Alabama and Auburn both enter the 2025 Iron Bowl with plenty on the line.
The Crimson Tide (9-2, 6-1 SEC) needs a win to reach the SEC championship game and also to likely clinch a spot in the College Football Playoff. The Tigers (5-6, 1-6) are playing for bowl-eligibility, and also to ruin their arch-rival’s season.
This year’s game is at Jordan-Hare Stadium, which usually means it will come down to the final play, or at least the final minute. That’s often been the case even in those Iron Bowls that Alabama has won in Auburn.
Heading into the 2025 game, how do the Crimson Tide and Tigers match up? We take a look in our annual Iron Bowl position-by-position breakdown:
Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson (15) throws the ball against LSU during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)AP
Quarterback
Alabama’s Ty Simpson was among the Heisman frontrunners just two weeks ago, but that was before uneven performances against Oklahoma and Eastern Illinois have all but eliminated him from contention. He’s had to carry the Crimson Tide offense on his shoulders in a lot of ways this season, and will be counted on to do so again in the Iron Bowl. After playing all season without a reliable quarterback, Auburn now might have two. Ashton Daniels was tremendous two weeks ago against Vanderbilt, while true freshman Deuce Knight shined ever so brightly this past weekend vs. Mercer. We might see both in the Iron Bowl. None of these players has ever started an Iron Bowl, but Simpson has more big-game experience this season.
Advantage: Alabama
Auburn running back Jeremiah Cobb carries the football during an SEC game against Kentucky on Nov. 1, 2025, at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn.(AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Running back
The lack of a consistent running game has been Alabama’s biggest bugaboo this season, with Jam Miller, Kevin Riley and Daniel Hill all below average (though Hill has been the best of the bunch lately). The inability of the Crimson Tide’s backs to create explosive plays has led offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb to innovate and use receivers on jet sweeps and end-arounds to simulate a rushing attack. Running the ball was all Auburn did well offensively most of the year, and Jeremiah Cobb has been one of the best backs in the SEC. There’s not much depth behind him, but Cobb has shown he can carry a running game on his own.
Advantage: Auburn
Auburn wide receiver Eric Singleton Jr. (1) dives into the end zone for a touchdown as he is tackled by Vanderbilt cornerback Martel Hight (4) during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)AP
Receiver
Germie Bernard isn’t the most-celebrated receiver on Alabama’s roster, but he’s been its best from both a production and reliability standpoint. Ryan Williams has been spectacular at times, but remains inconsistent catching the ball. Isaiah Horton and Lotzier Brooks have both been steady. Starting tight end Josh Cuevas’ status is not yet known for Saturday due to an ankle injury. The drop-off to No. 2 at his position is steep. Auburn has as talented a wide receiver room as any team in the country, but hasn’t always done a good job of utilizing it. Cam Coleman is a big play waiting to happen, while Eric Singleton is outstanding from a volume standpoint. There’s not a proven No. 3, though Malcolm Simmons and Perry Thompson have had their moments. The Tigers’ tight ends don’t offer much in the passing game.
Advantage: Even
Alabama offensive lineman Parker Brailsford (72) looks for a block against Tennessee during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)AP
Offensive line
While Alabama center Parker Brailsford (who was held out of the Eastern Illinois game) and left tackle Kadyn Proctor are among the best in the country at their positions, the rest of the line has been average at best. Right tackle Wilkin Formby has held off freshman Michael Carroll to this point. Guards Geno VanDeMark, Jaeden Roberts and Kam Dewberry have not gotten the job done in the running game. Auburn’s offensive line was supposed to be a strength this year, but has been a liability, particularly after center Conner Lew was lost for the season with a knee injury. Tackles Xavier Chaplin and Izavion Miller and guards Dillon Wade and Jeremiah Wright have blocked well in the run game, but have gotten wrecked by the better SEC defensive lines in pass protection.
Advantage: Alabama
Alabama Linebacker Yhonzae Pierre (42) celebrates against South Carolina at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, SC on Saturday, Oct 25, 2025.
Crimson Tide Photos / UA Athletics
Defensive line
Alabama is very good off the edge, with LT Overton on one side and Yhonzae Pierre on the other. Qua Russaw also played last week for the first time since mid-September and held up well. Interior linemen Tim Keenan, James Smith and Edric Hill have all been steady. Auburn defensive end Keldric Faulk has played like the future NFL first-round pick that he is, and backup Amaris Williams is solid. The rest of the line — including Bobby Jamison-Travis, Dallas Walker and Malik Blocton on the inside — is just OK, however.
Advantage: Alabama
Kentucky tight end Willie Rodriguez (81) dives for more yards in front of Auburn linebacker Xavier Atkins (17) during the first half of play at Jordan-Hare Stadium on November 01, 2025 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images)Getty Images
Linebacker
Alabama’s Justin Jefferson and Deontae Lawson are both outstanding in run support, and Colorado transfer Nikhai Hill-Green has been a capable No. 3. Auburn’s trio of Xavier Atkins, Robert Woodyard and Keyron Crawford are all very active against both the run and the pass, with Atkins in particular a candidate for All-America honors this season. Chris Murray has also made some big plays for the Tigers, who lost former blue-chip recruit Demarcus Riddick to a season-ending injury last week.
Advantage: Auburn
Alabama defensive back Bray Hubbard (18) celebrates his second interception of the game during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Wisconsin, Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)AP
Secondary
Alabama has three quality corners in Zabien Brown, Domani Jackson and freshman Dijon Lee, and has an outstanding pair of safeties in Keon Sabb and Bray Hubbard. DaShawn Jones and Red Morgan have been mediocre at the nickel position. For Auburn, cornerbacks Kayin Lee, Rayshawn Pleasant and Jay Crawford are pretty average, as are safeties Kaleb Harris and Jahquez Robinson and nickel men Sylvester Smith and Kensley Louidor-Faustine.
Advantage: Alabama
Auburn kicker Alex McPherson, right, shakes hands with teammate Hudson Kaak after kicking a field goal during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025, in Fayetteville, Ark. (AP Photo/Michael Woods)AP
Special teams
Alabama’s kicking game has some serious issues, with Conor Talty’s unsteadiness at kicker the most glaring one. The return game has also not been great, and punt coverage has sprung a leak at some inopportune times. Now apparently past his life-threatening offseason medical issues, Auburn kicker Alex McPherson has become an asset in recent weeks. Pleasant is also a big-time threat in the kickoff return game. Neither team’s punter is anything special.
Advantage: Auburn
Auburn interim coach DJ Durkin, left, squares off with Alabama’s Kalen DeBoer in the Iron Bowl on Saturday night at Jordan-Hare Stadium. (AP file photos)AP
Coaching
Alabama’s Kalen DeBoer has been steady as she goes, and the Crimson Tide definitely upgraded with the hiring of Grubb during the offseason. Defensive coordinator Kane Wommack takes a lot of criticism, but his side of the ball has been much more consistent than the Alabama offense this season. Auburn’s firing of Hugh Freeze has been addition by subtraction, especially in how it has unleashed Derrick Nix as a playcaller. On the flip side, DJ Durkin’s assumption of interim coaching duties seems to have had a deleterious effect on the defense.
Advantage: Alabama
Alabama wide receiver Germie Bernard (5) celebrates following a touchdown against Louisiana Monroe at Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala., Saturday, Sep. 6, 2025. (Will McLelland | AL.com)Will McLelland
Overall
Its domination of Eastern Illinois last week notwithstanding, Alabama does not appear to be the surefire national championship contender it was back in October. Nevertheless, the Crimson Tide still has an outstanding roster and has shown an ability to play well (if not always cleanly) in big games. Auburn will enter the Iron Bowl with sky-high confidence based on how its offense has improved, but the better team almost always wins in this rivalry. And for one more year at least, that’s Alabama.
Advantage: Alabama
