Tag: Alabama Football

‘College GameDay’ announces Rivalry Week location

Where will Nick Saban and College GameDay be Saturday? Here’s what you need to know.

It’s Rivalry Week in college football, and there are no shortage of appetizing games between bitter rivals in Week 14.

For ESPN’s “College GameDay,” the crew of Nick Saban, Rece Davis, Kirk Herbstreit, Lee Corso, Desmond Howard and Pat McAfee will be at Kyle Field in College Station for the much-anticipated clash between the Texas Longhorns (10-1) and Texas A&M Aggies (8-3). ESPN made the announcement Saturday, Nov. 23.

It’s the second time this season that Texas A&M has hosted GameDay. The Aggies hosted the iconic pregame show in Week 1 when Mike Elko’s team squared off against Notre Dame.

Saturday will mark the first time that Texas and Texas A&M will play on the gridiron since 2011. The winner will play the Georgia Bulldogs in the SEC Championship Game. The SEC champion will receive a first-round bye in the 12-team College Football Playoff.

Texas is No. 3 in the CFP rankings and US LBM Coaches Poll. Texas A&M is No. 20/No. 19. Kickoff for Texas-Texas A&M is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. CT. The game can be seen on ABC.

“College GameDay” begins broadcasting live at 8 a.m. CT on ESPN.

Alabama-Auburn, Michigan-Ohio State, South Carolina-Clemson meet in high-stakes Week 14 rivalries

In Tuscaloosa, Alabama takes on Auburn in the 89th edition of the Iron Bowl rivalry. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. The game will be televised on ABC with the broadcast crew of Sean McDonough on play-by-play and Greg McElroy on commentary.

The Crimson Tide (8-3) fell to No. 13 in this week’s CFP rankings after their 24-3 loss at Oklahoma. Auburn (5-6) defeated Texas A&M, 43-41, in 4OT last Saturday at Jordan-Hare Stadium.

Ohio State (10-1) hosts Michigan (6-5) in Columbus in a game the Buckeyes are heavily expected to win for the first time since 2019. A win by Ryan Day’s team would set up a rematch with the No. 1 Oregon Ducks (11-0) in the Big Ten Championship Game, Dec. 7 in Indianapolis. Kickoff for Ohio-State Michigan is at 11 a.m. on Fox.

South Carolina (8-3) visits Clemson (9-2) in a top 15 matchup with both teams clinging to hopes of an at-large berth in the playoffs. Dabo Swinney and the Tigers are ranked No. 12 in this week’s CFP rankings, three spots higher than Shane Beamer’s Gamecocks. Clemson vs. South Carolina will kick off at 11 a.m. CT on ESPN.

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USA TODAY Sports experts predict Alabama-Auburn winner in huge Iron Bowl showdown

Here’s who USA TODAY Sports experts think will win the 2024 Iron Bowl.

It’s officially Iron Bowl Eve. The 2024 edition of Alabama Crimson Tide vs. Auburn Tigers features many storylines.

For Alabama (8-3 overall, 4-3 SEC), they’re hoping a once-promising season that saw them ranked No. 1 in the AP Top 25 poll after their thrilling 41-34 win over the Georgia Bulldogs on Sept. 28 doesn’t end in outright disaster under first-year coach Kalen DeBoer.

For Auburn (5-6, 2-5), the Tigers are in search of their first Iron Bowl win since 2019, and their first win in Tuscaloosa since 2010 when Cam Newton led an incredible 28-27 comeback after being down 24-0. More than that, Auburn can crush whatever faint hopes the Crimson Tide have of sneaking into the College Football Playoff.

As it stands, Alabama fell six spots to No. 13 in this week’s CFP rankings after an abysmal showing in a 24-3 loss to the Oklahoma Sooners in Week 13. Jalen Milroe was picked off three times, and the Crimson Tide failed to score a touchdown in a game for the first time since 2011. Alabama now needs a win over Auburn, plus some major help in the form of Top 25 upsets to reach the playoffs.

The Tigers scored their first upset of the year with a 43-41 4OT win over the Texas A&M Aggies at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Auburn quarterback Peyton Thorne threw for 301 yards and two touchdowns, and senior tailback Jarquez Hunter rushed for three scores and 130 yards on 28 carries in the upset win over A&M.

RELATED: ‘College GameDay’ announces Rivalry Week location

On Wednesday, USA TODAY Sports’ college football experts released their predictions for every Top 25 team in Week 14, including Alabama. All six members of USA TODAY’s panel — Paul Myerberg, Dan Wolken, Eddie Timanus, Scooby Axson, Jordan Mendoza and Erick Smith — picked the Crimson Tide to beat Auburn.

Elsewhere, ESPN Analytics’ Matchup Predictor gives Alabama an 87.6 percent chance to beat Auburn at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

Kickoff for Alabama vs. Auburn is set for 2:30 p.m. CT Saturday. Sean McDonough and Greg McElroy will have the call of the game for ABC, which is televising its first Iron Bowl since 1994.

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The last time Alabama football played a game on Thanksgiving

Curious about the last time Alabama football played on Thanksgiving Day? Here’s a trip down memory lane for Crimson Tide fans.

The 1992 college football season will always hold a special place in the hearts of Alabama Crimson Tide fans.

Alabama concluded its season with a dominant 34-13 win over the Miami Hurricanes in the Sugar Bowl to win the national championship. The Crimson Tide finished a perfect 13-0.

Included on their ’92 schedule? A Thanksgiving Day edition of the Iron Bowl matchup with the Auburn Tigers at Legion Field in Birmingham that was nationally televised on ABC. It’s the last time the Crimson Tide have played a football game on Thanksgiving.

For a trip down memory lane, here’s what happened when the Tide and Tigers met at “The Old Gray Lady” on Nov. 26, 1992.

Gene Stallings’ Alabama team was ranked No. 2 in the nation after nail-biting wins over No. 13 Tennessee, 17-10 in Knoxville, and No. 16 Mississippi State, 30-21, in Starkville in the run-up to the Iron Bowl. Standing in the way of an undefeated regular season was an Auburn team that was even more fired up than usual to play its biggest rival.

That’s because the biggest story entering the game wasn’t Alabama’s No. 2 ranking, but the news that broke the night before. Auburn head coach Pat Dye, a former Bear Bryant assistant and personal friend, had announced his resignation late Friday in Birmingham.

When the game kicked off, Auburn fought Alabama to a scoreless tie at halftime. Shortly afterwards, star cornerback Antonio Langham stole the day. With the Tigers having driven to the Alabama 39-yard-line, Langham tipped a pass from Auburn quarterback Stan White for an interception and returned it 60 yards for the game’s first points.

Alabama fans could breathe easy after that. Michael Proctor tacked on a 47-yard field goal late in the third quarter, and Sherman Williams broke a 15-yard touchdown run early in the fourth.

The Tide’s vaunted defense finished off a shutout that day for a 17-0 win. At the time, it was the first shutout win by an Alabama team in the Iron Bowl since Bryant’s 1975 squad blanked the Plainsmen, 28-0.

Two shutout wins by Alabama over Auburn have followed since that Thanksgiving Day at Legion Field in 1992. Under Nick Saban. the Tide snapped a six-game losing streak in the rivalry with a 36-0 win in Tommy Tuberville’s final game as Auburn coach in 2008. Four years later, in the final game for another Auburn coach (Gene Chizik), Alabama won 49-0.

Alabama leads the all-time series vs. Auburn, 50-37-1, and will be seeking their fifth straight win against the Tigers when the two teams meet Saturday at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. CT. The game can be seen on ABC.

RELATED: Alabama-Auburn gets a top ABC, ESPN broadcast team

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Alabama vs. Auburn injury report: Latest updates, news for Week 14

All the latest updates and news on Alabama’s injury report ahead of a Week 14 game vs. Auburn.

With the Iron Bowl looming Saturday afternoon in Tuscaloosa, we received a look at the latest injury report for both teams, the Alabama Crimson Tide and Auburn Tigers, on Wednesday night.

In all, Alabama had a total of four players listed with injuries, while Auburn had far more going into Saturday’s matchup. However, there were some key names listed for both teams, which includes a few starters who will miss this year’s Iron Bowl.

Here is the initial injury report for the Week 14 showdown between Alabama and Auburn:

Alabama Crimson Tide injury report

  • Deontae Lawson, Linebacker – Out
  • Keon Sabb, Defensive Back – Out
  • Cole Adams, Wide Receiver – Out
  • Que Robinson, Linebacker – Out

Alabama had a total of four players listed as “out” Wednesday night, with the lone change from last week being the addition of starting inside linebacker Deontae Lawson. Lawson suffered an injury last Saturday that will result in the linebacker missing the remainder of the season.

Auburn Tigers injury report

  • Jamonta Waller, Outside Linebacker – Out
  • Tyler Scott, Defensive Back – Out
  • Champ Anthony, Defensive Back – Out
  • Alex McPherson, Kicker – Out
  • Brandon Frazier, Tight End – Out
  • Rivaldo Fairweather, Tight End – Questionable

Auburn has five players listed as “out,” as well as one noteworthy player carrying a “questionable” tag in tight end Rivaldo Fairweather. So far this season, Fairweather has 28 receptions for 317 yards and two touchdowns.

Crimson Tide still a 37% chance to make CFP according to ESPN’s Playoff Predictor

Despite three loss, Alabama still in contention for a Playoff berth.

After suffering their third loss of the season against the Oklahoma Sooners, it seemed as if the Alabama Crimson Tide’s Playoff hopes were over, but that might not be entirely true. It will still take a handful of things to happen, but after coming in at No. 13 in this week’s CFP rankings, the door might be cracked.

If Alabama wants to sneak into the first 12-team field, they will need to beat Auburn, South Carolina has to beat Clemson, and then Clemson has to beat SMU convincingly in the ACC Championship. With Ole Miss a spot behind at No. 14 and only a game against Mississippi State remaining, Alabama is in a good place.

The ESPN Playoff Predictor gives Alabama a 37% chance of sneaking in where they would likely play at No. 5 seed Oregon or Ohio State. Ultimately, the Crimson Tide will need the top eight teams to stay pretty solid, with chaos taking place everywhere else.

Even though Alabama didn’t look the part in their trip to Norman, I still don’t think their is a single team in the country that wants to line up across the field from Kalen DeBoer’s squad. But, Alabama has to do their part and destroy Auburn this week to give themselves a chance.

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Sam Murphy on Twitter @SamMurphy02.

Alabama adds third commitment to top-ranked 2027 recruiting class

While early, Alabama’s 2027 class continues to grow.

While the Alabama Crimson Tide flipped a three-star running back from a Big Ten program Tuesday, that was not the program’s lone news during the day to come on the recruiting trail.

That is because the Crimson Tide also added another commitment to their 2027 recruiting class, as Alexander Ward officially committed to Alabama.

Ward announced his commitment to the Crimson Tide over a list of finalists that included the Auburn Tigers, Florida State Seminoles, Georgia Bulldogs, Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, and South Carolina Gamecocks.

The first out-of-state prospect in Alabama’s 2027 class, Ward is a wide receiver out of Walton High School in Georgia. Ward however is not currently ranked as a prospect according to the 247Sports Composite rankings, but that will likely change in a future update.

Ward is now the third commitment in Alabama’s 2027 recruiting class, one that currently ranks No. 1 nationally. Alongside Ward, the others members from Alabama’s 2027 class are from in-state with four-star edge rushers Jabarrius Garror and Ba’Roc Willis.

Where’s Alabama in latest College Football Playoff bracket? Full playoff picture

Alabama landed No. 13 in the latest College Football Rankings. Here’s a playoff picture for the Crimson Tide.

The all-important College Football Playoff rankings were released once again Tuesday night, with the Alabama Crimson Tide seeing a significant drop as a result of their road loss to the Oklahoma Sooners, as expected.

However, not all is necessarily a loss for the Crimson Tide, as there is still a chance that Alabama could end up making the College Football Playoff with a win this Saturday afternoon against Auburn.

Let’s take a look at the latest College Football Playoff rankings after Tuesday night’s latest release, as well as what the first round matchups would be right now:

College Football Playoff bracket: Who’s in, who’s out

  • First Round Byes: No. 1 seed Oregon (Big Ten), No. 2 seed Texas (SEC), No. 3 seed Miami (ACC), No. 4 seed Boise State (MWC)
  • First Round Matchups: No. 5 seed Ohio State vs. No. 12 seed Arizona State (Big 12), No. 6 seed Penn State vs. No. 11 seed Indiana, No. 7 seed Notre Dame vs. No. 10 seed SMU, No. 8 seed Georgia vs. No. 9 seed Tennessee
  • First Two Out: Clemson, Alabama

Latest CFP rankings

  • 25. Colorado (8-3)
  • 24. Kansas State (8-3)
  • 23. Illinois (8-3)
  • 22. UNLV (9-2)
  • 21. Missouri (8-3)
  • 20. Texas A&M (8-3)
  • 19. BYU (9-2)
  • 18. Iowa State (9-2)
  • 17. Tulane (9-2)
  • 16. Arizona State (9-2)
  • 15. South Carolina (8-3)
  • 14. Ole Miss Rebels (8-3)
  • 13. Alabama (8-3)
  • 12. Clemson (9-2)
  • 11. Boise State (10-1)
  • 10. Indiana (10-1)
  • 9. SMU (10-1)
  • 8. Tennessee (9-2)
  • 7. Georgia (9-2)
  • 6. Miami (10-1)
  • 5. Notre Dame (10-1)
  • 4. Penn State (10-1)
  • 3. Texas (10-1)
  • 2. Ohio State (10-1)
  • 1. Oregon (11-0)

Alabama’s projected CFP opponent

  • N/A – Alabama is on the outside of the CFP at the moment, and will need help to get in.

How many teams in College Football Playoff 2024?

For the first time, there will be 12 teams participating in the College Football Playoffs. There are five automatic bids for each of the Power Four conference champions and one to the highest-ranked Group of Five champion. The remaining seven slots are given to the seven at-large teams.

When next College Football Playoff rankings come out

  • Tuesday, Nov. 12: 8:30 p.m. ET
  • Tuesday, Nov. 19: 7 p.m. ET
  • Tuesday, Nov. 26: 8 p.m. ET
  • Tuesday, Dec. 3: 7 p.m. ET
  • Sunday, Dec. 8: Noon ET

A look at Alabama vs. Auburn head-to-head football history

The Iron Bowl has a lengthy history that dates back to 1893.

Across the entirety of college football, there are few rivalries, if any, greater than the Iron Bowl, which pits a pair of in-state foes, the Alabama Crimson Tide and Auburn Tigers, against each other annually.

A rivalry that dates all the way back to 1893, this will be the 89th meeting between Alabama and Auburn all-time, with the Crimson Tide owning an overall 50-37-1 advantage in the series head-to-head.

In the early days of the rivalry, a vast majority of the games were played at Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama prior to the two schools playing on each other’s campuses annually starting in the late-1900’s.

Since then, both programs have enjoyed dominant stretches in the head-to-head series, the first of which was a six-game winning streak from Auburn from 2002-07. Alabama then reversed that when former head coach Nick Saban arrived in Tuscaloosa, going a combined 12-5 since 2007, with only one of those losses coming in Tuscaloosa.

That lone Auburn win in Tuscaloosa during the Saban era came in 2010, which was the last time the Tigers have won in Bryant-Denny Stadium.

At the moment, Alabama is currently riding a four-game winning streak in the rivalry dating back to 2020. That stretch includes a 42-13 and 49-27 victory in Tuscaloosa, as well as a 24-22 and 27-24 win at Auburn.

The most recent meeting a year ago took place in Auburn, which is where Alabama picked up a 27-24 victory. This game included the now famous “4th-and-31” play, when quarterback Jalen Milroe threw a late touchdown pass to wide receiver Isaiah Bond in the corner of the end zone.

What will now happen when the Crimson Tide and Tigers meet Saturday afternoon for the latest edition of the Iron Bowl?

Alabama flips Michigan State running back commitment to Crimson Tide

Alabama has flipped another Big Ten commitment.

After a prediction was logged last night, Michigan State Spartans running back commit Jace Clarizio has now officially flipped his commitment to the Alabama Crimson Tide, making the announcement Tuesday afternoon via a post on social media.

Clarizio had previously been committed to the Spartans since May of 2024, and was one of the highest-ranked members of Michigan State’s class.

A native of East Lansing, Michigan, Clarizio is ranked as a three-star in the 2025 class, considered as the nation’s No. 493 overall prospect according to the 247Sports Composite rankings. Clarizio also ranks as the nation’s No. 37 overall running back, as well as the No. 6 player in the state of Michigan.

Following the commitment of Clarizio, Alabama’s 2025 class now holds a total of 22 commitments, and ranks at No. 2 nationally. Clarizio is also the second running back in the Crimson Tide’s class, joined by four-star Akylin Dear.

The newest Alabama commitment is the fourth three-star prospect in Alabama’s 2025 class as well.

Everything Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer said about Auburn, Iron Bowl

DeBoer commented on the importance of the Iron Bowl on Monday.

When it comes to this year’s Iron Bowl, it is not only significant through the fact that it is the first without Nick Saban since 2006, but also that is the first for Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer.

Yes, DeBoer is now set to face the Auburn Tigers, not only for the first time as head coach at Alabama, but also for the first time in his coaching career.

DeBoer also previewed Alabama’s upcoming matchup as part of his weekly press conference as well. Here is everything that DeBoer said about Auburn, as well as the Iron Bowl.

Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer comments on importance of Iron Bowl

“Just talking about it yesterday in the team meeting, you can already feel leadership stepping up, and really talk about what this game means to them, what this means to us, and what it means to everyone on both sides of the state 365 days of the year,” DeBoer said. “Ever since I’ve been here, I think I hear about it every day, and understand what it means and the excitement, and we have to learn from last week, and be better because of it, turn the page, get ready to practice tomorrow, and do everything we can to be successful on Saturday. Find a way to win.”

Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer comments on legacy of Iron Bowl

“It’s going to be an awesome environment, we know that,” DeBoer said. “Love playing the game at home. We get a chance to be undefeated, that’s a sidebar note, but to be undefeated at home, it’s a big deal. It’s always been a big deal to me, and that’s where we’re at as a team. Just this game, what it means to those that come from each side, and what it means to the state, it’s talked about, and not just told to me, but talked about amongst everyone in their homes, and it’s Thanksgiving weekend, so if you’re not at the game, you’re home watching it with your friends and family. Heard stories of families being divided because of it in many different ways, so that’s what rivalry games are all about, and I know this is a rivalry that’s on another level.”

Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer on past story of Iron Bowl

“Not that there is a particular story or something that’s just off-the-wall, I know those all exist, but I understand what took place a year ago, and what it took to win that game,” DeBoer said. “That’s probably pretty reminiscent of what both sides are looking at as far as the effort it’s going to take, and playing for four quarters. Playing every second and every play like it’s your last. That’s the intensity of it.”

Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer comments on Cam Coleman, Auburn offense

“They have multiple threats that I would consider very difficult,” DeBoer said. “Certainly high-profile guys who have really produced for both teams as young athletes here at the college level. He’s extremely impressive, and he’s made a lot of plays for them this year. You’ve got to focus not just on him, but the others guys that have had big games, and it’s not just in the pass game, but in the run game. Their quarterback now, Thorne, has done a nice job adding to that too with his legs. A lot of threats, and that’s what you want to be, an offense that has a lot of threats, and they have that.”