Bruce Pearl takes shot at Alabama ahead of Auburn's trip to Ole Miss

For just the second time in history, Auburn and Ole Miss will face off as ranked opponents. Both are enjoying the early portion of the 2024-2025 season, competing for an SEC regular season championship. Saturday’s result in Oxford could go a long way for the victor.

While previewing the game, Bruce Pearl had to get a shot in at Auburn’s in-state rival, Alabama. The lone conference loss this year for Alabama came at the hands of Ole Miss. Not a game Nate Oats wants to remember, Pearl will be using it to remind his team of the challenge ahead while also poking fun at the Crimson Tide.

“This Ole Miss team is the only team to beat Alabama at Alabama,” Pearl said. “Of course, as Auburn’s coach, I have to get that in.”

Coleman Coliseum has become a fortress for Alabama in recent years under Oats. Not many teams come to Tuscaloosa and walk out with a win. Clemson and Tennessee did last year but the previous season, Alabama was undefeated at home.

Ole Miss got the job done and Oats was less than thrilled during his postgame press conference. He called the performance “disgusting” and a few days later, promised that type of performance would not occur again.

“It’s disgusting, to be honest with you,” Oats said. “With the amount of fifth-year seniors we have and the leadership that should be shown on this team, to have guys come in ready to play, it’s – look, it starts with me, because I’m supposed to be the one motivating these guys, and I obviously didn’t motivate them very well to make sure they’re ready. So, I’m gonna have to look in the mirror and see what I did and didn’t do.”

In just two weeks, Auburn will be the ones going into Coleman Coliseum attempting to take down Alabama. Feb. 15 has been circled on a lot of calendars, dating back to the schedule release. If both teams can stay the course, the matchup has an opportunity to be a top-five one.

But for now, Pearl is focused on the opponent in front of Auburn. Ole Miss is a good team at home too, being 9-1 at The Pavilion. Taking down the No. 1 ranked team in the country would be the biggest of them all. A huge moment for Chris Beard and his program, looking to start 2-0 against the state of Alabama this season.