Auburn vs. Alabama 2025 Preview: The Iron Bowl

The Iron Bowl. Auburn vs. Alabama in 2025 (and in this preview!). When you live in Alabama, you’d better pick a side. This storied rivalry means so much to Alabama residents, especially because there are no professional sports teams in the area. So for many, this is their Super Bowl every year. With that in mind, let’s dive into this 2025 Iron Bowl preview.

Auburn Tigers vs. Alabama Crimson Tide: 2025 College Football Preview

Matchup History and Excerpts

Auburn and Alabama have faced off 89 times, with Auburn winning 37 contests and tying one. Alabama has won the last five, and is looking to win to attempt to pass the longest win-streak in history. Meanwhile, Auburn will look to start a new streak of their own.

The bulletin board material quote goes to senior wide receiver Germie Bernard, who stated, “It’s obviously a great atmosphere … but who says we can’t go out there an blow them out, like how we did last year?”

Alabama won 28-14 in Tuscaloosa in last year’s Iron Bowl. However, the last time the Iron Bowl was at Jordan-Hare Stadium, the Tide needed a miracle to win the contest This year, the talent gap is much less. The Tigers can play spoiler to Alabama’s playoff hopes with the upset. Let’s look at the key players and how Auburn can pull off that rivalry upset in the Iron Bowl.

Auburn Key Offensive players

Since Hugh Freeze’s firing, Auburn’s offense has looked rejuvenated with displays of 38 points and 62 points. The key factor has been that the quarterback play has significantly improved. Because of the improved play, Ashton Daniels is the first key player in this game.

Against Vanderbilt, Daniels threw for 353 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran 18 times for 89 yards and two more touchdowns. Daniels is going to have to show this dual-threat ability against Alabama for Auburn to have a chance. Alabama’s defense has simplified itself and become more effective by doing so. Auburn’s quarterback is going to have to show his experience and ability and make the right read consistently. He can do so and be effective in both areas of the offense.

Speaking of quarterbacks in the “new” Auburn offense, Deuce Knight will likely be the backup in case Daniels gets hurt. However, do not be surprised if we see a package or two to get the Deuce Loose!

Cam Coleman is the second-best wide receiver in college football and vying for that top spot. His athleticism is ridiculous and leads to some of the most spectacular catches, especially in the left corner of the endzone. In the last two games, this has become evermore apparent, as he had 10 receptions for 143 yards and one touchdown against Vanderbilt. He followed that up with five receptions for 65 yards and another touchdown against Mercer (Coleman was pulled from the game in the fourth quarter for health preservation). Coleman is going to have to dominate this game like he has when faced with single coverage. Alabama is going to have to decide if they are willing to gamble with that or bracket him throughout the game. If he has single coverage at any point, look for Auburn to target him.

The final key player for Auburn could be a combination of Jeremiah Cobb, Malcolm Simmons and Perry Thompson. Cobb is the leading rusher on the team and needs 54 yards to eclipse the 1000-yard mark on the season. Simmons and Thompson came in the same recruiting class as Coleman to be part of an elite wide receiver corp. However, due to transfers and lackluster quarterback play, they have not fully lived up to their potential. If any one of these three players step up to the plate and explode in the Iron Bowl, Auburn has an even better shot of winning the game.

Alabama Key Offensive Players

The Crimson Tide bounced back after their opening loss to Florida State. That had a lot to do with Ty Simpson playing at a Heisman level and looking like one of the best quarterbacks in the country. Simpson is naturally the first key player for Alabama because as he goes, the Tide offense goes.

Simpson’s play has leveled off a bit, including throwing two interceptions against Eastern Illinois. Auburn’s defense is one of the best in the nation, but its secondary has been bend, don’t break all year and allows big plays. If Simpson takes advantage of that, then Alabama will be hard to beat. Simpson has 2934 yards on a 66-percent completion rate for 22 touchdowns and only four interceptions this year.

The next key player for Alabama is the aforementioned Germie Bernard. Bernard is an electric wide receiver and will be an additional problem to the Auburn secondary. Bernard leads the Tide with 48 receptions 676 yards and six touchdowns. He has added 16 carries for 97 yards and two more touchdowns in the rushing game. Bernard is a versatile weapon because of this dual utilization. Expect Alabama offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb to fully utilize him, even in ways we have not seen yet this season. If Germie gets this kind of exposure and succeeds with it, Auburn will have to make sure to shut down other players.

The third key player for Alabama’s offense is a bit of a wild card, but someone to keep an eye on. Freshman running back AK Dear is an explosive running back for the Tide. He leads the team in average yards per carry at 8.1 yards. He is eligible to play in one more game and maintain his redshirt, so he could play in this game as a threat to break a big run. This is especially important for an Alabama team that has unexpectedly struggled to run the ball. If Dear plays, he will have to make an impact and he can do that with his explosiveness.

Auburn Tiger Key Defensive Players

The first key player is a the duo of Jay Crawford and Kayin Lee. These two will be responsible for covering Germie Bernard and Ryan Williams. The two Alabama wide receivers have combined for 1274 yards on 88 receptions and 10 touchdowns. Crawford and Lee are going to have to find a way to slow them down.

Lee has 27 tackles and four deflections and one interception this season. He will need to capitalize on Simpson’s production drop-off to get another interception. Crawford, who missed three games due to injury, has 13 tackles, four passes defended and one interception as well. Crawford will likely have the responsibility of Bernard. However, both receivers move around the formation, so the corners will match them based on the side of the field. Crawford and Lee have to have good games in coverage for Auburn to win.

Keldric Faulk is the next key player. Faulk is first round NFL draft pick and has been schemed against as such this season. He has 26 tackles, two sacks and three passes defended, but his impact is consistently felt because offenses are trying to scheme him out of the game. For Auburn to win, Faulk is going to have to beat double teams and put pressure on Simpson. If he is able to do so, Simpson is more likely to make errant throws or force balls out into the secondary. Faulk has to get at least one sack himself and help create opportunities for the other defenders to do so as well.

The transfer superstar himself, Xavier Atkins, is the final key player for Auburn. His emergence as a leader on this defense has been vital to the success of Auburn. He leads the team in tackles and sacks with 81 and 7.5, respectively. Atkins also has one interception and two forced fumbles. His versatility has been witnessed in every game he has played for Auburn. For the Tigers to win, he is going to have to continue to be all over the field all game long. For Alabama to continue to struggle to run the ball, Faulk and Atkins are going to have to make their presence felt, and they can do so easily.

Alabama Key Defensive Players

Auburn’s offensive line has struggled this season. This struggle leads to the first Alabama key defensive player for the Iron Bowl and that is sophomore linebacker, Yhonzae Pierre. Pierre leads the team in sacks with six and has accounted for 34 tackles this season. He has also forced three fumbles which cannot go unnoticed by Auburn. Ball security has not been as big of an issue as it was last season, but someone who has forced fumbles can make those issues reappear. Pierre can and will likely cause major problems for Auburn.

Similar to Auburn’s pair of defensive backs, Alabama has a pair of linebackers that are a problematic duo in Deontae Lawson and Justin Jefferson. The duo have combined for 111 tackles, two sacks, six passes defended and one interception. They are all over the field and will cause problems. Auburn is going to have to run the ball to have success against Alabama, and these two linebackers are going to be a key component in stopping that run game. If they are successful and force Auburn to be one-dimensional passing the ball, the Tigers could be in trouble.

The third leading tackler on the Crimson Tide is the third key player. That is, defensive back Bray Hubbard.

Hubbard also has 53 tackles this season and leads the team with eight passes defended. Hubbard also has three interceptions and two forced fumbles. He is a running disruption on the field, and will be felt wherever he is. However, Hubbard has the challenge of covering Cam Coleman or Eric Singleton Jr. Hopefully, the Auburn coaching staff has prepared the team to be sure-handed around Hubbard, or else he could cause a turnover.

Keys to an Auburn victory

This game has the potential to be a shootout because both offenses can score. Offensively, Auburn has to maintain some semblance of balance of run and pass. Ashton Daniels and Jeremiah Cobb have to be effective in the running game. Alabama allows 121 yards per game rushing. Auburn is going to have to exceed that number, because the Crimson Tide only allows 148 yards per game passing.

The passing defense of Auburn is why Cam Coleman has to play extremely well for Auburn to win. Any time he gets the ball he is going to have to be effective and efficient, making the most of the opportunity.

Defensively Auburn has two goals. They must stuff the run and slow down the passing game. Auburn has struggled to defend the pass. However, if they stop the already struggling Alabama rushing attack, then they know the pass is coming. If they know the pass is coming they can prepare for it, and have more success.

Slowing down the passing game looks like creating as much pressure on Ty Simpson as possible. They must also key in on both Ryan Williams and Germie Bernard. Limiting them after the catch will be key in this matchup.

Game Prediction: 31-28, Auburn

DJ Durkin Feather in his Cap Tracker: 2

Auburn Football: Recruiting Roundup

The Iron Bowl is always a massive recruiting game for both schools. These teams consistently recruit against each other and this matchup gives both teams the ability to show off.

For Auburn, they have the opportunity to show that they can beat Alabama and any new recruit can continue the streak. The visitor list for this weekend is impressive for both the 2026 and 2027 recruiting class. Any recruit that shows up is fair game to commit to Auburn following a win against the Tide. Here’s the list:

2026 Recruiting Class

These are the players from the 2026 recruiting class attending the Iron Bowl. Bralan Womack, Jase Mathews, Jaquez Wilkes, Jordan Carter, Shadarius Toodle, Marquez Daniel, Wilson Zierer, Peyton Falzone, Brady Bekkenhuis, Tavian Branch, Kentrell White, Parker Pritchett, DeShawn Spencer, Kekua Aumua, Cooper Crosby, Hayden Chambers, and Travis Wakefield.

2027 Recruiting Class

Attending the game from the 2027 recruiting class is a massive list. It includes, Elijah Haven, Donivan Moore, JaBarrius Garror, Justin Murphy, Jaylen Scott, Cole Reiter, Hank Hendrix, Timi Aliu, Jaylyn Jones, Jayden Miles, Tranard Roberts, Gabe Jenkins, Dewey Young, Bobby Coleman, Karlos May, Kadin Fife, Will Slagle, Marquis Evans, Kalib Spivey, Carter Davis, Bryson Sanderson, Brandon Allen Jr., Jamison Roberts, Jaylon Moore, Darion Moseley, Debonaire Johnson, Robert Taylor, Kaiden James, Jaxon Elston, Max Patterson, Junior James, Jackson Ballinger, Dylan Haley, and Jeremiah Culpepper.