Alabama and Auburn are turning an exhibition into something that feels a lot closer to a real battle.
When the Crimson Tide and Tigers meet in “The Feud” on Thursday, Oct. 22, at Legacy Arena in Birmingham, it will be a preseason game in name only. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m., and the building will be split between the two fan bases.
That alone makes this unusual. Preseason basketball is usually about trying lineups, giving newcomers a chance to settle in and forgetting the final score as soon as the buzzer sounds. This one won’t play that way.
It will be the first preseason basketball meeting between Alabama and Auburn since 1983, and the atmosphere should reflect how far both programs have come. These are now two of the SEC’s most recognizable basketball brands, and their meetings carry more than just bragging rights. The hostility is part of the package, and it does not vanish just because the game won’t count in the standings.
Legacy Arena should make that even more obvious. Fans who buy tickets through their school’s designated link will sit on the same side of the building as their team’s bench, giving the nearly 18,000-seat venue a split personality that ought to feel less like neutral ground and more like two home crowds forced into one space.
There’s also a clear basketball reason to do this. Nate Oats gets to see Alabama against a quality opponent before the regular season starts, and new Auburn coach Steven Pearl gets an immediate shot at his team in an environment with far more pressure than a standard exhibition brings. College basketball has increasingly leaned into preseason games that actually test teams, and this one pushes that idea to the edge by matching rivals that both fan bases are desperate to beat.
The schedule only adds to the intrigue. Alabama and Auburn are guaranteed to meet at least three times this season.
Auburn comes to Alabama on Jan. 30, then the Crimson Tide heads to Neville Arena for the regular-season finale on March 6. A fourth matchup in the SEC Tournament is also possible.
The October result won’t count, but it could still leave a mark. It will give both sides an early read on rotations, weak spots and how each team handles a loud, split-house setting before the games start counting for real.
In Other News...
Broncos Roster Call Could Leave Auburn Fans Loving Their QB Room
The Broncos are nearing a decision on their 53-man roster, and for Auburn fans, the quarterback picture in Denver is worth a close look. Bo Nix, the former Tigers standout, is expected to be part of a two-man quarterback room that also includes Jarrett Stidham, while Sam Ehlinger could wind up on the practice squad if the numbers break that way. Sean Payton has made it clear the question of whether to keep a third quarterback is only one of several roster matters still being sorted out.
For Auburn followers, the bigger takeaway is simple: Nix appears positioned to begin his NFL path with a real shot at meaningful snaps, not buried in a crowded depth chart. Denver spent the offseason dealing with plenty of quarterback chatter, including outside speculation tied to Aaron Rodgers, but the current expectation is that Nix and Stidham will headline the room. However the final roster shakes out, Auburns interest in this spot isnt going away anytime soon. [Read more 🡒]
Auburn May Have An Intriguing Tight End Project Developing
Xavier Newsoms path to Auburn has been as unusual as it is intriguing. He started his college career at Howard as a reserve tight end after originally being recruited as an edge rusher, and when Howard head coach Larry Scott moved to Auburn, Newsom followed and kept working at the same position. For Auburn, that kind of background gives him a different kind of value, especially with his size and the fact that he already knows what it looks like to play from the defensive side of the ball.
The Tigers are still developing him, but there is enough there to keep coaches interested. Newsom is viewed as someone who can grow into a useful blocker and eventually offer something in the passing game, even if he is not presently a primary receiving target. For a program always looking for hidden pieces, a player who arrives with physical tools, defensive instincts and room to climb can be worth watching. [Read more 🡒]
Auburn Still Has One Roster Decision Hanging Before The Opener
A Colorado judges ruling that extended eligibility for all Class of 2022 college athletes has added another layer of uncertainty to roster building across college football, and Auburn is dealing with the ripple effects as fall approaches. Coach Alex Golesh said the Tigers have had to manage additions carefully while sorting through what the ruling and the NCAAs new five-for-five eligibility structure could mean for a roster that is still taking shape.
One of the latest pieces is former Troy wide receiver Tray Taylor, who can practice with Auburn but is not yet cleared to play in games. Golesh framed the situation as part of a broader roster-management puzzle, with the Tigers trying to stay flexible until the eligibility picture settles and one final decision becomes clearer before the opener. [Read more 🡒]