Heading into Week 13, there were a few scenarios in which Alabama could win next week's Iron Bowl and be left out of the SEC Championship Game due to tiebreakers.
Every single one of those scenarios included Kentucky upsetting Vanderbilt. Diego Pavia and the Commodores did Alabama a favor, rolling to a 45-17 win over the Wildcats. Vanderbilt's win ensures that only one thing is in the Crimson Tide's way of making it to Atlanta for the SEC Championship Game: next week's Iron Bowl at Jordan-Hare Stadium.
Alabama's path is now simple: beat Auburn, and the Crimson Tide will play in the SEC Championship Game. The opponent would be either Texas A&M or a rematch against Georgia. The Aggies control their own destiny. If they beat Texas, they will play in the SEC Championship. If Texas wins, it would be Georgia slotting in.
Barring something unexpected, an Iron Bowl win should also punch Alabama's College Football Playoff ticket, too, though that was less guaranteed thanks to a six-spot drop in last week's rankings after the two-point loss to Oklahoma. The committee had to be impressed by the Crimson Tide's ground attack against Eastern Illinois, however,
Alabama racked up 269 yards and scored all eight of its touchdowns running the football. Eat your heart out, Hunter Yurachek.
It all comes down to the Iron Bowl for Alabama football
Neither Alabama nor Auburn had much trouble dispatching of FCS cupcakes on Saturday. Alabama destroyed Eastern Illinois 56-0, and Auburn overcame a slow start to roll past Mercer 62-17.
Next week in Jordan-Hare, Auburn will be fighting for bowl eligibility while Alabama is fighting for a spot in Atlanta and the College Football Playoff. More than bowl eligibility, the Tigers would love nothing more than to play spoiler and end the Crimson Tide's season.
Alabama fans hoped that the Eastern Illinois game might be a get-right game for Ty Simpson and the offense, but Kalen DeBoer and the coaching staff had something else in mind entirely. It was as bare-bones and basic a game plan as we've seen all season long.
Whatever kinks needed to be worked out, DeBoer is clearly confident that can happen in practice, allowing him and Ryan Grubb to leave everything in the chamber heading into Auburn next weekend.
The good news is that the Tide's defense has gotten better each week, and Kane Wommack's side now looks like one of the best in the country. That's good timing, considering a once-dormant Auburn offense has been lighting up the scoreboard since firing Hugh Freeze.