Kalen DeBoer and Hugh Freeze discovered just how difficult it is to win in the Southeastern Conference these days.

Now they can try to fight.

DeBoer finishes his first regular season with the 13th-ranked Crimson Tide (8-3, 4-3 SEC. No. 13 CFP) on Saturday against the Freeze Auburn Tigers, with the team’s league championship hopes dashed and chances damaged but alive playoff series. Both teams failed to live up to fans’ expectations, but statewide bragging rights remain up for grabs.

That’s no small thing in a state where the Iron Bowl is a year-round topic.

“Since I’ve been here, I think I hear about it every day,” DeBoer said. “So (I) understand what that means.”

In AS’s first year (after Saban), Alabama may fail to achieve double-digit wins for the first time since Nick Saban’s first season in 2007. Barring any upsets elsewhere, the Tide could although playing only its seventh regular season game of the last 202 without national championship implications, as well as the last three games in 2010 and 2022.

Auburn (5-6, 2-5) must win to become bowl eligible and avoid a fourth straight losing season. But the Tigers are coming off a four-overtime victory over No. 20 Texas A&M. Alabama was embarrassed 24-3 at Oklahoma.

Auburn quarterback Payton Thorne gets his second chance in the Iron Bowl, which he calls “the greatest rivalry game in college football.”

“The fans really don’t like each other at all,” the Michigan State transfer said. “I learned in this state that growing up, this is how you choose your friends. You ask, “Are you Alabama or are you Auburn?” »

Do you remember last year?

Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe found Isaiah Bond (now at Texas) for a last-minute touchdown on fourth-and-goal from the 31 to salvage a 27-24 victory. The Tide won the SEC title and made the playoffs.

“There’s no bigger game on the schedule,” said Freeze, who was in his first Iron Bowl. “To sit in this seat and lose one like we did last year, it’s still not good. And I know the Auburn faithful have had to endure that, and we want to change that feeling in this building, for our fans and this state.

Finals QB

This will be the last game at Bryant-Denny Stadium for Milroe. This could be the last college game for Thorne.

Milroe is looking for redemption after being completely shut down in a loss to Oklahoma, while Thorne is coming off strong outings in wins over Louisiana-Monroe and No. 20 Texas A&M. Both had roller coaster seasons, but Milroe was at his best in games like Georgia and LSU.

“I don’t know him personally, but everything you see, he’s made of good things,” Freeze said. “And he competes at a very high level in some of the biggest games and I think he would be determined to bounce back. I think we have to plan to do his best.

“I’m convinced they’ll use him as a runner. That’s when they showed themselves to be the most dangerous. And we need to have a plan for that.

Young targets

Alabama’s Ryan Williams and Auburn’s Cam Coleman showed why they are two of the best wide receiver recruits in the country. Williams became an instant sensation with a debut season highlighted by a 177-yard, two-touchdown performance against Georgia with a 75-yarder proving to be the game-winner. He has 42 catches for 804 yards and eight touchdowns.

Coleman has 520 yards and seven touchdowns on 30 catches. He has 15 catches for 228 yads and five touchdowns over the last two games.

Replace Lawson

Alabama is turning to Justin Jefferson to replace linebacker Deontae Lawson, who was lost for the season in the Oklahoma game. Jefferson has 45 tackles, including five for losses, and two sacks.

“Justin can run. Justin is physical,” DeBoer said. “He’s a guy you can count on. He’s really trustworthy.

Iron Bowl Runners

This rivalry has featured great running backs, from Auburn’s Bo Jackson and Carnell Williams to Alabama’s Derrick Henry and Najee Harris.

The Tigers’ Jarquez Hunter is one of the best backs in the SEC with 1,174 yards and eight touchdowns. The Alabama duo of Justice Haynes and Jam Miller totaled 985 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns.