What Auburn football players said 2023 Iron Bowl upset over Alabama will take

Auburn football players know it’s been a while. The last time the Tigers beat Alabama in the Iron Bowl, it was a different world in 2019.
That day, Auburn ran back two interceptions for touchdowns and took a narrow 48-45 victory at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Since then, the Tigers are on their third coach and are coming off a 49-27 loss in Tuscaloosa.
New boss Hugh Freeze earned a reputation as a Crimson Tide killer at Ole Miss before leaving in disgrace, but that was a different era of college football and Nick Saban. At SEC Media Days on Tuesday in Nashville, tight end Luke Deal, who was on the 2019 Auburn squad that last won the Iron Bowl, explained how he thought the Tigers could pull off an upset this year.
“Just everybody being locked into the whole season and not taking a game for granted,” Deal said. “Iron Bowls, it can happen. You can win or lose the Iron Bowl at any moment, not just in the game. We need to build that momentum throughout the season.”
Deal wasn’t the only Auburn media days representative with an Iron Bowl win under his belt. Offensive lineman Kameron Stutts was also on the 2019 squad.
Stutts echoed his teammate’s point about an Alabama victory taking an entire season of effort.
“Just showing up every day and taking advantage of every opportunity,” Stutts said. “We’re focused on these last two weeks of summer and then we’ll take it one game at a time. When we get there, we’ll be excited for that game.”
The Tigers are fortunate this season that the game will be played at Jordan-Hare. Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide have had their struggles in Auburn, from the 2013 Kick Six to the 2019 game.
According to the Auburn players who’ve been there before, having the game at home could make a huge difference.
“It always helps, I’ll tell you that,” Deal said. “I love playing away games. As a football guy, I love it. It’s cool to go to different universities, different stadiums, but there’s nothing like Jordan-Hare Stadium in the fall.”
For linebacker and fellow Auburn media days representative Elijah McAllister, the Iron Bowl will be a different experience. He transferred in from Vanderbilt this offseason and has never played in the game before.
Despite his inexperience in the game, he thinks he’s ready.
“Very excited,” McAllister said. “It’s one of the two rivalries I wanted to play in growing up… I’m excited to finally play in it and do it and fulfill my college career in the last game at home there, so I’m excited.”
The 2023 edition of the Iron Bowl is scheduled for Nov. 25 in Auburn.