Skip to main content
Join
Team Avatar
Alabama

Nick Saban believes Iron Bowl momentum flipped on holding call against Alabama

IMG_0985by:Griffin McVeigh•11/25/23•

griffin_mcveigh

NCAA Football: Louisiana State at Alabama
Nov 4, 2023; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban reacts after a call during the first half against the LSU Tigers at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Butch Dill-USA TODAY Sports

Historically under Nick Saban, Iron Bowl games on the road can be a drag. So when Alabama got off to an impressive start against Auburn, it felt like there was an opportunity to take a strangle on the game early in the first quarter. For a brief moment, the Crimson Tide led 13-0 before a holding call brought the play back.

Saban went on to say the penalty was a momentum changer, taking points off the board for Alabama. A bad punt from James Burnip gave Auburn decent field position and led a touchdown drive. Now, it’s a tied game on the Plains through one.

“The penalty on the touchdown changed the momentum of the game,” Saban said after the first quarter with CBS’ Jenny Dell. “Didn’t get a good punt. So, we got to keep playing for the next play and keep playing for 60 minutes.”

Now, nobody inside Jordan-Hare Stadium is going to be complaining too hard about the holding call — at least the Auburn fans. It came shortly after a missed call on Alabama, getting away with a facemask on a kickoff return.

Either way, the holding call caused a 14-point swing, a huge difference in a game like this. Alabama will be frustrated with the momentum change, while Auburn will feel like they have new life in attempting to pull off a massive upset.

Nick Saban knows stopping Auburn run game is critical

As Saban mentioned, Alabama is going to have to play for 60 minutes in order to head back to Tuscaloosa with a win. Part of the challenge over the next 45 minutes will be dealing with the Auburn run game. It was a huge part of the touchdown drive following the poor punt from Burnip.

“We just misfit two runs in a row,” Saban said. “They were both big plays. So, we got to do a better job. Backer didn’t get over the top on either one of them.”

In the shocking loss to New Mexico State, Hugh Freeze was never really able to get his running backs going. Between the Aggies dominating the time of possession and being behind, Payton Thorne was dropping back to pass a good bit.

You can likely expect Jarquez Hunter to get a few more carries throughout the afternoon. Saban knows making Auburn one-dimensional and forcing Thorne to pass is going to be how Alabama winds up winners.