Nick Saban holds an 11-5 record as Alabama’s head coach versus Auburn in the Iron Bowl.
He remembers his victorious moments against the Tigers since 2007, but the defeats stick out more.
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Four of his five losses to Auburn have come at Jordan-Hare Stadium, including three (2013, 2017, and 2019) that prevented the Crimson Tide from competing for a Southeastern Conference Championship. Alabama endured a hostile environment in 2021 at Jordan-Hare with Bryce Young as its quarterback. It took a late fourth-quarter drive to tie the game at 10 and four overtimes for the Tide to pull out a 24-22 victory. Crazy things happen in Auburn (Ala.), but Coach Saban identified for reporters the most significant aspect for Alabama to defeat the Tigers. He explained it on Monday as he heads to Auburn for the ninth time.
Saban is 4-4 all-time against Auburn at Jordan-Hare Stadium.
“If we’re going to have success there, we’re going to have to execute. … People talk about all the crazy stuff that happens in this game, but since I’ve been here, the team that should have won the game, won the game based on who played the best,” Saban said.
Alabama has been playing its best football at the right time. Tommy Rees, the Crimson Tide’s offenive coordinator, coached his side of the ball to 42 points versus LSU, 49 points against Kentucky, and helped Alabama score 59 of 66 points against Chattanooga. Defensively, Kevin Steele has guided his group to be the best second-half team in college football.
Steele was Auburn’s defensive coordinator from 2016 to 2020. His groups gave Alabama’s offense headaches in 2017 and 2019, both matchups the Tide lost at Jordan-Hare. Steele has a chance to show his former program he still has it.
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Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
