2023 Alabama Football Early Opponent Preview | Game 12: Auburn

The Crimson Tide's season finishes like it always does — the Iron Bowl against the Tigers.

© Jake Crandall / USA TODAY NETWORK

The Iron Bowl returns to Jordan-Hare Stadium in 2023.

Who could forget what happened last time? After an unsuccessful — to say the least — first 59 minutes on offense, Bryce Young cemented his Heisman status on a 12-play, 97-yard drive to tie the game in just over a minute. From there, Alabama outlasted Auburn in four overtimes to secure a meaningful game in the SEC championship — and eventually, reach the national championship.

Something out of nothing, indeed.

Last year, it was much less difficult for the Crimson Tide to overcome the Tigers — rolling to a 49-27 victory at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

Alabama looks to be the much better side this year — but Hugh Freeze has experience beating Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide. And at that stadium? It's always interesting.

Offense

Auburn's offense in 2022-23 was putrid — averaging just 24.8 PPG (11th in SEC). It had much to do with an inability to throw the football — the Tigers finished last season 119th in the country in passing offense.

Hugh Freeze and Phillip Montgomery will look to take Auburn's offense back to an RPO-style like it was under Gus Malzahn. Because of that, QB Robby Ashford could be a nice fit in the scheme — but Freeze also brought in QB Payton Thorne from Michigan State. Like Alabama, the Tigers have a decision to make at quarterback. Due to his solid Big Ten experience, I'm going to take Thorne to win the job come September.

Nov 26, 2022; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Michigan State Spartans quarterback Payton Thorne (10) throws a pass during the first quarter against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium / © Matthew OHaren-USA TODAY Sports

Auburn's offense will go where RB Jarquez Hunter takes it. Over the last two years, Hunter was a very productive option behind Tank Bigsby — racking up 1,546 scrimmage yards and 13 total touchdowns in 25 games.

Auburn Tigers running back Jarquez Hunter (27) runs the ball as Auburn Tigers take on Penn State Nittany Lions at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala., on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022 :: © Jake Crandall / USA TODAY NETWORK

Now, the backfield is his with an offensive line that was revamped using the transfer portal. OT Dillon Wade (Tulsa), C Avery Jones (ECU) and RT Gunner Britton (Western Kentucky) were all thrown in to help bolster the offensive front.

The Tigers' wide receiver room is going to look completely different in 2023-24 — and much bigger as well. Auburn brought in TE Rivaldo Fairweather (6-foot-4) from FIU and WR Nick Mardner (6-foot-6) from Cincinnati.

The names to keep an eye on are wide receivers Shane Hooks (6-foot-4) and Jyaire Shorter (6-foot-2), who both transferred in from smaller schools. Hooks is a veteran pass-catcher who most recently played at Jackson State for Deion Sanders — catching 64 passes for 748 yards and 10 touchdowns last season. Shorter had 628 yards and 11 touchdowns in 13 games for North Texas in 2022-23.

Sep 4, 2022; Miami, Florida, US; Jackson State Tigers wide receiver Shane Hooks (5) scores a touchdown against the Florida A&M Rattlers during the second half at Hard Rock Stadium / © Rich Storry-USA TODAY Sports

Defense

We talked about how the Tigers struggled on offense in 2022-23 — the defense was bad too. Auburn allowed nearly 30 PPG last year — the third-worst defensive season in program history. The Tigers surrendered 40 points five times — the most in any season ever on the Plains.

Enter Ron Roberts — who spent the last three seasons as Baylor's defensive coordinator under Dave Aranda.

Auburn's defense will be one of the most veteran units in the nation this season. The Tigers added DT Justin Rogers from Kentucky to put alongside fellow senior DE Marcus Harris. Auburn will utilize Appalachian State transfer Jalen McLeod at the Jack linebacker position.

The Tigers secondary returns several starters, including cornerbacks Nehemiah Pritchett and D.J. James — as well as Zion Puckett and Jaylin Simpson at safety.

Schedule

Assuming Auburn doesn't beat Georgia, Alabama or LSU on the road, the Tigers' season will come down to three essential games (Ole Miss, Mississippi State, at Arkansas). Win those three games — you probably go 8-4. Lose all three — you may finish 5-7 again.

I like Auburn's chances of beating Mississippi State at home — I also think it wins against either Arkansas or Ole Miss — heading into the bowl game at 7-5.

Outlook

I respect who Hugh Freeze is as a coach. Because of that, I don't see Auburn missing a bowl game again in 2023-24 — which it did last year for the first time since 2012.

First-year head coaches have had success on the Plains in recent tries. In 2010, Gene Chizik inherited Cam Newton and won the national championship in his first season — Gus Malzahn led the Tigers to the 2014 BCS National Championship Game in his first year at Auburn.

I'm not saying to expect things of that nature — but don't be surprised if the Tigers win seven or eight games in 2023-24.

Prediction

Alabama 27, Auburn 21

Alabama at Auburn

The Game

Date: Nov. 25

Time: TBD

TV: TBD

Location: Jordan-Hare Stadium | Auburn, Ala.

Series: Alabama leads 49-37-1

Last meeting: Bryce Young had 391 yards of total offense and four touchdowns as Alabama won the annual Iron Bowl showdown, 49-27. Young was 20-for-30 for 343 yards and moved into second on the Alabama all-time passing yards list. He completed passes to nine different receivers including Ja'Corey Brooks (4 REC, 76 YDS, 1 TD), Isaiah Bond (4 REC, 36 YDS), and Jermaine Burton (3 REC, 87 YDS).

Jahmyr Gibbs, Jase McClellan, Roydell Williams and Young all had rushing touchdowns. Defensively, linebacker Deontae Lawson had nine total tackles including seven solo stops in the home sendoff for both Young and linebacker Will Anderson Jr.

Alabama Athletics

The Team

The Coach: Hugh Freeze (First year at AUB | 10-year career: 83-43)

Offensive Coordinator: Philip Montgomery 

Defensive Coordinator: Ron Roberts

2022 Record: 5-7 (2-6 SEC)

2022 Rankings: Total Offense: No. 67 | Total Defense: No. 74

Returning Starters: 17 (8 Offense | 9 Defense)

Players to Watch: RB Jarquez Hunter, CB Nehemiah Pritchett, LB Cam Riley, LB Austin Keys, OLB Keldric Faulk, CB DJ James, QB Robby Ashford, K Alex McPherson, P Oscar Chapman

Top Newcomer: Take your pick. Freeze inherited some nasty depth problems and used the transfer portal to restock and fill some key holes. They include NT Justin Rogers (Kentucky), RB Brian Battie (USF), TE Rivaldo Fairweather (FIU), LB Austin Keys (Ole Miss), WR Jyaire Shorter (North Texas) and CB CJ James (Oregon). But at the top of the list has to be the head coach himself, Freeze, who was involved in controversies / scandals at Briarcrest Christian in Memphis, Ole Miss, and Liberty.

Biggest Question: In addition to the massive turnover and controversial hiring of Freeze, the Tigers are going to be under a lot of pressure to win right away. Maybe not win the division, but at least be above .500 in league play. Overcoming the lack of continuity will be crucial up front, where Auburn lost a lot including both starting tackles. To try and compensate, the Tigers brought in four transfers, including left tackle Dillon Wade (who played for new offensive coordinator Philip Montgomery at Tulsa), right tackle Gunner Britton from Western Kentucky and East Carolina transfer Avery Jones at center.

© Jake Crandall / USA TODAY NETWORK

The School

Location: Auburn, Alabama

Founded: 1856

Enrollment: Approximately 31,500

Nickname: Tigers

Colors: Orange and Blue

Mascot: Aubie the Tiger

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The Program

Coaching Changes During Saban Era: Four

Last Time Beat Alabama: 2019 | 48-45 at Jordan-Hare Stadium

Last Time Won Division: 2017

Last Time Won SEC Championship: 2013

National Championships (2): 1957, 2010

Playoff Appearances: None

SEC Championships (8): 1957, 1983, 1987, 1988, 1989, 2004, 2010, 2013

Bowl Appearances: 24-19-2

Last Time Didn’t Play in a Bowl: 2022-23

Heisman Trophies (3): Pat Sullivan (1971), Bo Jackson (1985), Cam Newton (2010)

Consensus All-Americans During Saban Era (5): DL Nick Fairley (2010), QB Cam Newton (2010), OL Lee Ziemba (2010), C Reese Dismukes (2014), DL Derrick Brown (2019)

First-Round NFL Picks During Saban Era (6): The most recent were in 2020 — DT Derrick Brown (7th Overall | Panthers) and DB Noah Igbinoghene (30th Overall | Dolphins).

2023 NFL Draft: Headlined by LB Derick Hall, who was the sixth pick in the second round (Seahawks), the Tigers had five selections including RB Tank Bigsby in the third round (Jaguars) and kicker Anders Carlson in the sixth round (Packers).

Last Four Recruiting Class Rankings: No. 18 in 2023, No. 21 in 2022, No. 18 in 2021, No. 8 in 2020

© Manny Rubio-USA TODAY Sports

The Schedule

• Sept. 2: vs. UMass
• Sept. 9: at Cal
• Sept. 16: vs. Samford
• Sept. 23: at Texas A&M
• Sept. 30: vs. Georgia
• Oct. 14: at LSU
• Oct. 21: vs. Ole Miss
• Oct. 28: vs. Mississippi State
• Nov. 4: at Vanderbilt
• Nov. 11: at Arkansas
• Nov. 18: vs. New Mexico State
• Nov. 25: vs. Alabama

© Jake Crandall / USA TODAY NETWORK

Did You Know?

We'll go with three about new head coach Hugh Freeze:

• In part due to Liberty playing as an independent (it's joining Conference USA this season), Freeze has won only one NCAA division / conference title — 2011 with Arkansas State.
• Although Freeze stepped down at Liberty before it lost to Toledo in the Boca Raton Bowl, it was just one of five FBS teams in the country to win a bowl game each of the previous three seasons, joining Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky and Louisiana.
• Liberty upset both BYU and Arkansas last season, but the only ranked team it faced last season was Wake Forest — which was No. 19 at the time. The final score was 37-36. Liberty was 8-1 before losing its last three games under Freeze. 
• During his 15-year tenure at Alabama, Nick Saban has just 27 losses. Among them, there have been 22 rematches, with the Crimson Tide 20-2 in those games. The two times the Crimson Tide has lost back-to-back games against the same opponent were LSU (2010-11) and Ole Miss under Freeze (2014-15). 
• Note: In 2016, Alabama won a Week 3 shootout at Ole Miss, 48-43, and hasn't lost to the Rebels since.

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This is the final story in a series previewing Alabama's 2023 opponents:

Middle Tennessee

Texas

South Florida

Ole Miss

Mississippi State

Texas A&M

Arkansas

Tennessee

LSU

Kentucky 

Chattanooga