4. Alabama Football vs Tennessee Head Coach Josh Heupel
Heupel’s history with Alabama Football is far more abbreviated and much less complicated. The former Oklahoma quarterback has only been the head coach of the Tennessee Volunteers for two seasons, but he was able to accomplish something the previous four Vols coaches (including Kiffin) were unable to: beat Alabama.
Beyond that, Josh Heupel led Tennessee to an 11-2 season, reaching its highest win total in over 20 years.
Throughout the Nick Saban era, Alabama Football has dominated its rivalry with Tennessee. Needless to say, the dramatic loss in Knoxville last season left a bitter taste in the mouths of Bama fans everywhere.
In 2023, Alabama will face the Volunteers in a revenge game for the first time since Saban’s first season at the helm. Heupel has an opportunity this fall to prove that he is building a quality program, and that 2022 wasn’t a flash in the pan. A major Litmus test will be an October 21st trip to Tuscaloosa.
3. Alabama Football vs Auburn Head Coach Hugh Freeze
Regardless of the name, the coach of Auburn should make this list every single season. With Hugh Freeze now at the helm on the Plains, there is an added dimension to college football’s greatest rivalry.
Auburn is coming off a disastrous two-year skid under Brian Harsin, who was made a scapegoat before he even got a chance to get the program off the ground. With Harsin out, the Tigers reloaded with Freeze, who has had marginal head coaching success in the SEC West at Ole Miss.
Freeze also has arguably the most important prerequisite to becoming the Auburn head coach: experience beating Nick Saban and Alabama.
As the head coach at Ole Miss, Hugh Freeze managed to take down the Crimson Tide in back-to-back years in 2014 and 2015. Surely, Auburn is hoping that Freeze has some kind of formula to beat Saban that he will bring to the Plains.
He will also have the black magic of Jordan-Hare Stadium on his side this fall, so the 2023 Iron Bowl could be an interesting one.