Auburn's Iron Bowl Newcomers Get Crash Course in Rivalry Stakes Ahead of Saturday Showdown with Alabama
For Auburn’s retooled roster, most of whom have never experienced the Iron Bowl on hardwood, the message hit loud and clear the moment they stepped outside Neville Arena after Thursday’s practice. Hundreds of students were already camped out, braving the February chill for a chance to be part of Saturday’s rivalry clash with Alabama. If there was any doubt about how much this game means, it vanished right then and there.
This year’s matchup may not feature a number next to either team’s name for the first time since 2021, but don’t let that fool you - the stakes are still sky-high. Auburn and Alabama have elevated this rivalry beyond rankings. It’s become one of the SEC’s marquee showdowns, and for Steven Pearl, in his first season as Auburn’s head coach, how he fares against the Crimson Tide is going to be a big part of how his debut campaign is remembered.
“If you want to make our fans happy, beat Alabama,” Pearl told his team before Thursday’s practice. “It has some real significance, but our guys all know that this is a big game. But we can’t approach it like it’s any different from games that we played last week.”
That’s the tightrope Pearl is walking - acknowledging the emotional weight of the rivalry while keeping his team locked into the process that’s helped them win five of their last seven games. Auburn is trending in the right direction, both in the SEC standings and in the broader NCAA Tournament picture, but Saturday’s game brings a different kind of pressure. The kind that comes with a packed house, a bitter in-state rival, and a fanbase that circles this date on the calendar every year.
Only one player on Auburn’s roster, Tahaad Pettiford, has actually played in this rivalry before. For the rest, Saturday will be their introduction - and it’s one they’ve been anticipating.
“All those guys have been looking forward to this because they’ve watched this,” Pearl said. “And this rivalry’s turned into something significant.”
That might be putting it lightly. Since 2018, Auburn and Alabama have combined for nine SEC titles.
Just last season, the two met in Tuscaloosa as the No. 1 and No. 2 teams in the nation - a regular-season showdown that felt more like a Final Four preview. Bruce Pearl vs.
Nate Oats became appointment viewing. Now, with Steven Pearl stepping into the spotlight, a new chapter begins.
“I know Nate has done a phenomenal job in his time, but now it’s my job to try and keep it in that area,” Pearl said. “It’s grown into probably the best rivalry in this league right now.”
Both programs sit at 5-4 in SEC play, making Saturday’s game more than just a rivalry - it’s a potential separator in the standings. According to the NCAA NET rankings, Auburn and Alabama have played the two toughest schedules in college basketball this season.
These teams are battle-tested, and they’ll need every ounce of that experience when the ball tips at 3 p.m. CST on ESPN2.
Alabama enters the game having played twice since Auburn’s last outing against Tennessee, with a road trip to Florida and a home game against Texas A&M. But the biggest off-court storyline this week has been the eligibility of Crimson Tide center Charles Bediako.
After spending time in the NBA G League, Bediako returned to action under a temporary restraining order granted by a Tuscaloosa judge. He’s played in Alabama’s last four games, but with that order set to expire, a Friday hearing will determine whether he suits up against Auburn.
On the court, Alabama’s backcourt has been the engine behind its offense, and Auburn knows it well. Aden Holloway and Labaron Philon - a former Auburn transfer and Auburn commit, respectively - have been responsible for a staggering 64 percent of Alabama’s field goals this season, whether by scoring or assisting. Holloway, in particular, has taken a leap, averaging 17.2 points per game while shooting 43.8 percent from deep - both career highs.
“I knew this progression was going to happen for Aden - because we’ve always known how good Aden was,” Pearl said. “He had a rough freshman year… (But) he’s one of the most gifted, talented shooters you’ve ever seen.”
Auburn already has a signature win this SEC season, knocking off Florida on the road. But this game is a different kind of test.
The Iron Bowl is emotional, intense, and, for many on this roster, unfamiliar. That’s why Pearl has been hammering home the importance of staying grounded - especially when the arena is rocking and adrenaline is sky-high.
Freshman forward Sebastian Williams-Adams put it best: “There’s going to be high emotions on Saturday. I know this rivalry is important, and I want to win for the Auburn fans.
But I also don’t want to get out of character and start forcing things. That’s just been my main approach when it comes to this.”
It’s a smart mindset, and one Auburn will need if it wants to come out on top in a game that could shape the rest of its season. Over the past seven SEC tournaments (excluding 2020), either Auburn or Alabama has taken home a title of some kind. This rivalry has championship DNA - and on Saturday, it adds another chapter.