The Iron Bowl is Saturday, Nov. 25 at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Alabama. Here’s what you need to know for the game:
Auburn (9-2) vs. Alabama (11-0)
When: 2:30 p.m. (CT)
Where: Jordan-Hare Stadium
TV: CBS
Radio: 102.9 FM
Line: Alabama by 4.5
Need To Know
Auburn will be following its clear bag policy. Each fan is allowed one large clear bag – either a one-gallon Ziploc style bag or the 12″ by 6″ by 12″ clear bag – plus a small “clutch” purse, no larger than 4½” by 6½”. The larger clear bag must be a standard 12″ by 6″ by 12″ made of clear PVC vinyl. The one-gallon Ziploc bag is readily available, inexpensive and easy to search. The small “clutch” allows privacy for small personal items and also is easily searched.
College Gameday
ESPN’s College Gameday will be located directly off of S College Street next to Toomer’s Oaks. The show begins at 8:00 a.m. (CT) and goes for three hours.
.@CollegeGameDay's set will be located at Samford Lawn adjacent to Toomer’s Corner, boundaries may vary depending on ESPN's final set-up.
📰 » https://t.co/fsr2Y31Pbl
#WarEagle pic.twitter.com/WlBpzX3krL— Auburn Tigers (@AuburnTigers) November 22, 2017
Parking and Traffic
For parking and traffic information about the game, visit auburntigers.com/gameday/parkingandtraffic. Parking on roadways is prohibited.
Allstate All Hands
More than 300 volunteers including Auburn and Alabama fans, Allstate agents and community members constructed an entire permanent all-weather playground on Friday in Tuskegee. Former Alabama quarterback John Parker Wilson and former Auburn running back Ronnie Brown were part of the team that built the playground in less than six hours.
Players To Watch
Alabama
Jalen Hurts
So./QB
6-2/218
Key Stat: Jalen Hurts has 14 touchdowns and one interception this season.
Hurts has done everything asked of him this season and more. Given the Crimson Tide’s success on the ground, Hurts’ top priority is to take care of the football. He’s thrown just one interception all season. When he was asked to deliver a game-winning drive in Starkville, he threw a strike to Devonta Smith to steal the game on the road. He’ll need to stay clean against Auburn.
Calvin Ridley
Jr./WR
6-1/190
Key Stat: Ridley has had two-straight 100-yard receiving games.
Ridley is playing his best football right now. He’s had 274 combined receiving yards in his last two games, and he sets up well to have a big game against the Tigers. Last year it was ArDarius Stewart who was the leading receiver in the Iron Bowl, and in 2015 it was Ridley who led the Crimson Tide with six catches for 90 yards at Auburn. Auburn is No. 20 in passing yards allowed this season.
Minkah Fitzpatrick
Jr./DB
6-1/202
Key Stat: Fitzpatrick has 44 tackles this season.
Like Ridley, this will likely be Fitzpatrick’s final Iron Bowl, given his current NFL draft stock. The star defensive back sat out Alabama’s game against Mercer with a hamstring injury, but practiced this week after getting the extra rest. The junior should be busy against the Tigers, using his versatility to line up at a few different positions. Alabama ranks No. 3 in the FBS in passing yards allowed.
Auburn
Kerryon Johnson
Jr./RB
6-0/212
Key Stat: Johnson has 18 total touchdowns this season.
Along with LSU’s Derrius Guice, Johnson will be the best back that Alabama has seen all season. Johnson has 1172 rushing yards this season, and 760 of those yards have come at home. With statistics that jump off the page and plenty of games on the big stage down the stretch, the junior could find his way to New York City for the Heisman Trophy presentation in December.
Jarrett Stidham
So./QB
6-3/214
Key Stat: Stidham has 16 touchdowns and four interceptions this season.
The Baylor transfer has panned out well for Auburn in his first season starting for the Tigers. Stidham is completing 68 percent of his passes, which is impressive considering his 267 attempts this season. It took heroic efforts from Deshaun Watson, Chad Kelly, and Cardale Jones the past three seasons to beat the Crimson Tide, so Stidham will need to be great as well.
Jeff Holland
Jr./LB
6-2/249
Key Stat: Holland has 8.5 sacks and four forced fumbles this season.
Holland sustained an injury to his right leg in Auburn’s win last week, but he was able to return to the field and play part of the game. Auburn will need Holland next week, who has been its best pass rusher this season. Holland can cause chaos for opposing offenses, getting into the backfield and forcing rushed throws and fumbles. Holland’s pursuit versus Jalen Hurts’ mobility will be a key matchup in the Iron Bowl.
