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Alabama football destined to be a part of a No. 1 vs. No. 2 Iron Bowl in 2018

By Ricky Green

AUBURN, AL - NOVEMBER 27: Head coach Nick Saban of the Alabama Crimson Tide leads his team onto the field to face the Auburn Tigers at Jordan-Hare Stadium on November 27, 2009 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
AUBURN, AL - NOVEMBER 27: Head coach Nick Saban of the Alabama Crimson Tide leads his team onto the field to face the Auburn Tigers at Jordan-Hare Stadium on November 27, 2009 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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The stars and the moon could be lining up for Alabama football fans for an AP number one vs number two matchup in this year’s edition of the Iron Bowl.

Today marks the release of the pre-season AP Top 25 Football Poll for 2018. As an Alabama football fan, my mind immediately starts to wonder about an Iron Bowl that may potentially include a No. 1 Alabama vs No. 2 Auburn matchup.

Born an Alabama football fan in March of 1986, I’ve seen some incredible moments come and go throughout the Iron Bowl games of my lifetime. From the late 80’s games that were at the end of the Bear Bryant era, to the most recent contests of the Nick Saban era, the Iron Bowl has provided us all with quite a thrill at the close of each regular season.

The most recent Iron Bowl saw Alabama fall to defeat at the hands of the Auburn Tigers, only to gain extra time to heal and recruit on its way to the 2018 College Football Playoffs. The previous year, Alabama was victorious. Back and forth we’ve gone, although Alabama has pretty well owned Auburn since the start of the Nick Saban era. It’s hard to even comprehend that the next Iron Bowl could end up ranking ahead of all the others.

The best could be yet to come for Tide and Tigers fans

A historic event could be lying just over the horizon in Alabama. It could be a game that will determine the outcome of the season for both Bama, and for AU. We could all be staring down the barrel of a potential blockbuster: two undefeated teams from the SEC West. Playoff hopes and aspirations will all be on the line. Nick Saban, the greatest of all time, will take on the offensive guru Gus Malzhan. What may very well prove to be the most electrifying offense in Alabama Crimson Tide history, will face a new era of elite defensive play led by former Alabama assistant coach and now AU defensive coordinator Kevin Steele.

A one versus two Iron Bowl matchup has never happened. The closest was on Nov. 30, 2013. Alabama was ranked No. 1 and Auburn was ranked No. 4. AU won 34-28. The next closest was on Nov. 27, 1971. Alabama was ranked No. 3 and Auburn was ranked No. 5. Alabama won 31-7. Most of the time, Auburn isn’t ranked in the Iron Bowl.

There are so many questions to be answered during the eleven games leading up to the Iron Bowl. Can a young Alabama defense rise to the occasion again and again throughout the grind of an SEC regular season? Will Alabama’s offense under Coach Mike Locksley reach its full potential and become the unstoppable force Alabama fans expect it to be? The good news is, with today’s AP Top 25 Football Poll release, Alabama football fans are only 11 days away from finding some answers. College football has finally arrived, and Alabama football fans are ready to see revenge exacted in this year’s Iron Bowl.

Next. Pat Dye said it best - 500 years will not allow AU to catch UA. dark

The above link was last year when Pat Dye was being brutally honest about the gap between Alabama football and Auburn. He should know.

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