Alabama Football: Two types of Iron Bowls in Saban era
Will Alabama Football run away with the 2023 Iron Bowl? It’s a more likely scenario than some may think, but it certainly won’t be easy in Jordan-Hare Stadium.
The Iron Bowl is the greatest rivalry in college football, and has featured several instant classics. Just in the Nick Saban era, five Iron Bowls have come down to the final drive.
These games include Auburn’s comeback win behind Cam Newton in 2010, the kick-six in 2013, and Bo Nix’s improbable victory in 2019. They also include game-winning scores by the Crimson Tide in the 2009 and 2021 games.
These moments stand out in the minds of viewers, and create a misconception that the Iron Bowl is always close. However, this isn’t always the case. Since 2008, the five aforementioned one-possession games have not been the norm.
The other 10 Iron Bowl matchups in that time period have all been decided by 10 points or more, and Alabama Football has won nine of those contests.
Under Saban, Bama has won the Iron Bowl in an uncompetitive fashion on six different occasions:
2008 Alabama 36, Auburn 0
2011 Alabama 42, Auburn 14
2012 Alabama 49, Auburn 0
2018 Alabama 52, Auburn 21
2020 Alabama 42, Auburn 13
2022 Alabama 49, Auburn 27
Is it possible that the Tide notch another blowout? To do so in Jordan-Hare Stadium won’t be an easy task. In fact, only one of the lopsided finishes listed above (2011) was played away from Tuscaloosa. Since coming to Tuscaloosa, Saban has gone 4-4 at Auburn with an average margin of 12.8 points in his four wins.
This game will tell us a lot about the mentality and level of focus of this Alabama Football team. On paper, Bama is far superior to Hugh Freeze’s first Auburn squad, but the Tide has struggled to beat the Tigers convincingly in Jordan-Hare Stadium.
This 2023 Bama squad has looked like a team on a mission over the last month. The College Football Playoff is still within reach, but, having been repeatedly disrespected by the committee, Alabama still has a lot to prove.
dark. Next. Crimson Tide ready for road test
For Alabama Football, a dominant win over Auburn in a stadium where it always hasn’t had the best fortune would be quite a statement.