No. 13 Alabama beats Auburn, 28-14, in Kalen DeBoer’s first Iron Bowl

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) — Kalen DeBoer’s first Iron Bowl was a far cry from the back-and-forth of some shootouts of the past and lacked the theatrics of Nick Saban’s final appearance in last season’s storied rivalry. Still, the first-year Alabama coach did something that Saban couldn’t: He pulled off a victory in his first showdown between Alabama and Auburn.

Despite three turnovers in the first half (two lost fumbles and one interception), the No. 13 Crimson Tide fended off the Tigers’ bid for bowl eligibility and ensured their 28-14 win kept Auburn short of the required six wins would achieve fourth consecutive season. Alabama (9-3, 5-3 SEC) simultaneously extended its winning streak over its in-state archrival to five games.

The contest began with poor scoring on a cold afternoon, as the favored Crimson Tide managed just one touchdown in the first quarter. This was due in part to the first of the aforementioned turnovers, a fumble by star freshman wideout Ryan Williams on a successful third-down conversion. Auburn (5-7, 2-6 SEC) did not take advantage of the ensuing drive, but once again fell victim to its long-standing kicking problems with a missed 38-yard shot from Ian Vachon.

Vachon still scored twice in the first half and kept the Tigers in the game against Crimson Tide quarterback Jalen Milroe, who scored two rushing touchdowns in the first half (the first Auburn score of the game came after Milroe’s interception). Alabama led 14-6 at halftime and then added a third touchdown of the day on the first possession of the second half, thanks to a two-yard run from trailing Justice Haynes.

Alabama began to pull away after that score, forcing a Tigers punt on the next drive and then capitalizing on a third touchdown from Milroe on the ground. That turned what was once a one-possession game into a 28-6 lead, and that didn’t bode well for Auburn’s previous offensive woes in SEC play. Hugh Freeze’s team had scored more than 28 points in just one SEC game this season when they reached the Iron Bowl.

On the next Auburn drive, emotions ran high after an incomplete pass from Payton Thorne. That scene, which included a scuffle that did not escalate into full-on fisticuffs, drew boos from the Bryant-Denny Stadium crowd. Unsportsmanlike penalties also hit two Alabama defensive backs, including fan favorite Malachi Moore, who received a Senior Day honor before the game.

The Tigers, thanks in part to penalties against Moore and DeVonta Smith, mounted another offense as the third quarter faded with the daytime sky fading. Under the cover of darkness and stadium lights, Thorne connected with blue-chip rookie Cam Coleman for a 29-yard touchdown pass; Auburn then converted a two-point attempt to bring the deficit to an even 14 points.

After 45 minutes, Alabama faced a rival that was still alive despite the disparity in season development and pregame expectations. Here’s how rivalry week between big and small college football programs plays out happens more often than a casual observer might think. That’s what happened in the first Iron Bowl, which didn’t feature Saban for nearly two decades. So Milroe lost another fumble while trying to move the sticks on third down, what was originally intended to be the Crimson Tide’s opening salvo in the fourth quarter, a series that could have ended the contest with a touchdown.

Instead, Auburn was given another chance to hang around and waste little time approaching the Alabama red zone. However, the Tigers attempted a one-two pass from the Crimson Tide’s 30-yard line and standout running back Jarquez Hunter was intercepted by Bray Hubbard. It was the first sales of the day for the visitors.

Things still weren’t quite settled late in the fourth period as the Tigers began using their timeouts with less than five minutes left. Auburn then turned the ball over again when Thorne’s penchant for untimely turnovers came to the fore in the form of an interception to freshman Zabien Brown with two and a half minutes to play. This all but eliminated any uncertainty about the final result, even if the semantics weren’t officially decided for a few minutes. Alabama ran the ball from there, then hit a punt and saw the clock expire from deep in its own territory after a couple Auburn completions.

Alabama woke up Saturday morning with such a slim path to the College Football Playoff that calling it an “outside opportunity” would be putting it mildly. However, the first step towards preservation was achieved at Saban Field with the rival victory. Without direct involvement in next Saturday’s SEC title game, the Crimson Tide’s fate is now officially out of control, whatever happens across the college football landscape.

DeBoer pointed to his team’s ranked wins and the Crimson Tide’s tough weekly SEC schedule. Running back Jam Miller, who scored a career-best 28 runs (and said afterward he felt good enough to play another game), declined to take the political route and instead focused on winning on Enjoy Saturday.

Does Miami loss put Alabama in the College Football Playoff?