There’s some spice added because of the recruiting landscape. Hugh Freeze clearly made in-state prospects a priority by taking one look at the Tigers’ board for the 2025 class. Infusing home-grown talent who grew up in this madness as opposed to shopping on the national level will only add to the on-field scrap.

This year, for the first time in a long time, Alabama-Auburn simply doesn’t matter to the rest of the college football landscape anymore.

First-year head coaches (including interim head coaches) on both sides are a combined 5-17 in the Iron Bowl, and just one Alabama coach in the last 30 years has won his first game against Auburn. The Crimson Tide is a double-digit favorite in Saturday’s game, so there’s a good chance DeBoer bucks that trend.

Want to watch the 2024 Iron Bowl Saturday? Here's what you need to know about Alabama football vs Auburn including TV schedule and streaming info.

Alabama football head coach Kalen DeBoer will get his first taste of the legendary Iron Bowl rivalry Saturday, which he became honest about.

Here is how Alabama football coach Kalen DeBoer is viewing the Iron Bowl before facing Auburn for the first time.