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TUSCLAOOSA, Ala. – – Once the Iron Bowl started, Nick Saban was just another passionate and heavily invested fan who was powerless to help his team win.
His team won anyway – big.
Mac Jones had a career-high 302 yards and five touchdowns, highlighted by two longs at DeVonta Smith, and the No.1 Alabama toppled his No.22 rival Auburn 42-13 on Saturday without Saban.
The Crimson Tide (8-0, No.1 playoff standings) continued a dominant march thanks to a Southeastern Conference schedule even without their six-time national champion coach on the sidelines.
Saban tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday and watched the game stream from home, witnessing the usual array of big games with offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian running the show.
Saban said his staff “did a wonderful job”.
“Sark did a good job of handling things, and I sat here and felt a little helpless,” he said in a post-game zoom from his home. “I could see things and scream at things and listen to (his wife) Miss Terry scream downstairs. It’s a little different. It always feels good to win.
The result was about the same against the Tigers (5-3), who suffered the second most lopsided loss of Gus Malzahn’s coaching tenure. The only larger margin was Alabama’s 52-21 victory in the 2018 Iron Bowl.
“They are a very, very talented team,” said Malzahn. “We knew it. Still, we came here with the mindset that we wanted to win the game. To beat a team like this on the road, you have to play. We didn’t do that. We didn’t play our best. It’s obvious.”
Alabama started a three-straight touchdown streak with Jones’ 66-yard touchdown at Smith, who was alone downhill after Auburn defensemen bit on a double move. He then added a 58-yard catch and ran down a steep hill, away from the Tigers.
Smith had seven catches for 171 yards. Najee Smith ran for 96 yards, including a 39-yard touchdown, and John Metchie III caught a pair of kills.
“Not having Coach Saban is tough and obviously he did a great job preparing us all for a situation like this,” Jones said. “It was clear that we were prepared for this situation.”
Bo Nix had 227 yards and ran for a late touchdown for the Tigers, but also threw two interceptions.
“It’s pretty terrible,” Nix said. “It’s not a lot of fun. It just hurts because of everything I put in it, everything I did to get to this moment and just be too short. It’s a horrible feeling, to be honest with you.
Saban, meanwhile, was unable to speak to his squad from 90 minutes before kick-off, although he still led the preparation during the week. He spoke to the media in his home’s “recruiting room,” filled with Alabama memorabilia, including an elephant head hanging on the wall and a pool table with a crimson playing surface.
“It was really difficult, especially the fact that I feel good,” said the 69-year-old.
THE TAKEAWAY
Auburn: Managed a solid 347 yards overall, but had a few missed opportunities. The Tigers had to settle for three long field goal attempts by Anders Carlson, who sent shots on goal from 45 and 47 yards. Star wide receiver Seth Williams, who hails from Cottondale, also dropped a safe touchdown.
Alabama: Have continued their strong defensive play lately, having given up 33 points in their last 18 quarters since the game’s halftime against Georgia. I’m getting revenge for a 48-45 loss last season.
STREAKING SMITH
Smith has been on fire since the end of season injury to fellow receiver Jaylen Waddle. He has 27 catches for 518 yards and eight touchdowns in the last three games. Smith also perhaps helped motivate his quarterback by showing him a comment from Nix calling Jones “a game manager.”
“It was just funny to see that,” said Smith, who was playing his last game at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
SURVEY IMPLICATIONS
Alabama was already a unanimous No.1 and did nothing to diminish its reputation. Notre Dame, second, beat the 25th North Carolina 31-17 Friday night. Auburn could fall from the standings with the loss.
MOORE PICKS
Malachi Moore’s interception of Nix at the end of the first half was his third of the season. He’s the first freshman in Alabama with multiple picks since 2015, when Minkah Fitzpatrick, Ronnie Harrison, and red shirt Marlon Humphrey all did.
NEXT
Auburn: Hosts No.5 Texas A&M on December 5.
Alabama: To reigning national champion LSU, one of two teams to beat the Tide last season, in a makeup game on December 5.
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