Auburn vs. Alabama: Iron Bowl of Basketball Returns with High Stakes and Heavy Tension
The Iron Bowl of basketball is back, and while it may not carry the same national weight as last season’s top-10 showdown, don’t let the lack of rankings fool you-this one’s still packed with firepower and fierce implications.
Auburn and Alabama, both sitting at 5-4 in SEC play, are set to clash Saturday afternoon at Neville Arena (3 p.m. CT, ESPN2).
And if you’re wondering whether this rivalry still burns hot, just ask anyone who’s been around the Yellowhammer State long enough. These two programs don’t just compete-they collide.
A Rivalry That Still Rules the SEC
Auburn head coach Steven Pearl didn’t mince words when previewing the matchup earlier this week. “It could be a separator game,” he said.
“Two teams that have really been battle tested.” He also called it the best rivalry in the SEC-and there’s a strong case to be made.
Since 2018, Auburn and Alabama have combined for nine SEC titles. That’s not just success; that’s sustained dominance.
And even though neither team is ranked heading into this one-the first time that’s happened since 2021-both have faced brutal schedules, ranked among the toughest in the country by KenPom. That matters.
These aren’t teams coasting through cupcake wins; they’ve been forged in fire.
The Jungle Roars Early
The tone was set well before tip-off. Alabama big man Charles Bediako, who made waves this season by returning to the college game after a stint in the G League, was met with a chorus of boos during warmups.
Auburn's student section, The Jungle, let him hear it with chants of “G-League dropout”-a reminder that this rivalry isn’t just about basketball. It’s personal.
Honoring a Legend: Phillip Marshall
Before the game, Auburn paid tribute to longtime journalist Phillip Marshall, who passed away last week. Marshall spent over five decades covering Auburn athletics, and his presence loomed large in the program and the press room. Fittingly, the Tigers honored him with a memorial seat plate in the Neville Arena media room-an understated but powerful gesture for a man who chronicled generations of Auburn sports.
Crimson Tide Injury Watch
Alabama enters the game with a couple of key question marks. Labaron Philon, the SEC’s leading scorer at 21.4 points per game, and Taylor Bol Bowen, the team’s third-leading rebounder, were both listed as game-time decisions. Philon’s scoring punch and Bowen’s presence on the glass are critical for the Tide, especially in a hostile environment like Neville Arena.
Broadcast Details
Saturday’s game will be broadcast on ESPN2, with a star-studded crew on the call. Dick Vitale returns to the booth alongside Dave O’Brien and Cory Alexander. On the radio side, fans can tune into WLWI FM (92.3) in Montgomery or WGZZ FM (94.3) in Auburn, with Andy Burcham on play-by-play and Randall Dickey providing color.
Series Snapshot
Alabama holds a 36-game edge in the all-time series, but Auburn has historically defended its home court well, leading 34-31 in games played on The Plains. With both teams needing a win to stay in the thick of the SEC race, this one could swing momentum for whoever comes out on top.
Auburn’s Road So Far
Auburn’s season has been a roller coaster of ranked matchups, big wins, and tough losses. Here’s a quick look at how the Tigers have fared in 2025-26:
- They opened the year with a narrow overtime win over Bethune-Cookman and rolled through Merrimack and Wofford.
- A one-point heartbreaker against No.
2 Houston showed their potential, and they bounced back with a dominant win over Jackson State.
- They picked up quality wins over Oregon and St.
John’s in neutral-site action, but suffered tough losses to Michigan and Arizona.
- SEC play has been a grind: a thrilling win over Arkansas, a stumble at Missouri, and a statement road win at Florida.
- Most recently, they fell to Tennessee but have shown flashes of cohesion and toughness that could carry them deep into March if they find consistency.
What’s Next
After Alabama, Auburn hosts No. 15 Vanderbilt, then hits the road to face No.
21 Arkansas and Mississippi State. The Tigers also have dates with Kentucky, Oklahoma, and LSU still on the schedule.
In other words, the margin for error is razor thin.
Saturday’s Iron Bowl may not feature a top-10 matchup or a conference leader, but it’s a pivotal game in a crowded SEC race. Two battle-tested teams.
One heated rivalry. And a whole lot on the line.
Tip-off can’t come soon enough.