Auburn bowls into No. 13 Alabama for Iron Bowl amid CFP angst

Alabama pulled off one of the biggest long-shot plays to beat Auburn on fourth-and-goal from the Tigers' 31-yard line last season.

The Crimson Tide might need a long shot of another variety this year.

No. 13 Alabama stands on the outside of the 12-team College Football Playoff picture as it concludes its regular season against visiting Auburn of the Southeastern Conference on Saturday in the Iron Bowl at Tuscaloosa, Ala.

The Crimson Tide (8-3, 4-3 SEC) can only get into the playoff as an at-large team after being walloped 24-3 by host Oklahoma last weekend.

Speaking Monday, one day before the latest rankings were unveiled, Crimson Tide coach Kalen DeBoer said the focus would be on a huge rivalry with Auburn (5-6, 2-5).

"The state -- 365 days of the year. Ever since I've been here, I think I hear about it every day," DeBoer said of the need to beat the Tigers. "So understand what it means. The excitement. We have to learn from last week and be better because of it and turn the page and get ready to practice and do everything we can to be successful on Saturday, find a way to win."

Last season, the Crimson Tide defeated Auburn 27-24 behind the "Milroe Miracle."

The Tigers were one defensive stop away from a big upset before Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe delivered a dart of a throw to Isaiah Bond for a 31-yard touchdown with 32 seconds left.

Auburn coach Hugh Freeze hasn't forgotten the bitter feeling of losing in such a manner.

"There is no bigger game on the schedule," Freeze said of playing the Crimson Tide. "To sit in this seat and to lose one like we did last year still doesn't sit right. I know that the Auburn faithful had to endure that, and we want to change that feeling in this building and for our great fan base in this state. It's a tall task."

The Tigers are on a high note after a 43-41 four-overtime victory over then-No. 15 Texas A&M last weekend. Star running back Jarquez Hunter rushed for 130 yards and three touchdowns on 28 carries and has 1,145 yards for the season.

Auburn has dropped four straight games against Alabama and 10 of the last 13. Freeze badly wants to see that domination end.

"You have zero chance of winning if you don't have a belief that you can do it," Freeze said. "I think somewhere along the line in these difficult losses we started believing more, and hope has become a real thing that you can go on the field and be a good football team. You've played close games with them, but you can win them.

"It's going to take an amount of that belief going into Tuscaloosa to win. It's not an easy place to play. No road game is. Just look at the SEC every week. It's hard enough to win at home but you go on the road, it's really difficult."

Alabama saw that last week when they were anemic against an Oklahoma team struggling in its first season in the SEC. But the host Sooners easily handled the Crimson Tide on a day in which Milroe was just 11-of-26 passing for 164 yards and three interceptions and had 7 net rushing yards on 15 carries.

"It's simple things we need to execute as an offense," Milroe said of the Crimson Tide's issues. "You can't just point out one person. It's all about collectively as a group being the best us and executing the simple things. That's what allows us to be the best offense we can be."

The Crimson Tide lost standout linebacker Deontae Lawson (76 tackles) to a season-ending leg injury against the Sooners.

--Field Level Media