahn's sixth-ranked Tigers once again turned their season around and found offensive footing after a loss to LSU, and guess what? Alabama comes into today's game ranked No. 1. Again.
"It feels like 2013," Malzahn said. "It feels exactly the same way."
To truly be deja vu all over again, one team would have to somehow match one of the most memorable plays in college football: The Kick Six.
The Crimson Tide (11-0, 7-0 Southeastern Conference) becomes the second team to come into JordanHare Stadium atop the playoff rankings in three weeks. The Tigers (9-2, 6-1) dispatched Georgia 40-17 .
The winner of this one captures the Western Division title and faces the seventh-ranked Bulldogs in the SEC championship game.
It's a must-win for Auburn's playoff hopes, if not necessarily for Alabama depending on outcomes around the country the next two weeks.
"This particular year, there's a lot on the line for both teams and that should make it a great game," Alabama coach Nick Saban said.
Alabama has won the past three meetings since that 2013 game when Auburn was ranked fourth and the Tide No. 1. Chris Davis raced 109 yards to return a missed field goal on the last play for a 34-28 win that catapulted the Tigers on to the SEC and national title games.
Anthony Averett remembers Alabama's initial return trip in 2015 well.
"Definitely rocking," the Tide cornerback said. "They showed the Kick Six on the screens and the crowd went crazy. Cam Newton was on the sideline. I liked it."
Auburn started a nine-game winning streak after a September loss to LSU in 2013 behind new quarterback Nick Marshall. The Tigers and first-year starting quarterback Jarrett Stidham took off this season after blowing a big lead in a 27-23 loss to LSU.
While both teams have stingy defenses, they also have the SEC's two highest scoring offenses in league games since 2008. Quarterback Jalen Hurts has directed an Alabama offense averaging 41.9 points against league defenses. Stidham, tailback Kerryon Johnson and Auburn are scoring at a 43-point clip in SEC games.
The Tigers came out loose against Georgia, as evidenced by all the dancing on the sidelines. Safety Tray Matthews thinks they'll have the same relaxed mentality again.
"We're going to have a lot of fun dancing and getting after the ball," Matthews said. "Our backs are against the wall but we actually don't have anything to lose."