11.23.23 Football Articles

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si.com

 

Auburn vs Alabama Listed One of CFB's Most Interesting Games This Weekend

Lance Dawe

~2 minutes

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The Auburn Tigers need to quickly get back on track following their loss to New Mexico State.

The 31-10 thrashing was one of the worst losses in recent Auburn history. There were no turnovers, no special teams magic, no wild, chaotic, once in a blue moon type of plays that aided the Aggies in their win.

It was simply a complete whipping by a Group of Five team.

Now heading into Iron Bowl week, Auburn and Hugh Freeze have to find a way to refocus quickly. Alabama may prove to be the biggest challenge to Auburn on their schedule this season.

According to Brandon Marcello of 247Sports, the matchup between Auburn (6-5, 3-4 SEC) and Alabama (10-1, 7-0 SEC) is one of the most interesting games of this weekend.

Marcello ranked it as his fifth most interesting game, the four matchups above the Iron Bowl being Washington vs Washington State, Tulane vs UTSA, Oregon vs Oregon State, and Michigan vs Ohio State.

According to ESPN FPI, the Tigers only have a 14.3% chance to take down the Tide.

If Auburn wants to have a shot in this game, the offense will have to move the football both on the ground and through the air, and the defense needs to get pressure on Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe.

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saturdaydownsouth.com

Gary Danielson names key player for Auburn in Iron Bowl

Daniel Peterson | 13 hours ago

2–3 minutes

Gary Danielson joined CBS Sports HQ on Wednesday to preview this year’s Iron Bowl. He identified a key player for Auburn’s upset bid and who has the advantage in the run game for this matchup.

“When Auburn plays the best, Jarquez Hunter the running back, he keeps any defense honest,” Danielson said. “If he can keep Alabama from staying back and playing soft, that gives Auburn an opportunity to do what they wanna do. That’s the guy right there, he needs to play well. He needs to be a threat the whole game cause then Hugh Freeze can get his tempo game going. Payton Thorne, when he gets a little help from the running game, he seems to be a pretty efficient quarterback.”

Danielson also talked about who he thinks has the advantage in the running game on Saturday.

“Alabama has the edge in most areas, except for the fact that it is a rivalry game and it’s gonna be played at home. Auburn can’t have this being a one-armed fight. They need both the running game and the passing game. They need to keep this Alabama defense off balance.”

Hunter, a junior, has been key to the Tigers offense all season, racking up 772 rushing yards and 7 touchdowns on 132 carries. Hunter has also added 16 receptions for 111 yards as well. In the 2022 edition of the Iron Bowl Hunter had success on the ground running for 134 yards on 11 carries, and he added 3 receptions for 15 yards in the passing game.

Auburn hosts Alabama this Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET on CBS.

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theplainsman.com

 

COLUMN | Why Auburn fans should have hope for the Iron Bowl

Luca Flores | Staff Photographer

6–8 minutes

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It’s been four years since the Auburn Tigers defeated the Alabama Crimson Tide in the Iron Bowl. Here are some reasons fans should believe they can do it again:

1. Hugh Freeze's history against Nick Saban and Alabama

Coach Freeze

Only eight active head coaches in college football have at least once victory over Saban since he took over the Crimson Tide in 2007, and Freeze is one of them – defeating Alabama twice over the 2014-15 season. Both those wins were early in Freeze's tenure with Ole Miss, and now, he's early in his tenure on the Plains.

Freeze has years of experience in the SEC, knows how the league works and has the luxury of having coaching experience against Saban – something that many first-year head coaches in the SEC don't get.

2. Freeze's experience as a big underdog

Hugh Freeze in the Auburn walkout against UMass at Jordan Hare Stadium on September 2nd 2023

According to the sports book at USA Today, the Tigers are 14.5-point underdogs for this year's Iron Bowl. While Auburn is projected to lose by just over two touchdowns, this isn't the first time a Freeze led team has been heavy underdogs and nearly or outright won.

Just earlier this season Georgia was favored by 14.5 against Auburn, but the game came down to the final drives. While the Bulldogs prevailed, it took some incredible catches from tight end Brock Bowers to carry Georgia to a victory in Jordan-Hare Stadium.

Freeze was also on the short end of the betting odds a couple times at Liberty. In November 2020, Freeze and his Liberty Flames went on the road as 17-point underdogs to face Virginia Tech. However, the Flames left Lane Stadium as a three-point winner thanks to a game-winning, 51-yard field goal and a fourth quarter that saw Freeze's offense score 17 points.

Similarly, Liberty was a 14.5-point underdog last season on the road against Arkansas, yet the Flames came out victorious in a 21-19 win. All that to say, being a heavy underdog is not a new thing for Freeze, and he has history of picking up monumental wins even when he isn't supposed to.

3. Forget last week's result

Auburn's loss to New Mexico State last week is arguably the worst loss in Auburn football history. However, the loss is in the past and instead of dwelling on it, the Tigers should think back to what they did well over the three-week span that saw them win three consecutive games over SEC opponents.

It goes without saying that Auburn cannot play the same way it did against New Mexico State if it wants to beat Alabama. If Auburn wants to pull off the shocking upset, it's not only going to have to retool its offense, defense and special teams back to the way they performed over the three-game winning streak, but even better as Alabama is much more talented than Mississippi State, Vanderbilt and Arkansas.

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4. The magic of Jordan-Hare Stadium

Auburn fans cheer on the Tigers in Jordan Hare Stadium, against Samford, on September 16, 2023.

Even after a shocking loss last week, you can bet that Jordan-Hare Stadium will still be packed out, ready to cheer on the Tigers just a couple days after Thanksgiving. In the 2021-22 season under first-year head coach Bryan Harsin, Auburn was nosediving with a thee-game losing streak on its hands and had just suffered a bad loss to 5-6 South Carolina the week before the Iron Bowl.

However, the stands were still filled with orange and blue, and the environment of the game, which undoubtedly motivated the players, led the Tigers to a near victory over a 10-1 Alabama team that ended in a two-point loss after four overtimes.

In six of the last seven games of the Iron Bowl at Jordan-Hare Stadium, we've seen games head into the fourth quarter with Auburn either winning or trailing by just one possession. Crazy, unexplainable things happen when the Iron Bowl is on the Plains. It's evident with improbable endings like the "Kick Six" in 2013 that saw Chris Davis return a missed field goal with one second left 109 yards for a walk-off touchdown.

 

The 2017 rout over the Tide to win the SEC West and the late missed field goal from Alabama in the 2019 Iron Bowl that saw a freshman quarterback knock off Saban and the Tide are two more recent examples.

Though the "experts" say Auburn's chances are slim, Auburn fans know not to lose hope. In a rivalry where one second can change the outcome of a game, it is always unwise to count Auburn out. 

With a coach who has proven he can beat Alabama and the magical advantage Auburn has at Jordan-Hare Stadium, the Auburn Family just needs to believe in its team and maybe, just maybe, there will be a celebration like no other at Toomer's Corner on Saturday night.

Do you like this story? The Plainsman doesn't accept money from tuition or student fees, and we don't charge a subscription fee. But you can donate to support The Plainsman.

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Matthew Wallace | Assistant Sports Editor

Matthew is a senior from Huntsville, Alabama, majoring in journalism. He started with The Plainsman in fall 2021.

Twitter: @mattwallaceAU

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auburntigers.com

 

The Opening Drive: Auburn vs. Alabama

Auburn University Athletics

8–10 minutes

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AUBURN, Ala. – The Iron Bowl. There is no other rivalry like it in college football, maybe in all of sports. There's passion. There's intensity. There's drama. When Auburn and Alabama get together on the gridiron, you can expect a war.

"You sure hope that if (our team) has any type of competitive spirit in them as an individual, they're going to shake off the cobwebs and get ready for this war that they're getting ready to go into, and it will be that," Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze said. 

For Freeze, this will be his first Iron Bowl. He had success against Alabama head coach Nick Saban while at Ole Miss, but this will be his first time facing the Crimson Tide as the head coach at Auburn. 

For Luke Deal, this will be his fifth Iron Bowl. He was on the Auburn team in 2019 that knocked off No. 5 Alabama in a 48-45 thriller. He was on the Auburn team in 2021 that took No. 3 Alabama to four overtimes. He knows what this rivalry means. He knows what's at stake when these two in-state rivals play every year.  

"It's something that you think about 365," Deal said. "This is the game that everybody thinks about in the offseason. When you're doing sprints, when you're lifting heavy weight, when you're about ready to pass out, your legs are cramping and you've got to lift a teammate up off the ground – you do it for this game, for this moment, for this Saturday. 

"There are just so many people that care so much about this game that you can't go into it lightly. You have to realize exactly who you're doing it for, what's your why, and how much this place means to you – which for me, it means everything."

Deal will be one of 25 seniors recognized prior to Saturday's game. For those 25 seniors, this could very well be their final Iron Bowl, their last game in Jordan-Hare Stadium. It's a group that includes six fifth-year seniors who arrived at Auburn as part of the 2019 recruiting class. This will likely be their last home game together. 

"We have such a special group, a group that has seen a lot of change since we've been here," Deal said. "Not only with coaching changes and this and that, but guys who have left in the transfer portal. We don't have that many people left from our class. 

"It's just us locking arms together this week for this special game that means so much in that stadium with fans that are going to be going crazy the entire game for 60 minutes. It's going to be special for us."

Auburn and Alabama will kick off at 2:30 p.m. CT from Jordan-Hare Stadium. The game will be televised on CBS with Brad Nessler, Gary Danielson and Jenny Dell on the call. You can also listen to Andy Burcham, Jason Campbell, Ronnie Brown and Will Herring who will have the radio call on 94.3 FM, online at AuburnTigers.com and on the Auburn app. 

This week, fans attending the game are encouraged to wear navy. 

Q: How have you turned the page from last week and moved on?

A: On Monday, it was "Work Day Monday." It was getting the truth about what happened last Saturday and figuring out what we have to do to get better each and every day. I just feel like we have to go back to the little things. On Saturdays, the team that wins is always the team that prepares the most. Once you realize that and realize that you always have to do the little things, that will help you out. 

Q: What does it mean to play in a rivalry game like this against Alabama?

A: It's a bittersweet moment because it's my last home game here. Fifth-year senior. Just having an opportunity to come to Auburn and experience everything Auburn provided for me – from different things I've been through, adversity – I feel like this game is something I'm going to remember forever because it's going to be my last game in Jordan-Hare.

Q: What do you remember from your first Iron Bowl in 2019?

A: That game was crazy. It was amazing. I didn't play a lot, I redshirted that year, but just having the chance to be around that brotherhood they built before I got here and being a part of that team made me understand you can be something someday. Having an opportunity to play in this game now a fourth time, I understand how important it is to the Auburn community. 

In this 88th Iron Bowl, Auburn and Alabama will meet for the 76th consecutive year since 1948. Auburn trails the overall series by a 37-49-1 record but leads the Iron Bowl 17-13 when the game is played on campus, including a 10-6 mark in games played at Auburn. Before 1989, the series was primarily played in Birmingham (Alabama leads 36-20-1) and Montgomery (series tied 2-2).

Auburn has an all-time record of 53-70-7 in regular-season finales since 1892. The Tigers are 87-30-6 all-time in the final game played in Auburn each season.

194.3: Establishing a ground game will be important against Alabama. Auburn currently ranks third in the SEC averaging 194.3 rushing yards per game and is fifth in the league with 19 rushing touchdowns this season. 

1,000: Wide receiver Ja'Varrius Johnson caught two passes for 46 yards last week. His 46 yards put him over 1,000 career receiving yards. The fifth-year senior now has 271 receiving yards on the season and 1,038 for his career – all in the last three years. 

17: Auburn had a 19-game streak of forcing at least one turnover snapped against New Mexico State. Since 2013, the Tigers are 72-37 when they force at least one turnover and 44-14 when they force multiple turnovers. They are tied with Arkansas for the SEC lead in turnovers forced this season with 17 (11 interceptions, 6 fumbles recovered). 

86: Saturday's Iron Bowl will be the final regular season SEC game aired on CBS. Auburn has made 86 previous appearances on CBS and holds a 39-47 record. The first appearance came in the 1954 Gator Bowl where the Tigers beat Baylor 33-13. 

Players Mentioned

#86 Luke Deal

TE 6' 5" Senior Education

#6 Ja'Varrius Johnson

WR 5' 10" Senior Business

#10 Zion Puckett

S 6' 0" Senior Liberal Arts

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247sports.com

 

Which Auburn freshmen are on redshirt watch in the Iron Bowl

Nathan King

7–8 minutes

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Checking in on the redshirt statuses of Auburn's 2023 class with one regular-season game remaining

Auburn expected to get some youngsters on the field this past Saturday with a big lead against an overmatched opponent. But those players may have to wait until next season for in-game reps.

The Tigers’ annual pre-Iron Bowl matchup didn’t go nearly as expected, with Auburn falling 31-10 as a 25.5-point favorite to New Mexico State. As a result, freshmen and those near the bottom of the depth chart had to remain on the bench. The fact that Auburn had plenty of backups in the previous week in the 48-10 win at Arkansas, though, may have leveled out the numbers a bit.

So with one regular-season game left, who have been the most utilized youngsters this season, and which players are closest to burning their redshirts and becoming true sophomores in 2024?

In 2018, the NCAA ruled that players can play in up to four games while maintaining a standard redshirt. The mandate has allowed inexperienced players to receive valuable playing time — even if just in garbage time against overmatched opponents — instead of riding the bench and only participating in practice all season.

Properly managing redshirts, particularly from a freshman class, can create both added depth, along with a peek into what the future could hold for a program at various position groups. Mismanagement, however, can lead to a sticky situation — like when 4-star running back Asa Martin transferred from Auburn after the Tigers’ staff accidentally burned his redshirt by putting him in a fifth game on special teams.

There’s an added wrinkle to monitor as Auburn’s season reaches its final games, though. Last year, the NCAA approved a one-time waiver to rule that bowl participation will not count toward a player’s redshirt — doing so in response to the growing number of players opting out of bowl games. Players don’t have to worry about burning a redshirt in a game that obviously doesn’t hold as much weight as the regular season, and teams with opt-outs that took a toll on their roster depth can pull from the freshman reserves without altering those players’ future eligibility.

There’s been nothing from the NCAA yet on whether that rule will be in place again this bowl season, but the expectation is that teams will need its benefits again and that it will be implemented for 2023, as well.

So even if an Auburn player reaches the four-game mark Saturday in the Iron Bowl — cornerback Colton Hood and offensive tackle Tyler Johnson are the only freshmen to have played exactly three games this season — their redshirt statuses likely won’t be affected by the ensuing bowl game.

In total, five of Auburn’s 18 true freshmen have burned their redshirts this season. The only major status change from earlier this season is that of Connor Lew, who had appeared in only two games entering Auburn’s bye week but has since taken over as the starting center following Avery Jones’ injury.

This list only includes members of Auburn’s 2023 class, so someone like sophomore J.D. Rhym, who will redshirt this season after missing games due to an off-the-field issue, will not be mentioned.

Here’s what the participation looks like for Auburn’s 2023 class heading into the Iron Bowl, and who could be on the four-game fence.

BURNED REDSHIRT

• DE Keldric Faulk: 11 games

• CB Kayin Lee: 11 games

• RB Jeremiah Cobb: 10 games

• C Connor Lew: 8 games

• S Terrance Love: 5 games

ELIGIBLE TO REDSHIRT

• CB Colton Hood: 3 games

• OT Tyler Johnson: 3 games

• JACK Brenton Williams: 2 games

• CB JC Hart: 1 game

• CB Tyler Scott: 1 game

• DB Sylvester Smith: 2 games

• OT Dylan Senda: 1 game

• QB Hank Brown: 0 games

• OL Clay Wedin: 0 games

• OL Bradyn Joiner: 0 games

• DE Wilky Denaud: 0 games

• DT Darron Reed Jr.: 0 games

• DT Stephen Johnson: 0 games

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al.com

Auburn’s D.J. James accepts Senior Bowl invitation

Published: Nov. 22, 2023, 8:37 a.m.

2–3 minutes

Auburn cornerback D.J. James will play in the 2024 Senior Bowl, which takes place Feb. 3 in Mobile. (AP Photo/ Butch Dill )AP

By

Creg Stephenson | cstephenson@al.com

Auburn cornerback D.J. James is coming home for the 2024 Reese’s Senior Bowl.

James, a former Spanish Fort High School star, has accepted an invitation to the Senior Bowl, which takes place Feb. 3 at Mobile’s Hancock Whitney Stadium. James is the first player from an in-state school to be confirmed for the upcoming college football all-star game and NFL draft showcase.

James has started the last two seasons at Auburn after transferring from Oregon. In 11 games for the Tigers this season, he has 34 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, eight pass breakups and two interceptions.

In the Senior Bowl, James will be reunited with former Spanish Fort teammate Kris Abrams-Draine of Missouri. Abrams-Draine, also a cornerback, committed to the Senior Bowl on Monday.

James and Abrams-Draine make it three players with state ties confirmed for the 75th anniversary Senior Bowl, will allow non-graduate underclassmen to participate for the first time in 2024. Miami offensive lineman Javion Cohen, a Phenix City native who played three seasons at Alabama, also committed to the Senior Bowl Monday.

Other notable players already committed to the Senior Bowl are South Carolina quarterback Spencer Rattler, Tulane quarterback Michael Pratt, Florida wide receiver Ricky Pearsall, Florida State tight end Jaheim Bell, Kansas State offensive lineman Cooper Beebe and Texas defensive lineman T’Vondre Sweat. Other committed players will be announced periodically in the days leading up to Senior Bowl week.

The 2024 Senior Bowl, sponsored for the first time this year by the NFL Players Association, kicks off at noon on Feb. 3. NFL Network will televise the game live.

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cbs42.com

88th Iron Bowl: Auburn looks to spoil Alabama’s playoff hopes

AJ Holliday

~3 minutes

AUBURN, Ala. (WIAT) — The 88th Iron Bowl will be played in Jordan-Hare Stadium on Saturday. The Auburn Tigers look to ruin Alabama’s playoff chances before the Tide face the Georgia Bulldogs in a highly anticipated match up.

Auburn comes into this one after a stunning loss to New Mexico State at home. Payton Thorne finished 15-for-19 passing with 148 yards and one touchdown. Running back Jarquez Hunter was shut down by the Aggies’ defense as he had 27 yards on eight carries. The Tigers gave up 414 total yards to the Aggies and were dominated in all facets of the game.

Alabama has been on a tear as of late and is currently on the outside looking in when it comes to the College Football Playoff race. The Crimson Tide is coming off a 66-10 win over Chattanooga and need to win its remaining games and get some help from other teams if it wants to be one of the four programs in the CFP.

The Iron Bowl is set for 2:30 p.m. on CBS 42. Here’s what to look for:

When the Iron Bowl is in Jordan-Hare, weird things tend to happen

Alabama has lost two of the last three meetings in Jordan-Hare, and in 2021, the game took four overtimes for the Crimson Tide escape, winning 24-22. This game is arguably the greatest rivalry in college football and no matter their records, when this game is on the Plains, it’s one to keep an eye on. Historic moments tend to happen in this game, most notably the infamous “Kick Six.”

Stopping the Auburn run game has to be the focus

This isn’t an Auburn offense that is highly explosive and consistently makes big plays. The Tigers average 162.9 yards passing a game while rushing for 194.3 yards per game. Slowing down Thorne and Hunter will be the key. If the run game is eliminated, the Tigers become one-dimensional. Expect Hugh Freeze to have a few tricks up his sleeve and run some plays Alabama hasn’t seen this season.

What will be Auburn’ plan to slow down Jalen Milroe?

Milroe has been one of the most dominant players in the country the last three games with 13 total touchdowns. It may be a point of emphasis for the Tigers to have a QB spy on him, not let Milroe beat them with his legs and keep him in the pocket.

Betting Lines

Point spread: Alabama (-14.5)

Over-under: 48.5

Moneyline: Alabama (-700) | Auburn (+500)

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247sports.com

Auburn defense still confident heading into Iron Bowl showdown

Jason Caldwell

~3 minutes

AUBURN, Alabama—For much of the 2023 season, Auburn’s defense has been the most consistent part of the game for the Tigers, but that was far from the case last Saturday in a 31-10 loss to New Mexico State. Giving up 23 first downs and 213 yards rushing on 5.8 yards per carry, Auburn’s defense couldn’t get off the field against the Aggies in the loss.

That’s not great news with Jalen Milroe and Alabama coming to town on Saturday. Since holding on to beat Arkansas 24-21 just over a month ago, the Crimson Tide has been on a roll. In the last four games, Alabama has scored 34, 42, 49 and 66 points in wins over Tennessee, LSU, Kentucky and Chattanooga.

Knowing that it’s going to take perhaps the best effort of the season to slow down Alabama on Saturday, defensive back Keionte Scott said it’s a challenge the Auburn defense is looking forward to.

“You've got to respect every opponent,” Scott said. “We're looking forward to putting our defense and our group on display against them -- and just accepting the challenge. It's going to be a fun week to prepare for and a fun game in general.”

In his first season at Auburn but very familiar with life in the Southeastern Conference, Elijah McAllister knows all too well what Alabama is all about after falling to them 55-3 last season at Vanderbilt. A confident group despite last week’s struggles, McAllister said this defense will have a plan for success on Saturday but will need to play well.

“They’re a good offense,” McAllister said. “Obviously they’re really hot right now. At the end of the day, we believe in ourselves as a defense and we believe in what we can do. But they’re playing really good football right now and we’re going to do everything we can.

“Coach (Ron) Roberts usually has a great plan going into the week on how to stop opposing offenses. We’ve been successful throughout the year, so we’re going to continue to put some good stuff on tape on Saturday.”

With one final chance in the regular season to show what this team is capable of, Scott said getting to face Alabama and play in the Iron Bowl with a chance to be a part of history is something that should have everyone ready to play at a high level come Saturday afternoon.

“It's a great opportunity because of all the tie-ins the game has,” Scott said. “At the end of the day, this is a historic game and something every player on this team should take pride in. I know for sure coaches are going to harp on it, and as players we're going to make sure everyone understands the significance of the game and is taking it up to par.”

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saturdaydownsouth.com

 

ESPN’s FPI predicts the outcome of the Iron Bowl

Mark Kern | 2 days ago

~2 minutes

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ESPN’s Football Power Index (FPI) predicts the outcome of each college football game each week.

The projections for this week include the Alabama-Auburn matchup. The 10-1 Crimson Tide will be hitting the road to take on the 6-5 Tigers on Saturday.

The Tigers are coming off of a disappointing 31-10 blowout loss to the New Mexico State Aggies. The Crimson Tide, however, are coming off another convincing win, dominating Tennessee Chattanooga, 66-10.

FPI gives the Crimson Tide a 85.8% implied win probability. This means the Tigers are big underdogs at home, with just under a 16% chance to win.

The Crimson Tide are led by quarterback Jalen Milroe, who has thrown for over 2,267 yards this season with 19 passing touchdowns.  He is also able to run the ball well, as he has 332 yards and 12 touchdowns this year, breaking numerous records this year.

The Tigers have have had an up-and-down year in the first season under coach Hugh Freeze, as they lost to New Mexico State, 31-10, last week. For Auburn, the fact the team is bowl eligible is a positive moving forward, and Saturday presents a major opportunity for the team to end its regular season on the right track.

The Crimson Tide are favored by 14.5 points in Auburn and the over/under is 48.5. The 2 SEC West rivals will kick off from Jordan-Hare Stadium on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET.

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247sports.com

 

Auburn Opponent Preview Alabama defense

Jason Caldwell

4–5 minutes

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AUBURN, Alabama—Allowing just 17.4 points per game this season and allowing more than 30 points just one time this season (Texas), Alabama’s defense has continued to get better and better under former Auburn defensive coordinator Kevin Steele. The strength of the group is playing the pass with the Crimson Tide allowing just 192.5 yards per game and adding 10 interceptions.

Following a disappointing loss last week against New Mexico State, Auburn’s offense is looking to rebound but it won’t be easy against this defense. Senior offensive lineman Gunner Britton said they’ve got a lot of respect for the defense they’ll play this weekend, but like every week it’s all about what the Tigers can control and how they execute.

“At the end of the day they've got a really good head coach, they've got really good players,” Britton said. “It's kind of the same Alabama team we've seen for a couple of years. They have really good edge rushers, they're really good players. One of them is probably going to be a first round pick this year and the other one is kind of coming into his own.

“I think their defensive line is really physical. They're going to play really good communication, sound defense. I think their linebackers are really good. They have a great secondary. They're going to have some challenges to them. All we've got to do is focus on what we can do, not what they do.”

Leading the way for the Alabama defense are a pair of edge defenders that create plenty of havoc. Leading the team with eight sacks and 11.5 tackles for a loss, Dallas Turner is a load to handle and his play has helped open the door for Chris Braswell on the other side. Braswell is second on the team with seven sacks and 9.5 tackles for a loss. Throw in defensive end Justin Eboigbe’s five sacks and 9.5 tackles for a loss and Alabama features a trio that can match up with anyone in the country.

Joining them up front, Alabama has plenty of size with 6-5, 320 Jaheim Oatis and 6-2, 315 Tim Keenan the other starters with 300-pounders Tim Smith and Damon Payne Jr. providing depth for the Crimson Tide.

At linebacker, Alabama has redshirt senior Trezmen Marshall and redshirt sophomore Deonte Lawson to run the defense. They have combined for 100 tackles and 4.5 sacks this season with reserve Jihad Campbell playing as much or more than the starters. He’s second on the team with 57 tackles on the year.

In the secondary, cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry gets a lot of the attention, but fellow starter Terrion Arnold has been one of the best in the country this season with three interceptions and 10 pass breakups. Maybe the biggest surprise has been the play of true freshman safety Caleb Downs. His talent isn’t a surprise, but seeing a true freshman lead the team with 90 tackles and adding two interceptions shows you how good he’s been this season.

DE 

91 Jaheim Oatis 6-5 320 So. Columbia, Miss.

 50 Tim Smith 6-4 302 Sr. Gifford, Fla. 

 47 James Smith 6-3 296 Fr. Montgomery, Ala. 

NG 

96 Tim Keenan III 6-2 315 R-So. Birmingham, Ala.

 44 Damon Payne Jr. 6-4 303 R-So. Belleville, Mich.

 59 Anquin Barnes Jr. 6-5 314 R-So. Montgomery, Ala.

DE 

92 Justin Eboigbe 6-5 292 R-Sr. Forest Park, Ga.

 93 Jah-Marien Latham 6-3 275 R-Jr. Reform, Ala.

SAM 

15 Dallas Turner 6-4 252 Jr. Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

 34 Quandarrius Robinson 6-5 231 Sr. Birmingham, Ala. 

MIKE 

17 Trezmen Marshall 6-1 236 R-Sr. Homerville, Ga. 

 40 Kendrick Blackshire 6-2 233 Jr. Duncanville, Texas

WILL 

32 Deontae Lawson 6-2 230 R-So. Mobile, Ala. OR

 30 Jihaad Campbell 6-3 230 So. Erial, N.J.

 43 Shawn Murphy 6-2 225 R-Fr. Manassas, Va.

 28 Justin Jefferson 6-1 225 Jr. Memphis, Tenn. 

JACK 

41 Chris Braswell 6-3 255 Sr. Baltimore, Md.

 19 Keanu Koht 6-4 232 R-So. Vero Beach, Fla. OR 

 35 Jeremiah Alexander 6-2 249 R-Fr. Alabaster, Ala.

CB 

1 Kool-Aid McKinstry 6-1 195 Jr. Birmingham, Ala. 

 12 Antonio Kite 6-1 182 R-Fr. Anniston, Ala.

CB 

3 Terrion Arnold 6-0 196 R-So. Tallahassee, Fla.

 9 Trey Amos 6-1 197 Sr. New Iberia, La. 

FS 

6 Jaylen Key 6-2 210 Gr. Quincy, Fla.

 4 Kristian Story 6-1 211 Sr. Lanett, Ala. OR 

 8 DeVonta Smith 6-0 194 Jr. Cincinnati, Ohio

SS 

2 Caleb Downs 6-0 203 Fr. Hoschton, Ga.

 27 Tony Mitchell 6-2 205 Fr. Alabaster, Ala. OR

 21 Jake Pope 6-1 192 R-Fr. Buford, Ga. 

STAR

13 Malachi Moore 6-0 198 Sr. Trussville, Ala.

 20 Earl Little II 6-1 186 R-Fr. Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

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al.com

 

What did Hugh Freeze and Auburn’s players say about defending Alabama QB Jalen Milroe?

Updated: Nov. 22, 2023, 10:04 a.m.|Published: Nov. 22, 2023, 7:00 a.m.

5–6 minutes

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Auburn’s defense hasn’t fared great against dual threat quarterbacks this season.

New Mexico State quarterback Diego Pavia gave Auburn a headache last Saturday as he and the Aggies upset the Tigers 31-10 in a stunning loss.

Pavia passed for 201 yards on a 19-for-28 passing performance, which featured three touchdown passes.

On the ground, Pavia added 35 yards on eight carries, but constantly kept the Tigers’ defense on its toes as Pavia was able to extend a number of other plays with his legs.

Weeks prior, the Tigers’ defense struggled against LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels.

And Auburn knows the task only gets taller this week as it prepares for another dual threat quarterback in Alabama’s Jalen Milroe.

“Jalen Milroe is an extremely good quarterback, man,” said Auburn linebacker Eugen Asante. “I’ve been watching those games throughout the season. I think I got to catch the LSU game and he was dominant. Somebody that can kill you with his feet and with his arm.”

Milroe has started in 10 of Alabama’s 11 games this season, only missing the Crimson Tide’s matchup against USF on Sept. 16, when Alabama head coach Nick Saban gave the starting nod to Tyler Buchner as he still tried to pin down Alabama’s indefinite starter.

Ahead of Alabama’s SEC opener against Ole Miss, Saban tossed the keys to his offense to Milroe, who has been in command ever since.

On the season, Milroe has passed for more than 2,260 yards, 19 touchdowns and six interceptions. All while completing his passes at a 66.3% clip.

With his legs, Milroe has added more than 570 yards and 12 touchdowns.

“We have to have rush integrity. We have to corral him more (in the) pocket. Crush the pocket. Not giving him escape lanes,” Asante said. “In terms of myself, when I’m in coverage or if I’m on him, making sure I get to him. Close the space, because certainly he’s somebody that’s dynamic with his legs.”

As of late, Milroe has been on a tear.

Dating back to Alabama’s matchup against LSU, Milroe has been responsible for 13 touchdowns – six through the air and seven with his legs – in his last three games.

In those same performances, Milroe has tallied 650 passing yards while completing 70% of his passes and has rushed for 190 yards.

And to be frank, Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze knows Alabama’s sophomore quarterback is bound to give the Tigers’ defense trouble.

“You know, we did not fare well against a kid similar to him down in LSU,” Freeze said Monday, comparing Milroe to LSU’s Daniels.

Against Auburn, Daniels passed for 325 yards and three touchdowns, all while tacking on another 97 yards with his legs during LSU’s dominant, 48-18 win.

“And now (Milroe) is playing at a very high level with good receivers and good running backs. It’s a very difficult task for sure. I don’t know that you completely do that,” Freeze said when asked about stopping Milroe. “You gotta hope that you do limit those explosive plays somewhat, but stopping him? No one’s really done that.”

When looking at the challenge top to bottom, a certain number sticks out to the Auburn defense: 33.

Milroe has been sacked 33 times this season with Texas, Texas A&M and Arkansas all getting Milroe to the turf at least five times.

“We gotta contain him, because the past few games he’s been having some great numbers,” said Auburn Jack linebacker Jalen McLeod. “We gotta make sure we neutralize him early and make sure we get after the O-Line because he’s been sacked a lot this whole season.”

Meanwhile, Milroe himself is growing to be a lot more confident in his offensive line.

“We constantly have a growing offense. It starts up front. That’s the foundation of our offense,” Milroe said of his protection. “What I can say about those guys is they’re hungry and they’re constantly wanting to build.”

If Auburn can find a way to tally sacks against Alabama, great for the Tigers.

But more than anything, the Tigers’ focus remains plastered on containing Milroe in the pocket. If they can do that, they’re confident in their abilities against the passing game.

“It’s going to be good. You’ve got to contain the quarterback, and as a defensive back, this is the game you want,” said Auburn defensive back Keionte Scott. “With us containing the quarterback, that means he’s going to be in the pocket and throwing the ball. Knowing that in our heads means we have to prepare to stop the passing attack and make the game one-dimensional. Just slow the game down to come out victorious.”

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auburntigers.com

 

Auburn Made: Week 11 NFL Rundown

Auburn University Athletics

10–13 minutes

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After scoring 15 touchdowns in his first four NFL seasons, Darius Slayton caught his first touchdown of the 2023 season in the Giants' win Sunday. 

That and more in this week's Auburn Made NFL rundown. 

BEST OF WEEK 11

Derrick Brown, DT, Carolina Panthers
Brown registered another stellar performance for Carolina on Sunday, proving once again to be nearly impossible to block. The fourth-year defensive tackle finished with six tackles, including a tackle for loss, a QB hit and five pressures – adding to his team-leading total. Brown continues to be a bright spot for a young Panther defense. He recorded a PFF grade of 85.7 for the game, the second highest on the team for Week 11. 

I say it a lot, but Derrick Brown's size, explosiveness, play strength and physicality make it a long day at the office having to block him pic.twitter.com/YaByiIjSih

— Brandon Thorn (@BrandonThornNFL) November 21, 2023

Daniel Carlson, K, Las Vegas Raiders
It was another day at the office for Carlson who put in two field goals from 34 and 47 yards along with an extra point for the Raiders on Sunday. Carlson, one of the most reliable kickers in the league, improved to 18 of 19 on kicks inside of 50 yards this season and remained a perfect 16 of 16 on extra points. With Sunday's performance, Carlson moved into the top 10 in the NFL in total field goals made on the season (19). 

Darius Slayton, WR, New York Giants
Slayton played a massive role in New York's season sweep of the Washington Commanders on Sunday with his biggest game to date this season – and he did it all in the first half of a 31-19 victory. Slayton hauled in four catches on five targets for 82 yards and a touchdown before having to leave the game due to injury late in the first half. His PFF grade (78.9) was tops on the offense, and he now leads the team in receiving yards (419) this season. 

— Sunday Night Football on NBC (@SNFonNBC) November 19, 2023

Other Tigers in the NFL
Montravius Adams, DT, Pittsburgh Steelers
Tank Bigsby, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars
Angelo Blackson, DL, Jacksonville Jaguars 
K.J. Britt, LB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Anders Carlson, K, Green Bay Packers
Carlton Davis, CB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 
Jamel Dean, CB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Jack Driscoll, OL, Philadelphia Eagles
Rudy Ford, S, Green Bay Packers
Derick Hall, LB, Seattle Seahawks
Josh Harris, LS, Los Angeles Chargers
Noah Igbinoghene, CB, Dallas Cowboys
Shedrick Jackson, WR, Cincinnati Bengals
Jonathan Jones, CB, New England Patriots 
Carl Lawson, DE, New York Jets 
Eku Leota, LB, Carolina Panthers
Roger McCreary, CB, Tennessee Titans  
Owen Pappoe, LB, Arizona Cardinals
Jamien Sherwood, LB, New York Jets 
Braden Smith, OT, Indianapolis Colts
Jarrett Stidham, QB, Denver Broncs
Daniel Thomas, S, Jacksonville Jaguars 
C.J. Uzomah, TE, New York Jets
Colby Wooden, DL, Green Bay Packers
Chandler Wooten, LB, Carolina Panthers

DNP (Reserve/Injured)
Prince Tega Wanogho, OT, Kansas City Chiefs
Kilian Zierer, OT, Houston Texans (IR)

Practice Squad
Marlon Davidson, DL, Tennessee Titans
Anthony Schwartz, WR, Miami Dolphins
Seth Williams, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars

Players Mentioned

#4 Tank Bigsby

RB 6' 0" Junior Liberal Arts

#26 Anders Carlson

K 6' 5" Senior Business

#0 Owen Pappoe

LB 6' 1" Senior Education

#25 Colby Wooden

DE 6' 5" Junior Business

#77 Kilian Zierer

OL 6' 7" Senior Education

#29 Derick Hall

Edge 6' 3" Senior Business

#11 Shedrick Jackson

WR 6' 2" Senior Business

#55 Eku Leota

Edge 6' 4" Senior Liberal Arts

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College football TV schedule for Week 13 of 2023 season

Updated: Nov. 20, 2023, 8:49 a.m.|Published: Nov. 20, 2023, 6:00 a.m.

4–5 minutes

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Below is the college football TV and live stream schedule for Week 13 of the 2023 season. All times Central:

Tuesday, Nov. 21

Bowling Green at Western Michigan, 6 p.m., ESPNU (ESPN+)

Eastern Michigan at Buffalo, 6:30 p.m., ESPN2 (ESPN+)

Thursday, Nov. 23

Tuskegee at Alabama State, 2 p.m., no TV (ESPN+)

Ole Miss at Mississippi State, 6:30 p.m., ESPN (ESPN+)

Friday, Nov. 24

Miami at Boston College, 11 a.m., ABC (espn3)

Iowa at Nebraska, 11 a.m., CBS (Big Ten on CBS)

TCU at Oklahoma, 11 a.m., Fox (Fox Sports)

Memphis at Temple, 11 a.m., ESPN (ESPN+)

Toledo at Central Michigan, 11 a.m., ESPNU (ESPN+)

Ohio at Akron, 11 a.m., CBS Sports Network (CBS Sports video)

Texas-San Antonio at Tulane, 2:30 p.m., ABC (espn3)

Utah State at New Mexico, 2:30 p.m., CBS Sports Network (CBS Sports video)

Missouri at Arkansas, 3 p.m., CBS (SEC on CBS)

Air Force at Boise State, 3 p.m., Fox Sports 1 (Fox Sports)

Texas Tech at Texas, 6:30 p.m., ABC (espn3)

Penn State at Michigan State, 6:30 p.m., NBC (Big Ten on NBC)

Oregon State at Oregon, 7:30 p.m., Fox (Fox Sports)

Saturday, Nov. 25

Kentucky at Louisville, 11 a.m., ABC (espn3)

Ohio State at Michigan, 11 a.m., Fox (Fox Sports)

Texas A&M at LSU, 11 a.m., ESPN (ESPN+)

Navy at SMU, 11 a.m., ESPN2 (ESPN+)

Troy at Southern Miss, 11 a.m., ESPNU (ESPN+)

Houston at Central Florida, 11 a.m., Fox Sports 1 (Fox Sports)

Pittsburgh at Duke, 11 a.m., ACC Network (ESPN+)

Indiana at Purdue, 11 a.m., Big Ten Network (Fox Sports)

Miami (Ohio) at Ball State, 11 a.m., CBS Sports Network (CBS Sports video)

Grambling vs. Southern (at New Orleans), 1 p.m., NBC (NBC Sports)

Wake Forest at Syracuse, 1 p.m., The CW (CW Sports)

UAB at North Texas, 1 p.m., no TV (ESPN+)

Colorado at Utah, 2 p.m., Pac-12 Network (Pac-12 Live)

BYU at Oklahoma State, 2:30 p.m., ABC (espn3)

Alabama at Auburn, 2:30 p.m., CBS (SEC on CBS)

Arizona at Arizona State, 2:30 p.m., ESPN (ESPN+)

James Madison at Coastal Carolina, 2:30 p.m., ESPN2 (ESPN+)

Wisconsin at Minnesota, 2:30 p.m., Fox Sports 1 (Fox Sports)

Vanderbilt at Tennessee, 2:30 p.m., SEC Network (ESPN+)

Virginia Tech at Virginia, 2:30 p.m., ACC Network (ESPN+)

Maryland at Rutgers, 2:30 p.m., Big Ten Network (Fox Sports)

Northwestern at Illinois, 2:30 p.m., Big Ten Network (Fox Sports)

Liberty at UTEP, 2:30 p.m., CBS Sports Network (CBS Sports video)

Washington at Washington State, 3 p.m., Fox (Fox Sports)

Jacksonville State at New Mexico State, 3 p.m., no TV (ESPN+)

Florida State at Florida, 6 p.m., ESPN (ESPN+)

West Virginia at Baylor, 6 p.m., Fox Sports 1 (Fox Sports)

Notre Dame at Stanford, 6 p.m., Pac-12 Network (Pac-12 Live)

South Alabama at Texas State, 6 p.m., NFL Network (NFL Network live)

Georgia at Georgia Tech, 6:30 p.m., ABC (espn3)

Kansas at Cincinnati, 6:30 p.m., ESPN2 (ESPN+)

Charlotte at South Florida, 6:30 p.m., ESPNU (ESPN+)

Clemson at South Carolina, 6:30 p.m., SEC Network (ESPN+)

Iowa State at Kansas State, 7 p.m., Fox (Fox Sports)

North Carolina at North Carolina State, 7 p.m., ACC Network (ESPN+)

Wyoming at Nevada, 8 p.m., CBS Sports Network (CBS Sports video)

California at UCLA, 9:30 p.m., ESPN (ESPN+)

Fresno State at San Diego State, 9:30 p.m., Fox Sports 1 (Fox Sports)

Select games are also available via FUBO.tv. Click HERE for subscription information.

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[SaltyTiger 7,854]

Thanx Fiddy and good stuff. See the sun here on the Plains for first time in a few days. Happy Thanksgiving.

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11 minutes ago, SaltyTiger said:

Thanx Fiddy and good stuff. See the sun here on the Plains for first time in a few days. Happy Thanksgiving.

back at ya.iam listening to the stones latest album on youtube and trying hard not to eat my ribs and potato salad early.