When Nick Saban was hired as the coach of the Alabama Crimson Tide, he made a vow to always dominate Auburn. He has held up that promise in all but two games. The 2013 Iron Bowl presents plenty of challenges for the No. 1 team as this year's game holds plenty of implications with the national title race.
This game is being hyped as the "game of the season" because the winner goes on to the SEC championship game and possibly onwards to Pasadena, while the loser will likely head to the Capital One Bowl and nothing to show for an impressive season. Both Alabama and Auburn have had impressive seasons in their own right. The Tide are once again undefeated, working to recreate the history of the past two seasons. The Tigers have gone from worst for first after new head coach Gus Malzahn continues to prove he deserves to be in discussion for Coach of the Year.
"Our focus obviously needs to immediately shift to the opportunities that we have created for ourselves and the games that we have in the future," Saban said, via ESPN.com. "Obviously the one that we have this week coming up against Auburn is a very important game. They have a great team. They've had a great season."
Auburn has certainly had a great season and a lot of it has to do with quarterback Nick Marshall. In his first season with the Tigers, the quarterback has 1,530 passing yards and another 823 rushing yards. He has jumped onto the scene after transferring to the SEC school. Two weeks ago against Georgia, Marshall put on a show that left everyone talking.
AJ McCarron is ready for a show of his own. The senior has found himself once again in talks for the Heisman trophy and a big game against his rivals on the road could make him the frontrunner for the award. McCarron is not paying attention to Auburn's record or their past performances, simply referring to the team has someone else in the Tide's way.
"I really don't care what their record is," McCarron said. "They're still the next team in our way trying to take what we've worked for."
Both teams will have to deal with heavy distractions before the matchup. McCarron's high-profiled girlfriend, Katherine Webb, has already spoken out about her fears of attending the game. Now, ESPN's College Game Day will be in attendance and looking to interview every athlete leading up to the big game.
It is win or go home for the 2013 Iron Bowl. These are the highest stakes surrounding the rivalry in recent years. These two teams hate each other so fans can truly expect a show.
