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Alabama vs. Auburn: Prediction, pick, spread, football game odds, live stream, watch online, TV channel The Iron Bowl is featured as the SEC on CBS Game of the Week with the regular season coming to a close By Barrett Sallee 21 hrs ago • 4 min read Getty Images No. 7 Alabama looks to end its season on a high note on Saturday afternoon when it hosts rival Auburn in the Iron Bowl in the SEC on CBS Game of the Week. The Crimson Tide won't represent the SEC West in the SEC Championship Game in Atlanta next weekend, but a state championship over the Tigers is something that every Alabama coach emphasizes throughout the year. The Tigers have had a frustrating year that resulted in the dismissal of coach Bryan Harsin on Oct. 31. But interim coach and Tigers legend Carnell "Cadillac" Williams has sparked much-needed life into the program, won two straight games and has made a case to take over the job on a full-time basis. A win over Alabama would certainly go a long way toward strengthening that case. What will happen on Saturday afternoon? Let's preview the game and make picks straight up and against the spread. Alabama vs. Auburn: Need to know Looking ahead?: Alabama has been out of the SEC West title hunt since mid-November, which isn't normal for a program that is accustomed to not only competing for the conference title but the College Football Playoff. That prompted reporters to ask star players if they've thought about opting out of Alabama's bowl game, including star quarterback Bryce Young. "As far as me thinking about my future, I take everything one day at a time," he said. "So all I've been focused on throughout the year has been the next opponent, and obviously, this is huge. This is a huge game. This means a lot to me, to people in the entire state, to us as a team. This is a huge game, so all I think about is today. How can I be the best version of myself today to get ready to put myself in the best circumstances, how we as a team can do that, and that's all my head's focused on." It certainly looked like Young backed it up last weekend. He was 22 of 30 for 264 yards and two touchdowns last week vs. Austin Peay before Jalen Milroe came in to finish the game. That was in a meaningless game against an FCS opponent, not the battle for state bragging rights. Alabama's players know how much this game means, so don't expect them to mail this one in during their last game in Bryant-Denny Stadium. Ground and pound: Running backs Tank Bigsby and Jarquez Hunter have each topped the 100-yard mark in Auburn's last two games, which not only coincided with wins but a return to old-school football that interim coach Williams was successful with when he was a player for the Tigers from 2001-04. Bigsby and Hunter have done this despite not having much of a downfield passing threat from quarterback Robby Ashford. Alabama has given up more than 180 rushing yards in three of its last four conference games with the outlier being against a Mississippi State team that uses its short passing attack as a substitute for running the ball. This isn't a typical Alabama defense, and if Auburn is going to pull the upset, it's going to have to take advantage with its newfound dedication to the rushing attack. Tryout?: Rumors have swirled surrounding Auburn's next head coach, and most of them haven't focused on Williams. But that could change if he springs an upset over Alabama. "Cadillac" has won two of his last three games and will pull out all of the stops in his first -- and perhaps, only -- Iron Bowl coaching experience. Does the idea of an upset seem crazy? On the surface, yes. But Auburn was a 20.5-point underdog going into last season's Iron Bowl yet took the Crimson Tide to four overtimes before John Metchie III broke their hearts. Expect plenty of fireworks from the Iron and Blue as they look to spring one of the biggest upsets of the season.

Auburn Football Lane Kiffin expects to return to Ole Miss, addresses Auburn job after Egg Bowl loss Updated: Nov. 25, 2022, 9:19 a.m.| Published: Nov. 24, 2022, 11:16 p.m. Mississippi coach Lane Kiffin passes the ball to a player during warmups for the team's NCAA college football game against Mississippi State in Oxford, Miss., Thursday, Nov. 24, 2022. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)AP NEW! By Tom Green | tgreen@al.com Lane Kiffin kept it brief when asked about his future at Ole Miss after his team wrapped up its regular-season schedule. Following the Rebels’ 24-22 loss in the Egg Bowl on Thanksgiving night, Kiffin was asked if he anticipates being Ole Miss’ coach next season, even if he is offered the job at Auburn. His response was two words. “I do,” he told reporters in Oxford, Miss. Read more Auburn football: 19 years after ‘Go Crazy,’ Cadillac Williams is set for another Iron Bowl moment Cohesion of restructured offensive staff ‘uplifting’ for Auburn amid tumultuous season DC Jeff Schmedding seizing opportunity with Auburn defense since Bryan Harsin’s firing Kiffin’s name has been associated with the Auburn opening since new Tigers athletics director John Cohen began his search on Halloween, with Kiffin long viewed as the top candidate to replace Bryan Harsin, who was fired after going 9-12 in 21 games. Speculation surrounding Kiffin’s candidacy has grown in the last week as the regular season has wound down. He was asked about the Auburn opening after last weekend’s loss to Arkansas, saying he didn’t know if he was the Tigers’ top candidate, then again on Monday during his weekly press conference to preview the Egg Bowl. During those remarks, Kiffin — who has said he doesn’t discuss such things during the season — joked about making a “pine box” speech like Tommy Tuberville infamously did in 1998 before leaving Ole Miss for Auburn, or a line like the one Nick Saban delivered in 2006 about not being the next coach at Alabama shortly before he left the Miami Dolphins for the Tide. He also expressed his satisfaction with his current situation at Ole Miss, where he signed a new four-year deal last December that is paying him $7.25 million this season, good for the 11th-highest paid head coach in college football. Kiffin then took umbrage with a local television reporter in Mississippi who reported Monday evening that Kiffin was heading to Auburn on Friday despite the job not being offered at that point. Kiffin took to Twitter to issue his own “report” while shooting down the one from Jon Sokoloff of WCBI in Columbus, Miss. After Thursday’s loss, Kiffin addressed that situation, saying he had to hold a team meeting to address Monday’s “falsely reported” news. “I had to have a team meeting to say his article was wrong,” Kiffin said. “...So, yes, I had to deal, had to have a team meeting because of that. They don’t, when there’s other stuff in chat rooms and all that stuff, but when a reporter writes it, that changes the game with it.” Kiffin declined to go into specifics of the meeting, beyond telling his players the report was inaccurate. He was also asked Thursday night if he expects to sign another contract extension with the Rebels after a report surfaced last week that Ole Miss offered Kiffin a new contract and raise to remain in Oxford. Kiffin is in his third year with Ole Miss and has gone 23-12 during that time, including an 8-4 mark this season, as the Rebels lost four of their final five games after a 7-0 start. “I don’t know,” Kiffin said. “I mean, I’ve signed three. Does a fourth one mean you’re never leaving? So, I don’t know. I’m much more focused and worried about the game than whether you sign another contract. And I’m not acting ungrateful for that, but again, everybody thinks you sign another contract, well, a year ago you said the same thing, and then here we are again.” Tom Green is an Auburn beat reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Tomas_Verde.

Auburn vs. Alabama TV info, key matchups, what to watch for in Iron Bowl Published: Nov. 25, 2022, 7:05 a.m. 6–7 minutes Auburn (5-6, 2-5 SEC) at No. 7 Alabama (9-2, 5-2) When: 2:30 p.m. CT, Saturday Where: Bryant-Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa. TV: CBS Line: Auburn +22.5 This game will determine... Beyond annual bragging rights in one of the most, if not the most intense rivalry in college sports, on the line for Auburn this week is bowl eligibility. The Tigers need a win to reach six on the year and secure a 10th consecutive bowl berth. This game doesn’t have the same stakes as it typically has, as neither Auburn nor Alabama has a clear path to a championship entering this game for the first time since 2007. Read more Auburn football: 19 years after ‘Go Crazy,’ Cadillac Williams is set for another Iron Bowl moment Cohesion of restructured offensive staff ‘uplifting’ for Auburn amid tumultuous season DC Jeff Schmedding seizing opportunity with Auburn defense since Bryan Harsin’s firing Three things to look for... 1. Can Auburn’s defense keep it up? After a historically bad stretch in the three games prior to Bryan Harsin’s firing — when Auburn’s defense was giving up 532.7 yards per game, 6.9 yards per play and 43.7 points per game — the Tigers have turned things around defensively. They’re holding opponents to 4.25 yards per play in November, which is ninth nationally and tops in the SEC. The pass defense is in the midst of its best stretch since 2019, limiting opponents to fewer than 6 yards per pass attempt, while the run defense is holding teams to 2.7 yards per carry. Up next is an Alabama offense that features the reigning Heisman winner in Bryce Young and is scoring 40 points per game (fifth nationally) while averaging 6.94 yards per play (15th nationally). 2. How much of a factor will Robby Ashford be? Auburn has leaned into its rushing attack in recent weeks, getting back to “big-boy football” on the backs of Tank Bigsby and Jarquez Hunter. The result has been a 2.6-to-1 run-pass ratio during that stretch, with Ashford attempting just 54 passes the last three games. The Tigers aren’t hiding the fact they want to run the ball against the Tide, but they’re going to have to throw it at some point — and the teams that have given Alabama the most trouble this season have been efficient through the air. When those opportunities arise, will Ashford deliver? He’s completing just 40 percent of his passes this month, with as many touchdowns (two) as interceptions while averaging just 4.7 yards per pass attempt. 3. Can Cadillac Williams make history? It has already been quite a run for Williams as Auburn’s interim coach. He has reinvigorated a wayward program, excited the fanbase and has Auburn playing winning football, as it heads into the Iron Bowl on the heels of back-to-back victories. He’s the first Black head coach in Auburn history, the first to win a game at Auburn and will be the first to coach on either side of the Iron Bowl rivalry (he’ll also be the first person from Auburn to play in and coach the Iron Bowl in the modern era). Williams is already the feel-good story of this season for Auburn, and while he hasn’t wanted to make it about himself, a win against Alabama — as unlikely as it may be — would be an all-time moment for Auburn, and a historic one for Williams. RELATED: Auburn ‘playing with house money’ as big Iron Bowl underdogs: ‘Nobody gives us a chance in hell’ Key matchup Auburn’s run game against Alabama run defense. Again, it’s no secret what Auburn wants to do offensively in this game; co-offensive Ike Hilliard said as much this week: The Tigers are going to lean on Bigsby, Hunter and a veteran offensive line to try to beat the Tide. Auburn’s run game has been top-five nationally in November, averaging 259.33 yards per game and 5.44 yards per carry (18th in FBS this month), while Bigsby and Hunter have posted back-to-back dueling 100-yard performances. Now they’ll try to crack an Alabama run defense that ranks 14th nationally in yards allowed (107.82), eighth nationally in yards allowed per carry (3.08) and has only given up two 100-yard rushing performances: Ole Miss’ Quinshon Judkins and Arkansas’ Raheim Sanders. By the numbers 116.01 — Auburn’s defensive pass efficiency this season, which is 17th nationally and on pace to be the program’s best single-season mark since 2017. Key injuries Auburn — OL Nick Brahms out (retired), OL Tate Johnson out (elbow), OL Austin Troxell out (knee) QB Zach Calzada out (shoulder), Edge Eku Leota out (pectoral), K Anders Carlson out (knee), RB Jordon Ingram out (knee), WR Landen King out (redshirt), WR Tar’Varish Dawson Jr. out (transfer), DL Zykeivous Walker out (transfer), CB A.D. Diamond out (transfer), QB T.J. Finley out (shoulder), S Donovan Kaufman questionable (foot), DT Jeffrey M’ba probable (ankle), DT Marquis Burks probable (undisclosed), DL Marcus Harris probable (undisclosed). Alabama — DL Justin Eboigbe out (neck), WR Aaron Anderson out (knee), LB Demouy Kennedy out (knee), DB Khyree Jackson out (suspended/transfer), RB Jahmyr Gibbs questionable (ankle), DB Eli Ricks questionable (head), TE Cameron Latu questionable (undisclosed). Alabama player to watch Will Anderson Jr., linebacker. A year after leading the nation with 17.5 sacks and 34.5 tackles for loss, Anderson leads the Tide with 14 tackles for loss and eight sacks this season. He’s top-20 nationally in both those stats this year, leading the SEC in stops behind the line of scrimmage and second in the league in sacks. Tom Green is an Auburn beat reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Tomas_Verde. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation.

Jeremy Pruitt deceived us: Tennessee responds to NCAA notice of allegations Adam Sparks, Knoxville News Sentinel Thu, November 24, 2022 at 12:20 PM The University of Tennessee disputed the NCAA's finding that it failed to monitor the football program while recruiting violations were committed under fired coach Jeremy Pruitt. Instead, the university said Pruitt, his wife and his staff knowingly concealed their malfeasance despite UT's best efforts to follow NCAA rules in monitoring the football program. That was UT's only major dispute in responding to the NCAA notice of allegations. A Chick-fil-A bag full of cash and Pruitt's babysitter were also new revelations in the case. Knox News obtained the university's 108-page response to the NCAA on Thursday morning. In the document, UT had minor disputes with five of the 18 Level 1 violations that the NCAA found during its investigation. Otherwise, it agreed generally that rules were broken and that almost $60,000 of cash or gifts were provided to players and their families by Pruitt, his wife and numerous coaches, recruiting staff and at least one booster. But UT argued that it was not guilty of the 18th violation − the most serious against the institution, failure to monitor the football program. "Despite the University’s monitoring efforts, athletics administrators and athletics compliance staffmembers were repeatedly deceived by the football program," UT said in the response to the NCAA. "The University respectfully submits that it is unrealistic to expect an institution to prevent, or immediately detect, the intentional and concealed misconduct that occurred in this case." READ:Jeremy Pruitt paid Tennessee football parent with cash in Chick-fil-A bag, NOA reveals The NCAA alleged the Level 1 violations − the most serious in its four-tier system − were committed by Jeremy and wife Casey Pruitt; assistant coaches Derrick Ansley, Shelton Felton and Brian Niedermeyer; recruiting staff members Drew Hughes, Bethany Gunn and Chantryce Boone; and an unnamed booster from 2018-21. Tennessee says it did its best to prevent violations UT argued those individuals knew what they were doing was wrong and intentionally kept the university in the dark. "The factual information in this case demonstrates that experienced football coaches and non-coaching staff members knowingly violated longstanding and universally understood NCAA rules and wentto considerable lengths to conceal their misconduct," UT said in its response. "The record also supports that the University monitored football recruiting visits in accordance with industry standards. "As part of the University’s monitoring efforts, athletics administration and athletics compliance staff maintained a physical presence in and around the football program (including embedding an experienced compliance staff member in the program)." In its response, Tennessee cites far-from-drastic penalties handed down by the Committee on Infractions to LSU in September. The NCAA accepted LSU’s self-imposed penalties including a $5,000 fine, a limit on official recruiting visits, a one-week ban on unofficial visits and recruiting communications in the football program and loss of seven recruiting evaluation days. The NCAA also ordered one year probation on the school and ordered a three-year show-cause on a former LSU assistant coach, neither of which were self-imposed by the school. LSU was cited for ignoring a recruiting dead period instated during the COVID-19 pandemic. Tennessee argues that since the committee on infractions did not significantly increase penalties due to aggravating factors in that case, citing LSU’s cooperation, it should treat UT similarly. “Despite the University’s best efforts, multiple members of the football staff, including (Jeremy) Pruitt, disregarded” the compliance office’s efforts to keep recruiting within NCAA guidelines, the school said in its response. In July, the NCAA delivered the notice of 18 Level 1 violations. UT and the people named in the report had until late October to respond to the allegations, but the NCAA granted a 30-day extension to that deadline. The NCAA enforcement staff now has 60 days to reply to these responses. So the next phase of the case could come as late as January. Player's mom paid in Chick-fil-A bag not McDonald's Some new details included in UT's response were not mentioned in the NCAA notice of allegations. Pruitt used a Chick-fil-A bag to give several hundred dollars to the mother of a UT player after she approached him in late 2020, according to the report. He received a phone call from the mother and met her outside the football facility on campus, where she asked him for money. Tennessee maintains former football coach Jeremy Pruitt, seen her during a game between Tennessee and Missouri at Neyland Stadium in October, 2020, deceived the school on NCAA rules violations perpetrated by Pruitt and his staff. Pruitt went to his car, where he had cash, and gave her either $300 or $400 in a Chick-fil-A bag because "it was the human thing, the right thing to do," Pruitt told investigators during a March 7, 2022 interview. His statement in that regard is the lone proof for the cash payment, according to the document. The notion of money being given in a fast-food bag was linked to the Tennessee football violations when Dan Patrick reported on Jan. 19, 2021, that money changed hands in McDonald's bags. The notice of allegations did not reference McDonald's bags, but did reference $225 worth of McDonald's food being provided from March 30-April 1, 2019, as an impermissible benefit for a recruit and his mother. Pruitt babysitter added to investigation Also add the Pruitts' babysitter to the alleged culprits in the case. According to UT, Jeremy Pruitt paid $6,000 to a recruit’s mother for a down payment on a 2017 Nissan Armada. He promised the payment during a recruiting visit in fall 2018 and paid the $6,000 on Dec. 26, 2018. The player’s mother, whose name is redacted from the report, told investigators that Pruitt told her to “pick whatever I want and he’ll make the payment.” Investigators confirmed it through the car dealership. That’s where the babysitter came in. The recruit enrolled at UT to play football. And from Jan. 28, 2019 to March 26, 2021, Pruitt paid 25 monthly payments of $500 for the car. The last two payments came after UT fired Pruitt in January 2021. The player’s mother told investigators that she received the money from Casey Pruitt or Pruitt’s babysitter at Pruitt’s home. Also, Casey Pruitt occasionally delivered the money to her residence. Those car payments represented a large portion of the inducements and impermissible benefits paid to UT players and recruits, the NCAA report found. Casey Pruitt at a press conference to introduce her husband, Jeremy Pruitt, as head coach of the Tennessee Volunteers football team in the Peyton Manning Locker Complex at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville on Dec. 7, 2017. It also alleged that Casey Pruitt provided $3,000 in cash rent payments for an unnamed UT player and his mother from September 2018 to March 2021. The gifts began during the prospect’s recruitment and continued after he enrolled and played for the Vols. In a separate violation, the NCAA says Casey Pruitt arranged for a real estate agent to meet with a recruit’s family. Casey Pruitt's involvement in the allegations was eye-opening. Before marrying Jeremy, she worked in NCAA compliance at Troy University, Florida State and Oklahoma. What's happened for Vols under Josh Heupel since investigation The ongoing NCAA case from the Pruitt era is quite a contrast to the current UT football team under Josh Heupel, which is amid one of its best seasons since a 1998 national title run. The Vols have a 9-2 record and ranked No. 10 in the College Football Playoff rankings. If UT beats Vanderbilt on Saturday, it will post a 10-win season for the first time since 2007 and remain in contention for a New Year's Six bowl. UT football has transformed dramatically in the 18 months since UT Chancellor Donde Plowman announced an internal investigation, fired Pruitt for cause, cleaned house in the football program and accepted athletics director Phillip Fulmer's retirement. Plowman hired athletics director Danny White, who tabbed Heupel as football coach. In 2021, Heupel won the Steve Spurrier Award as the top first-year coach in college football with a roster that underwent self-imposed scholarship cuts. This year's Tennessee team has exceeded expectations. Quarterback Hendon Hooker is a Heisman Trophy candidate. Wide receiver Jalin Hyatt is a frontrunner for the Biletnikoff Award. Heupel is an SEC coach of the year candidate. And the Vols have the No. 1-ranked offense in college football, built largely on players left from Pruitt's era. But the NCAA case still lingers. And now comes the next step. UT has been active in building its case. The university paid $143,722 in legal fees to the firm Bond, Schoeneck & King from June to August, according to university records provided to Knox News. That represented its largest quarterly legal expense in a year. Invoices for September and October are not yet available. Lawyers for UT traveled to Indianapolis, the site of NCAA headquarters, on July 12 and Aug. 9. From the beginning, the university took steps to assist the NCAA and perhaps mitigate penalties. UT self-reported infractions, conducted an internal investigation with high-powered lawyers, spent about $1.4 million in legal fees over the course of the entirety investigation, dug up new violations that NCAA investigators had not discovered and fired Pruitt for cause, along with additional coaches and recruiting staff members alleged to have committed violations. “These actions by (UT) led to the fully-formed record that would not be possible without the significant actions taken by the institution,” the NCAA said in its notice of allegations to UT. Reach Adam Sparks at adam.sparks@knoxnews.com and on Twitter @AdamSparks. This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Jeremy Pruitt deceived us: Tennessee responds to NCAA notice of allegations:

this was reported yesterday and posted today on reddit. i thought it might be fun to throw some more wth out there. this is still not as good as the rumor freeze is going back to ol miss. Inside the Rebels reporting Kiffin to stay at Ole Miss 247sports.com/colleg... Apparently the Auburn deal may have hit “snag.” But the person who reported that (Jay G. Tate, I think) apparently heard it from OM people. He thinks it may just be an attempt to get through the game tomorrow. We’ll see. Didn’t McCready also report he told the team he hadn’t interviewed anywhere and then in the same post admitted that they knew that was a lie? Kiffin is definitely giving someone the run around. Time will tell if it’s them or us. McCready is also saying we will hire Freeze Friday. Doesn’t Freeze have to go through some approval process. Thought Sanky has to approve. If true I don’t see that hire moving this quickly. 28

i hope deion kills it. life is hard. while he has a past of which he admitted most of he got saved. people claim he is making a difference with today's youth as well.

man i love love love these game threads you do! thanx so much!

someone posted some bad stuff about deion on this board. i do not remember which thread. but they claimed he assaulted people. mistreated his family. got in trouble with the feds over supposedly a fake prep high school where a lot of money went missing. have you read this? i post so many articles for the site i get confused keeping up. and i was told sanders health was an issue from auburn and i have no idea if this is true. i would love to read that article if i did not have to spend hours looking for it. do you remember?

barkley is one of my all time favs of anyone who played for auburn. with that being said he was all for turner gil at auburn and the best i remember turner tanked. and i believe mikey being a coach or retired coach some insight into these sort of things.

the point of weird is freeze a candidate for ol miss.............is that not crazy.

Kiffin’s never lost an Iron Bowl, but this one gets lost in his decision drama Updated: Nov. 24, 2022, 8:44 a.m.|Published: Nov. 24, 2022, 5:50 a.m. ~2 minutes By Kevin Scarbinsky | Special to AL.com This is an opinion column. Lane Kiffin has never lost an Iron Bowl. Seems like a good time to mention that fun fact since, barring an upset bigger than an Auburn victory come Saturday - or the most epic Troll Tide ever - he is expected to be the next head coach of the Tigers. And soon. The only variable as of this writing appears to be the timing of a formal acceptance and official announcement. There is strong sentiment among some Auburn supporters to tell the world Friday, if possible, the day between the Egg Bowl and the Iron Bowl. And why not? If the marriage becomes official that day, that secret won’t keep. Even a Twitter savant like Kiffin can issue only so many creative non-denial denials, and besides, “Lane Train to the Plains” would dominate the college football conversation for the bulk of the Thanksgiving weekend. Talk about an extended recruiting commercial for a program in dire need of an immediate talent infusion. To borrow from new AD John Cohen, the Tigers as the talk of college football as they ride into Tuscaloosa with a 5-6 record is the new Auburn being Auburn. Although, if what I’m hearing from several SEC insiders is on target, Kiffin’s potential successor in Oxford would create some buzz of his own - because Hugh Freeze could be on his way back to the Grove. Sounded crazy to me, too, when the first, second and third persons mentioned it, but one breadcrumb added some veracity to the whispers: Apparently a Liberty rep has quietly reached out to at least one potential head coaching prospect to gauge his interest should Freeze depart. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation.

Auburn remains undefeated after 43-42 win vs. Northwestern Published: Nov. 23, 2022, 11:03 p.m. 3–4 minutes November 22, 2022; Cancun, QR, MX; Bruce Pearl reacts during the game between Auburn and Bradley at Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya. Mandatory Credit: Steven Leonard/AU AthleticsSteven Leonard/AU Athletics By Nubyjas Wilborn | nwilborn@al.com Bruce Pearl had a mix of delight for a 43-42 win against Northwestern and disappointment in his team shooting 26% on 13-50 attempts and 5-21 from three. Wendell Green Jr missed his first seven shot attempts before nailing a jumper to give the Tigers a 41-40 lead with 1:43 left in the second half. Allen Flanigan two of his seven points on a layup with 31 seconds left to bring Auburn to the final score of 43-42. “Our offensive execution leaves a lot to be desired,” Pearl said. “But we showed heart, we showed character, we showed toughness, and we gutted this one out. The Tigers had to make a play on defense, and Green nabbed the last rebound as Chase Audige’s shot grazed the rim with the clock hitting zeroes. Audige led Northwestern with 10 points, and Green finished the game with his 10th rebound. Green finding ways to contribute when not shooting well is why Pearl kept him on the court for over 30 minutes. Both teams’ woeful shooting aided Green’s ability to get rebounds; however, 10 boards as the shortest man on the court is an example of the tenacity Pearl enjoys in his players. Green also created the turnover that led to Flanigan’s shot with less than 30 seconds left in the game. “Wendell had an off night, but he was there at the end,” Pearl said. “K.D. and Al, I thought, really played well, and Jaylin Williams made some big, big shots and had some big plays and some big rebounds. You need to be able to count on your veterans, and that’s why we won the game.” K.D. Johnson was 2-8 from the field but was 7-7 from the charity stripe. Johnson led the Tigers in scoring with 12 points. Jaylin Williams was second with 11 points. Auburn scored a season-low 43 points. It was the fewest points since scoring 45 against Tennessee on Feb. 9, 2016 in a 75-45 loss. The Tigers scored 19 first-half points – the fewest in a first half since 19 versus Clemson in the 2018 NCAA Second Round in an 84-53 loss. Despite the poor shooting and other miscues, the Tigers won with a defensive stop by Green, which is a testament to the depth of the team created by Pearl. “We got a great stop at the end,” Pearl said. “Part of the reason why we play 11 guys is so at the end and at the last possession our guys can be fresh enough to get that stop.” Auburn boarded a flight back to the Plains shortly after the game. The Tigers will host Saint Louis on Sunday for a 2 pm CT tip at Neville Arena. Fans can watch the contest on the SEC Network. Nubyjas Wilborn covers Auburn for Alabama Media Group.

5 takeaways from Auburn's 43-42 win over Northwestern Nathan King 6–8 minutes Bruce Pearl said he wanted his team tested away from the “friendly confines” of Neville Arena — particularly on offense. The Tigers passed with flying colors Tuesday — then struggled mightily less than 24 hours later. But defense prevailed, saving an Auburn team that shot 26 percent from the floor in the Cancun Challenge championship game Wednesday night in a 43-42 win over Northwestern. Auburn's 43 points are its fewest in a game since it lost 53-35 to Tulsa in Pearl's fourth game as head coach in 2014. "Our offensive execution leaves a lot to be desired," Pearl said postgame. "But we showed heart, we showed character, we showed toughness, and we gutted this one out." Here are Auburn Undercover’s immediate takeaways. Dreadful start for both squads Neither offense — which combined for 151 points in their first games in Mexico on Tuesday — could get anything going for the majority of the first half. Auburn and Northwestern combined to shoot 9-of-51 from the floor in the first half, including an 0-for-11 mark from 3-point range for the Wildcats. The Tigers got 5 points apiece from Jaylin Williams and Allen Flanigan, but its starters shot 1-of-15 with five turnovers in the first half, including an 0-for-7 mark — and 0-of-3 from deep — from Wendell Green Jr. Northwestern chipped away at what was an Auburn lead for the majority of the first half by attacking the basket; the Wildcats drew 12 fouls and shot 14 free throws in the first half, allowing them to go on a 7-0 run and tie the game at 19-19 heading to the break, all while missing nine of 10 shots during that span. "Our bench struggled, our young guys struggled — as you would expect with the physicality," Pearl said. Tigers look to their veterans Two upperclassmen stepped up for Auburn down the stretch, especially during a scoring run midway through the second half that swung the energy back in the Tigers’ favor. Williams started both halves with a 3-pointer, but that served as Auburn’s only made basket after the break for a few minutes. Northwestern, meanwhile, made its first triple of the night after an 0-for-17 start and took a 31-25 lead. Auburn then mounted a 10-0 run on the backs of Williams and junior guard K.D. Johnson. Williams scored 5 points in 24 seconds — his third 3-pointer of the game, then a steal and breakaway slam for Auburn’s first fastbreak points of the game — followed by a driving basket from Johnson. Center Johni Broome scored his first bucket of the game after an offensive rebound, and Auburn led the Wildcats 35-31 midway through the second half. Williams (11 points) and Johnson (12 points) combined for 53.5 percent of Auburn's scoring. "Jaylin Williams made some big, big shots, had some big shots, and made some big rebounds," Pearl said. Following his team's run, Pearl had to call timeout after Northwestern responded with a 6-2 run over the next 4 minutes to tie the game on a pick-and-roll dunk from big man Matthew Nicholson. Northwestern played only a seven-man rotation but kept up its defensive intensity all night and forced Auburn into an uncomfortable halfcourt offense that yielded only seven assists. Auburn’s defense was stellar, as well, as Northwestern shot 2-of-24 from long range and had only four assists. "That's the only way they could beat us (from 3-point range)," Pearl said. "And obviously they didn't have legs, playing back-to-back games." Northwestern's 42 points are the fewest given up by Auburn since the Tigers beat Troy 77-41 in December 2020. Auburn wins with defense A pair of highly ineffective offenses ended up producing a highly entertaining finish. After a couple big foul shots from Johnson, Northwestern's Chase Audige responded with a seismic 3-pointer — only the Wildcats' second made triple of the game — with 3 minutes left to give Northwestern the lead. Green Jr.'s first and only points of the game then came on a stepback jumper with 1:41 left to put Auburn up 41-40. "Wendell had an off night, but he was there at the end," Pearl said. Audie responded again with another go-ahead bucket, then Broome turned it over with less than a minute remaining. Green Jr. and Flanigan combined to trap Nicholson for a turnover near midcourt, and Flanigan (7 points) scored the game's final shot after Green Jr. was knocked over but no foul was called. Northwestern coach Chris Collins called timeout and drew up the final possession, and Auburn won with defense, stifling Audige's fadeaway on the base line and gang-rebounding as the final buzzer sounded. "Part of the reason we play 11 guys is so that at the end — during that possession — my guys can be fresh enough to get that stop," Pearl said. Simplifying things for Westry Past the senior Flanigan, Pearl got almost zero offensive production from his 3 spot. Freshman Chance Westry played 10 minutes and didn't record a single statistic but grabbed two fouls, and junior Chris Moore cooled off from his strong start this season, also going scoreless on 0-of-4 shooting with only a rebound and three fouls. Pearl said he may need to simplify things for Westry moving forward, as the former top-40 overall recruit has been playing both guard spots and the 3 early in the season. "It's difficult with Chance Westry coming in and playing for the first time," Pearl said. "He's got to know what we're doing. Right now he's struggling to know what we're doing -- and I probably need to get him at one position because that's just too much to be playing all that stuff. I've got to figure that out." Interior play disappoints Pearl Like most other positions Wednesday night, Auburn was solid at center on the defensive end of the floor. Broome and Dylan Cardwell combined for five blocks, and Northwestern had only 18 points in the paint. Pearl wanted more physicality and assertiveness around the basket on offense, though. After scoring 18 points the previous night, Broome took only three shots and had 5 points. Cardwell made 2-of-4 buckets in the paint. "We've got to be more physical," Pearl said. "I thought our 5 men, Johni and Dylan. could have been more physical in there. That was an issue." 33COMMENTS

Takeaways from Auburn Basketball’s win vs. Northwestern Jeremy Robuck ~3 minutes Auburn started off slow tonight in the second night of a back to back. The score was tied 19-19 at halftime. Both teams were tired, and it was sloppy on both ends. The Tigers did not have a great offensive night, and the game came down to the last possession. Great teams pull out close ugly games like this. The Auburn Tigers are Cancun Challenge champions. Here are a few takeaways from tonights game. Tournaments are tiring Both teams looked winded tonight. Of course, they each played games last night. They have also traveled internationally and have been having fun in the sun. The weather is in the 80s down in Cancun, and Bruce has been preaching hydration. Auburn looked fresh last night and tired tonight. This was certainly a contributing factor to the sloppy play. This Auburn team is very deep Bruce Pearl is giving big minutes to eleven different players. Coach Pearl has also stated that he does not feel there is much, if any, drop off from his first to his second unit. He has also stated that it’s not necessarily his best five that are starting, but that he’s playing rotations of players he feels fit together. The good news about so many players getting minutes is that if multiple guys are having off nights, there are so may players that can step up. We are yet to see if this rotation will tighten before conference play, but the Tigers will have serious depth regardless. Officiating could be a problem for Auburn this year Defense is the centerpiece again for the Tigers this year. They are physical, aggressive, and passionate on defense. However, how much physicality is allowed on a nightly basis can vary wildly depending on the officiating crew. The refs were a primary controversial subject in college basketball last year, and this may be the case again. Auburn fans have been frustrated by officiating much of this year, but never more so than tonight. Morale in this department could be an issue for the Tigers this year as they learn to keep their head up and keep playing hard if calls aren’t going their way. This did appear to happen tonight, but Auburn rallied and pulled out a win.

Despite cold shooting, Auburn edges Northwestern in Cancun championship game Mark Murphy 5–7 minutes With both teams producing enough bricks to construct a small Mayan pyramid, Auburn outlasted Northwestern 43-42 to stay unbeaten early in the 2022-23 basketball season. The Tigers managed to win despite shooting 26 percent from the field on Wednesday night to capture the Cancun Classic championship in Mexico. The Wildcats, who also came into the game with a 5-0 record, made just 25 percent of their field goals in the first-ever basketball game between the teams. Allen Flanigan’s driving basket with 31.7 seconds left proved to be the winning margin. Junior guard K.D. Johnson scored 12 points to lead the Tigers. He hit all seven of his free throws. It is his third consecutive game to reach double figures. Jaylin Williams was Auburn’s other double figures scorer with 11 points. He was 3-6 on treys on a night the Tigers made 5-21 threes. Williams was named the tournament Most Valuable Player. Johni Broome, who finished with five points and eight rebounds, was also selected to the All-Tournament team. “The fact that we held Northwestern to 42 points tells you a lot about our effort, our energy and our defense,” Coach Bruce Pearl said. “That had to carry us. “Our bench struggled, our young guys struggled as you would expect with the physicality,” Pearl said. “Wendell (Green) had an off-night, but he was there at the end.” Green’s only basket put Auburn ahead 41-40 with 1:44 to play. The junior made just one of nine field goals, but hit a mid-range jumper when the Tigers desperately needed a basket. The point guard also tied his career-high for rebounds with 10 on a night the Tigers out-rebounded the Wildcats 44-36. “K.D. and Al (Allen Flanigan), I thought played really, really well and obviously Jaylin Williams made some big, big shots and some big plays with some big rebounds,” said Pearl, who added that the Tigers have a lot of work they need to do to improve. K.D. Johnson led the Tigers in scoring on Wednesday night. (Photo: Steven Leonard) Pearl did like what he saw on the final play as the Tigers kept the Wildcats from regaining the lead. He said it showed "a little heart" and a "little character" with the game on the line. Both teams struggled to score in the first half. Auburn produced 10 of the first 12 points, but it took more than eight minutes for that to happen. A three-pointer by Flanigan, who was called for three fouls in the first half. gave the Tigers their largest lead in the first half at 13-4 at 11:56. The Tigers managed just six more points the rest of half and the game was tied 19-19 at the break. Auburn made just five field goals on 27 shots (18.5 percent) in the first half and was 2-11 on threes and 7-11 at the foul line. The Tigers were plus five in rebounding margin at the break. The Wildcats made 4-24 shots (16.7 percent) in the first half and were 0-12 on threes and 11-14 at the foul line. Northwestern turned the ball over five times in the first half, three fewer than the Tigers. The second half was much tighter. Northwestern’s biggest lead came at the 12:02 mark at 31-25, but Auburn scored 10 consecutive points to regain the lead at 35-31. At the end the Tigers need to make one more defensive stop when the Wildcats held for the last shot after Flanigan’s basket in transition after a steal by Green. Auburn made 13-50 shots while Northwestern hit 14-56, but was 2-24 from on threes to 5-21 for the Tigers. Auburn hit 12-18 free throws to 12-16 for Northwestern. Auburn out-rebounded the Wildcat sby eight, but turned the ball over 14 times, six more than Northwestern. Pearl said that the Tigers will play a better team on Sunday when Saint Louis visits Neville Arena. "I don't think that is an NCAA Tournament team," Pearl said of Northwestern. "I just don't even though they were 5-0, 5-1 now. That is one we kind of one we had to get. Saint Louis, now, they are an NCAA Tournament team. They will compete for the Atlantic 10 championship. "We need an unbelievable crowd on Sunday for that game," Pearl added. "That will be one of the best teams to come to Neville Arena this year. There will be three or four SEC teams as good or a little better." Worth Noting: After building a nine-point lead at the 11:56 mark in the first half the Tigers played four minutes and 46 seconds before scoring again on a rebound basket by Dylan Cardwell. Stat of the Game: Auburn held the Wildcats to 16.7 percent on three-pointers. Not So Magnificent Seven: Northwestern used just seven players in the game while the Tigers went with 11 players. Auburn's bench scored 23 points to 13 for the Wildcats. All-Tournament Team: Jaylin Williams (Auburn) – MVP, Johni Broome (Auburn), Chase Audige (Northwestern), Ty Berry (Northwestern), Malevy Leons (Bradley), Darius McGhee (Liberty) Going Low: The 19 first half points were the fewest for the Tigers by halftime since scoring 19 in a loss to Clemson in the second round of the 2018 NCAA Tournament at San Diego. Box Score 17COMMENTS Up Next: The Tigers will be a home for a 2 p.m. CST game on Sunday vs. the Saint Louis Billikens. It will be televised on the SEC Network.

Worth the wait: Ashford's return to home state has been a gift for Auburn - The Auburn Plainsman Larry Robinson | Photo Editor 7–9 minutes Baseball might've been his strongest suit. Coming out of high school as a 4-star quarterback, Robby Ashford made the journey to Eugene, Oregon, and his action in the outfield grass was the only playing time he got. He played in 20 games as a member of the Ducks' baseball team, but his 2021 football season was redshirted while he saw no playing time in the shortened 2020 season. Although 2020 had no effect on his eligibility, it meant when he entered the transfer portal in December of 2021, he'd go to a new home without having played a down of football since 2019, when he was an Under-Armor All-American quarterback at Hoover High School in Alabama. Yes, Ashford had a brother-in-law who played for the University of Alabama. In fact, the majority of his family bled crimson and white. None of that mattered to Ashford. Auburn was always his first choice. "Auburn just always felt different to me; it always felt special," Ashford said. "When I was younger– for one, I loved to be different. I think that was one of the biggest things: I didn't want to be like my whole family. I was probably like 4, and I was like, 'Oh, I like Auburn.' I had my Auburn jersey. I had my Bo Jackson jersey. I remember my granny bought me one for Christmas, like a whole little set with the helmet and everything... When I entered the portal, I was like 'I gotta come to Auburn.'" After attending visits to both Auburn and Alabama, he transferred to Auburn on January 18, 2022, and announced his decision to step away from baseball to focus on football. Right away, many questioned whether he would even play. After all, he hadn't played live football in almost three years, and he was accompanied by two more seasoned SEC QBs: former Texas A&M starting QB Zach Calzada and LSU transfer and last year's starter for Auburn in its final five games, T.J. Finley. Finley started the season as Auburn's primary QB, but Ashford got in there for some plays and hinted at his explosive playmaking. Ashford threw 10 passes for 101 yards through two weeks, but he saw a bigger role against Penn State, particularly in the second half after Finley threw an interception for the third straight week. He threw the same number of passes as Finley (19) and his pass to Jarquez Hunter accounted for Auburn's only touchdown of the game. However, what truly set Ashford apart from his competition was his athleticism. His legs torched Mercer for 68 yards, San José State for 61 yards and Penn State for 29 more. In those games, his longest runs were 49, 30 and 28 yards. Auburn quarterback Robby Ashford (9) escapes the pocket for a 34-yard rush against the Arkansas Razorbacks in Jordan-Hare Stadium on Oct. 29, 2022. He got his first opportunity to start when Finley went down with an injury in week four versus Missouri, and he never looked back. Finley is now off the depth chart, and Calzada has yet to be seen after undergoing shoulder surgery in October. Instead, his only challenger has been true freshman Holden Geriner, who threw three passes versus Missouri and hasn't made another game appearance. It became evident quickly that Ashford brought more to the table than any other QB on the roster because of his legs adding another element for defenses to prepare for. His role has drastically changed of late because of a run-heavy offense (55 passes to 143 runs in three games) under Williams, but he continues to do whatever the offense needs more him to do to win. Ashford said the only stat he cares about is a "W," and despite throwing for just 60 and 102 yards in the past two games, Auburn went 2-0. He celebrated with the student section accordingly. Auburn quarterback Robby Ashford (9) celebrates with fans after beating Western Kentucky in Jordan-Hare Stadium on Nov. 19, 2022. Enjoy what you're reading? Get content from The Auburn Plainsman delivered to your inbox Despite his stat line declining over the past two games, Ashford continues to improve his ball security, and he is staying ready for when his arm is needed. He's shown his arm talent all year, throwing for 1,536 yards and six TDs with a long of 62 yards. He has also proven to be tough to wrap up, with 770 rushing yards for five scores on 136 carries. 192 of those came in the past three games under Williams. "I think he's asked (to do) a lot. There's very few people in this country that are as athletic as he is, and he's going to be a good player," said co-offensive coordinator Will Friend. "What Robby has done well, in my opinion, is he's kind of embraced what we try to do to give us a chance to be successful each week." Though he has struggled with turnovers at times this season with seven interceptions and eight fumbles, his coaches haven't lost an ounce of confidence in their QB. After rotating QBs in the first four games of the season, he is Auburn's rock. And he is getting more reliable by the week. He didn't turn the ball over any against Western Kentucky and only twice in the past three games, both INTs on a windy day versus the Aggies' top-ranked pass defense in the SEC. Through the struggles and the losses, Auburn's staff couldn't be happier to have a 20-year-old QB with room to grow and develop. For Ashford, it's simply a matter of trial and error and learning as he goes. “Robby, as a quarterback, he's evolving and growing," Williams said. "He's doing a lot better job of running the show and getting us in the right checks. And look, like I've told people, the kid has not played ball in probably two or three years. This is his sixth or seventh game that he has played big-time football and he's still a young kid. He's still learning, but man the kid is a fighter. He's a competitor. He has a ton of energy. I will fight with Robby on the field any day of the week." Now, Ashford has the opportunity to grab bragging rights within his family by leading the Tigers to an upset over No. 7 Alabama on Saturday in his first year at Auburn. One year ago, he was sitting on Oregon's bench dressed in green and yellow, 2,618 miles from the Plains. Do you like this story? The Plainsman doesn't accept money from tuition or student fees, and we don't charge a subscription fee. But you can donate to support The Plainsman. Noah Griffith | Assistant Sports Editor

Cadillac Williams highlights the changes that have led to Auburn’s recent success Chris Wallace 3–4 minutes Cadillac Williams has led Auburn to consecutive wins and is 2-1 since being named interim head coach after Bryan Harsin was fired at the end of October. Williams recently appeared on the “McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning” radio show and was asked about what he has done to turns things around the for the Tigers. The former star Auburn running back highlighted two key changes. “I think one of the biggest differences, I got Chette Williams just more involved, not to say that he wasn’t involved with the prior staff,” Cadillac Williams said. “But me personally, I made it a priority. Brother Chette is our team chaplain. He has been here, played here. I think Coach (Tommy) Tubberville brought him in with in 1998, 1999, one of those years.” The 2 men are not related, but Cadillac said Chette has been impacting people on the Auburn campus for decades. “I have seen the direct impact that he has had on people’s lives,” Cadillac said. “… Two decades later, my friends and I still talk about him.” The other big change, according to Coach Williams was how he defined his role and how he wanted his players to interact with the Auburn staff. “The second thing is just serving,” Williams said. “Auburn’s family. Auburn’s royalty, man. It’s a place of giving, a place of changing lives, a place of integrity. … I challenged these guys that in order for us to help you out, the coaching staff, like, we’re all in, but you guys are going to have to open your hearts. … I was asking those guys to truly open their hearts. Don’t be close-minded. … Let’s beef up the communication.”

Six things to know about the Alabama Crimson Tide JD McCarthy 4–5 minutes It’s time for one of the best rivalries in sports. The Iron Bowl always seems to deliver on the hype and this year Auburn is looking to pull off a shocking upset over Alabama. Neither team has had the season they were hoping for, Alabama already has two losses and has an outside shot at making the College Football Playoff. Auburn suffered a five-game losing streak and fired Bryan Harsin in the middle of the season. Buy Tigers Tickets Despite this, both programs come in with plenty to play for. Auburn has new life under Cadillac Williams and would secure a bowl birth with a win. Alabama is looking to keep its dominance at Bryant-Denny Stadium going and to end the regular season on a high note. Here are six things to know about the Crimson Tide. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) A two-loss team has never made the College Football Playoff and Alabama has a slight chance to change that this season. They were ranked No. 7 in the latest poll and if TCU, LSU, and South Carolina all lose in either of the next two weeks, they could make a move into the top four. No. 8 Clemson will have a chance to win the ACC and with just one loss could certainly jump the Crimson Tide in that scenario. Is this scenario likely? No, but it’s possible, and it should not surprise anyone if Alabama is the first two-loss team in the playoffs. Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports His numbers are not as good as last year’s but Young is still playing great football. The reigning Heisman winner has completed 63.8% of his passes for 2,664 yards, 24 touchdowns, and just four interceptions. While Auburn lacks the dominant receiver they’ve had over the past several seasons, he is still great at keeping plays alive and making something happen. © Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK Auburn fans are familiar with the benefits of having two great running backs and Alabama also relies on two backs. Jahmyr Gibbs transferred in from Georgia Tech and has made an immediate impact. He is averaging 6.5 yards per carry and leads them with 815 yards and six touchdowns on 119 attempts. Gibbs is also a great receiver, leading the team with 40 receptions, and will have to be accounted for at all times. Jase McClellan is their No. 2 back but is more than capable of taking over a game. He averages 6.1 yards per carry and has five touchdowns of his own. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt) Anderson has not been as dominant as he was last season but is still a player that opposing offenses have to account for on every play and is capable of ruining a quarterbacks day. He has 8.0 sacks and 14.0 tackles for loss to go with 10 quarterback hurries. Anderson is not just an elite pass rusher though, he is great against the run and will affect Auburns in both phases of the game. Turner is not far behind Anderson in his ability to wreck a game. He has 4.0 sacks, 7.0 tackles for loss, and six quarterback hurries. Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports Alabama has been great against the run this season, allowing just 107.82 yards per game. However, when you dig into the numbers it is interesting. They’ve allowed just 60.33 yards per game when at home but that was against Utah State, Louisiana-Monroe, Vanderbilt, Texas A&M, and Mississippi State. When they’ve played better teams that have a mobile quarterback who can hurt them with their legs they have struggled, Arkansas (187), Tennessee (182), LSU (185), and Ole Miss (191) all gashed them on the ground. Auburn has two great running backs, a mobile quarterback, and is by far the best running team they have played at Bryan-Denny. This matchup will likely determine the outcome of the game. Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports Auburn has upset Alabama plenty of times inside Jordan-Hare Stadium, but that is not true when they travel to Tuscaloosa. Auburn has lost its last five games in Bryant-Denny and most were not close, they have lost by 29, 31, 18, 11, and 49 points. The last time Auburn was in 2010 when Cam Newton led Auburn back from down 24 points to win 28-27.