Auburn Suddenly Enters Iron Bowl with Something to Play For

Auburn Heads Into Iron Bowl with New Life and Bowl Hopes

What once seemed like a lost season for the Auburn Tigers has taken a surprising turn as they head into the Iron Bowl with their bowl hopes still alive.

The latest edition of one of college football’s greatest rivalries is just days away, following a dramatic shift in the landscape after Saturday’s games.

Before Week 13, it looked like Auburn’s chances of making a bowl game were all but over, with their hopes of qualifying fading fast. Meanwhile, Alabama appeared to have everything to play for, with a potential conference championship and a College Football Playoff spot on the line.

However, Auburn stunned No. 15 Texas A&M in a thrilling quadruple overtime win, likely ending A&M’s playoff chances. Meanwhile, Alabama was soundly defeated 24-3 by Oklahoma, dashing its own conference title hopes, significantly reducing its playoff chances, and dropping the Crimson Tide from No. 7 to No. 13 in the AP Poll.

Auburn’s standout running back Jarquez Hunter, who rushed for 130 yards and three touchdowns on 28 carries against Texas A&M, believes his team is more than capable of beating Alabama in Bryant-Denny Stadium on Saturday.

“This win gave us a lot of momentum heading into the Iron Bowl next week,” Hunter said. “We’re confident we can beat Alabama at Alabama.”

Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze shares Hunter’s optimism, feeling that the victory over Texas A&M has given his team the confidence needed to end Auburn’s six-game losing streak at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

“It will boost our confidence going into next week and help us prepare for another tough opponent on the road,” Freeze said.

Wide receiver KeAndre Lambert-Smith, who had 104 yards on two catches and sealed the win with a clutch end-zone catch in the fourth overtime, feels the Tigers would have been ready for the Iron Bowl regardless. However, he acknowledges that the win over Texas A&M has given the team a boost.

“It’s the same as any week, but it definitely gives us more confidence,” Lambert-Smith said. “It’s a big game, and this will be my first Iron Bowl. It’ll be another tough environment, but we’re prepared. We’ll celebrate tonight, make corrections, and get ready for Bama.”

The 89th Iron Bowl will take place Saturday at 2:30 p.m. CT, with ABC broadcasting the game.