The 2024 Iron Bowl revealed stark contrasts between Alabama and Auburn football, offering insights into what fans can expect from both programs heading into the 2025 season.
Alabama: A Promising Future
Despite some inconsistency, Alabama demonstrated its superiority over Auburn in the 28-14 victory. Even with four turnovers gifted to the Tigers, Alabama’s “good” Jalen Milroe and overall performance were enough to secure a decisive win. Under new head coach Kalen DeBoer, Alabama finished a respectable 9-3 in what was considered a transitional, post-Saban season. This solid foundation gives Crimson Tide fans optimism for a brighter future as DeBoer continues to build his team.
Auburn: A Program in Turmoil
Auburn, on the other hand, struggled to capitalize on Alabama’s mistakes, highlighting deeper issues within the program. Head coach Hugh Freeze pointed to roster deficiencies as the primary problem, but his own coaching decisions came under heavy scrutiny. The offensive prowess that once earned Freeze praise appears to have faded, and his record at Auburn (11-14) mirrors the struggles of previous coaches like Bryan Harsin and Gene Chizik.
A History of Questionable Decisions
Freeze’s Auburn tenure has yet to yield significant success, and his history at Liberty and Ole Miss suggests a pattern of mediocrity rather than mastery. Freeze’s reputation as a “Saban-killer” from two fluke wins in 2014 and 2015 seems to have overly influenced Auburn’s decision to hire him. Critics argue that the Tigers’ reliance on Freeze to outshine their rival Alabama is misguided, especially given his inability to develop consistent offensive success.
Post-Iron Bowl Criticism
Freeze’s handling of Auburn’s Iron Bowl performance has also drawn backlash. His post-game remarks deflected blame onto players like running back Jarquez Hunter for a poorly executed trick play, rather than acknowledging the poor timing and design of the call itself. This pattern of deflection has frustrated both fans and analysts, with many calling out Freeze for failing to take responsibility for Auburn’s struggles.
Two Programs, Two Directions
While Alabama looks poised to climb back into championship contention under DeBoer, Auburn appears stuck in a cycle of poor coaching hires and underperformance. Even with promising recruiting efforts, Freeze’s track record raises doubts about his ability to translate talent into success.
The parallels to Auburn’s darkest period in the 1970s—when the program suffered nine straight Iron Bowl losses—are hard to ignore. As Auburn faces a pivotal offseason, the question looms: will they break the cycle, or are they headed for another prolonged slump?
