Iron Bowl 2025: Auburn vs. #10 Alabama — The Voodoo Returns
The 2025 Iron Bowl is more than a rivalry game. It’s a pressure cooker with playoff stakes, bowl dreams, and coaching drama all colliding under the lights at Jordan-Hare Stadium. No matter the records, this game always delivers chaos — and tonight might be the most explosive installment since Kick Six.
Auburn (5–6, 1–6 SEC) enters desperate for a sixth win to become bowl eligible. Alabama (9–2, 6–1 SEC), ranked #10 in the country, must win to keep its College Football Playoff hopes alive and secure a spot in the SEC Championship Game. A loss tonight would likely end both.
The game kicks off at 6:30 p.m. CT on ABC, and for the first time since 2014, the Iron Bowl will be played at night in Jordan-Hare Stadium — a setting historically known for strange and unforgettable finishes.
The Tactical Matchup: Offensive Turnaround vs. Defensive Grinders
Auburn’s offense has undergone a stunning turnaround since Hugh Freeze was relieved of his duties. Offensive coordinator Derrick Nix has retooled the attack with simplicity and speed. In their last outing against Mercer, Auburn racked up 547 total yards, featuring a 100-yard rusher and two 100-yard receivers — a feat that hadn’t happened since the 2004 SEC Championship. This offense now leans on zero- and one-step dropbacks, RPOs, and quick-developing pass plays to get the ball into the hands of explosive athletes. It’s working. Auburn is finally maximizing its skill position talent and playing with tempo and identity.
Alabama counters with one of the nation’s best defenses. The Crimson Tide are ranked ninth in total defense (270.9 yards per game allowed) and tenth in scoring defense, allowing just 16.2 points per game. Their front seven is physical and deep. The run game will be critical. Alabama's run defense is ranked 10th in the SEC, which will be tested by Auburn’s ground game, which features the surging Jeremiah Cobb. Cobb is averaging 90.4 yards per game and could play a key role in keeping Alabama’s offense off the field and Auburn ahead of the chains.
The Quarterback Scenario
Auburn turns back to senior quarterback Ashton Daniels to start the Iron Bowl after sitting out last week against Mercer to preserve his redshirt. Daniels has played in three regular-season games, which means he is at the four-game limit for preserving his redshirt. He is a junior, and the staff has opted for the experience and poise of Daniels in the biggest game of the season. Daniels has been steady and efficient in Auburn’s recent offensive resurgence and is better equipped to handle Alabama’s pressure looks and coverage disguises.
On the other side, Alabama is led by Ty Simpson, who has quietly put together one of the better seasons in the SEC. Simpson has thrown for 2,934 yards, 22 touchdowns, and just four interceptions, while completing 66.9% of his passes. His ability to make plays under pressure and avoid turnovers has been crucial for Alabama’s consistency, and he enters this game as one of the top quarterbacks in the nation.
The Historical Edge: Home Chaos and Series Balance
The Iron Bowl always defies logic, and Jordan-Hare Stadium at night is a notoriously dangerous place for favorites. Alabama leads the all-time series 51–37–1, but they’ve split their last six trips to Auburn. The Tigers thrive on home energy, noise, emotion, and chaos. That’s especially dangerous for a team like Alabama, playing with the pressure of playoff implications.
Auburn has been playing with house money since its fourth SEC loss. The team has shown new life, confidence, and focus under interim leadership. The players are responding to Derrick Nix’s offensive concepts and rallying around interim head coach D.J. Durkin’s defensive toughness. It’s hard to measure chemistry, but Auburn has found it — and Alabama has to fight it.
The X-Factors: Explosiveness vs. Execution
Auburn’s offensive firepower centers around three players. Wide receiver Cam Coleman is a matchup nightmare, blending size, vertical speed, and leaping ability to stretch the field. He is the kind of player who can shift momentum with one play. Eric Singleton Jr. is the space weapon, a yards-after-catch threat who can turn quick throws into first downs. Jeremiah Cobb, meanwhile, is the grinder. His ability to sustain drives and wear down the defense is the key to Auburn’s entire gameplan — keeping Alabama’s offense off the field and controlling tempo.
Defensively, Auburn will rely on linebacker Xavier Atkins, who leads the team with 78 tackles and an SEC-best 66 stops in conference play. He also has 15.5 tackles for loss (most in the SEC) and 7.5 sacks, making him one of the most productive inside linebackers in the country. Defensive end Keldric Faulk will play a crucial role in setting the edge and disrupting Alabama’s rushing lanes.
For Alabama, edge rusher Yhonzae Pierre is the top disruptor. He leads the team in sacks and tackles for loss and will be tasked with creating havoc in Auburn’s backfield. On offense, Alabama will rely on their top target Germie Bernard, who leads the team in receptions (48), yards (676), and touchdowns (6). Bernard’s consistency helps sustain drives and gives Simpson a reliable option in critical moments.
Freshman wideout Lotzeir Brooks is another name to watch. He brings instant speed and shiftiness to the Tide’s offense and has recorded 23 catches for 332 yards. He could break the game open if Auburn sells out to stop Bernard or Ryan Williams.
HotFootballTake: Auburn 34, Alabama 24
This version of Auburn has energy, unpredictability, and — most importantly — a scheme that finally makes sense. Alabama is the better team on paper. But paper burns quickly in Jordan-Hare, especially at night. The Tigers get just enough out of Daniels, ride Cobb’s consistency, and unleash Coleman and Singleton on the perimeter. The defense creates enough pressure to rattle Simpson, and Alabama’s inability to generate pass rush allows Auburn to stay in rhythm.
Both teams have elite defenses, but Auburn has an X-factor: a coordinator Alabama has no film on and a team that believes again. The Iron Bowl has never needed a reason to go off-script. But if it needed one, wrecking Alabama’s playoff dream is as good as any. Auburn gets bowl eligible. Alabama gets sent home.
The voodoo returns.