Alabama’s 31-13 win over LSU on Saturday may have done more than just keep the Crimson Tide rolling in Death Valley. It may have also stripped some of the drama out of the Iron Bowl on November 28, when Auburn heads to Tuscaloosa.
At 7-2 with Vanderbilt and Chattanooga still left, Alabama now looks like it could already be on firm College Football Playoff ground. Its No. 5 spot in last week’s CFP rankings did plenty of the work, and the victory over LSU - which moved Lane Kiffin’s overall record against Alabama to 0-6 - may have closed the door on any real doubt.
Auburn can still influence Alabama’s seeding, but the Tigers probably won’t be able to knock the Crimson Tide out of the playoff picture.
That was part of the message on ABC’s postgame coverage, where the panel sold Alabama as already having punched its ticket by pointing out that three-loss teams will make the field. Even LSU, the panel noted, is still not officially out if it can get through the next two weeks against Texas and then Tennessee on Rocky Top.
If Alabama is no longer fighting for its playoff life when Auburn arrives, the Iron Bowl could shift in a different direction. There would be more reason for the Tide to think about protecting banged-up players, even if the rivalry itself always brings out full effort. In that scenario, Auburn might actually hold the edge if the CFP is on Kalen DeBoer and Co.’s minds.
The bigger picture matters, too. With the SEC Championship Game possibly being played one last time, even though the contract keeps it in Atlanta through 2031, Alabama could be better off avoiding that extra game altogether. A loss to Auburn would sting, but a loss in the SEC title game - along with a possible injury or two - would be far worse.
Alex Golesh has already shown what Auburn can do, beating Georgia in Athens and proving that rivals can be vulnerable to the Tigers in the year 2026. He has also had far more time to prepare for the Iron Bowl than for the Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry.
So while Alabama’s win over LSU was bad news for anyone hoping for a high-stakes Iron Bowl, it may end up helping Auburn down the line.
In Other News...
Auburn Could Be Headed For A Full Circle Bowl Rematch
Auburn finally snapped its two-game skid with a win over Arkansas, and the payoff could be more than just a needed reset in the standings. With five wins in hand, the Tigers are now one victory away from bowl eligibility for the first time since 2023, with Mississippi State, Samford and Alabama still left on the schedule to provide that last push.
If Auburn gets there, the postseason path could have a familiar feel. CBS Sports Brad Crawford projects the Tigers to land in the Liberty Bowl against Baylor, which would send them back into a matchup with the same opponent they opened the season against. For a team trying to finish strong and reclaim some momentum, a rematch like that would add an extra layer to December. [Read more 🡒]
SEC Criticism Of Lane Kiffin Just Got Harder For LSU To Ignore
Paul Finebaums criticism of Lane Kiffin after LSUs loss to Alabama has added another layer to the scrutiny already building around the Tigers head coach. Finebaum said Kiffin still has not shown he can consistently get past top-tier opponents, a familiar refrain that has followed him even as he has had success in other spots against lesser competition.
For LSU, the timing makes the noise harder to brush aside. The Tigers are trying to steady themselves with a current record that leaves little margin for error, and the upcoming schedule only sharpens the pressure on Kiffin to prove the doubts wrong. The question now is whether LSU can turn the conversation from skepticism to statement before the season gets away from it. [Read more 🡒]
Auburn Answered One Big SEC Question In A Wild Finish
Auburn spent Saturday night answering one of the SECs tougher questions the hard way, digging out of a 10-point halftime deficit and leaving Arkansas with a 26-23 win. The Tigers found their footing late, putting together a fourth-quarter surge that turned a game that looked out of reach into another tense finish, the kind that can change the tone around a team in a hurry.
Alex McPhersons 43-yard field goal helped seal it after Auburn had already pushed across a late touchdown, capping a 17-point fourth quarter and sending the Tigers to 5-4. Now the focus shifts back home, where Mississippi State comes to Auburn next Saturday and the Tigers will try to build on a win that felt as important for belief as it did for the standings. [Read more 🡒]