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TUSCALOOSA, Alabama (AP) – Deionte Thompson of Alabama remembers the sensation of leaving the field following the loss of Iron Bowl as Auburn fans stormed the crowd.
The Crimson Tide headed to the locker room, fearing that their national championship dreams would be dashed after last year's game.
"It was not a good feeling," said Thompson, a Crimson Tide security. "Yeah, it was not a good one."
The Crimson Tide (11-0, 7-0 South Conference Conference) lost to the league in this loss, but ended up qualifying for the playoffs and finally winning their fifth national title under coach Nick Saban.
Alabama, who is in first place in the standings, will take part in the Saturday rematch with the Tigers (7-4, 3-4) having already secured a spot for the SEC match against Georgia, No. 5. But Tide players do not want to leave their home field with the same disappointment and uncertainty.
Of course, Auburn was ranked # 6 in this game and also played for a SEC title shot. Now the Tigers are banking on this one to help recover a disappointing season.
The underdogs of 24-1 / 2 points are trying to do what no other SEC team has done: give the tide a four-quarter match. Alabama beat each opponent in the league by at least 22 points.
"Anything can happen in a match like this," said quarterback Auburn Jarrett Stidham. "We know how we can play. You know, not a year ago we were on the same field and beat them. "
Many things have changed over these 12 months, however. Now, the quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is a Heisman trophy candidate at the head of a powerful tidal offensive. Auburn's usual racing game was not always productive and the offensive line struggled to protect Stidham.
Alabama coach Nick Saban still respects the ground game, although Auburn does not have a half-star like Kerryon Johnson.
"They have always been able to run the ball," Saban said. "We always had a hard time keeping them from running the ball."
The stakes are very different for both teams. Auburn draws primarily on the rights of the braggart in the entire state. The tide no longer wants to leave its fate in the hands of the playoff selection committee.
Beat Auburn and Georgia, and there is no doubt that "Bama is one of four teams as every season since the start of the playoffs.
"We want to end the season on a positive note, and losing late is not always what's best," said Tide center Ross Pierschbacher. "People say you can lose early and you can keep going and have a better chance.
"But if you lose late, it makes the task really difficult. I think we noticed that last year, losing late, it was difficult to enter the playoffs and what it took. We do not want to leave that to them. "
Here are a few more things to know about Saturday's game in Auburn-Alabama:
FABULOUS FRESHMEN
Alabama receiver Jaylen Waddle is the SEC's leading playmaker, but the Auburn offense is more youth-friendly. Seth Williams, a product of Tuscaloosa, and Anthony Schwartz, also a receiver, are also in this group. They are among the top four receivers of the Tigers, while three of the top four runners are freshmen, including Redshirt, JaTarvious Whitlow.
Waddle has 34 catches for 617 yards and five touchdowns and returns kicks.
KICKERS
Saban said Alabama's difficulty in getting extra points was "not really acceptable to me." The Tide missed eight of his attempts this season, including five from Joseph Bulovas.
Auburn Anders Carlson did not have this problem. He scored 15 of 25 goals, but seven of those misfires were scored nine times over 50 yards.
RUSHERS PASS
Alabama and Auburn are 1/2 in the SEC in the bags, but the first is much better at preventing them. The Tigers also found their top scorer, Nick Coe, following a wrist injury that left him out of Liberty. Isaiah Buggs, Christian Miller and the other Tide pursuers face a struggling offensive line.
runners
Damien Harris of Alabama was cleared after undergoing the concussion protocol following a Citadel injury. Auburn coach Gus Malzahn said Whitlow, who had to fight injuries, is also in good health.
PROLIFIC RECEIVERS
Jerry Jeudy, of Alabama, is undoubtedly the headliner, but the game offers other sensors prolific and dangerous passes. Ryan Davis of Auburn is the absolute leader of the program with 169 career catches. He may have had his best match in Auburn with 11 catches for 139 yards at Iron Bowl last year. Jeudy has 51 passes for 1,002 yards and 10 touchdowns.
On the other hand, Auburn's Sturnham has only 12 TD passes this season.
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More AP University Football: https://apnews.com/Collegefootball and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25
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