Nick Saban proud of Alabama team but calls Iron Bowl 'a reality check'

AUBURN, Ala. – Nick Saban said what everyone was thinking after Saturday’s Iron Bowl.

“So do I need to really say anything?” he started. “I mean, it’s an unbelievable game.” 

Alabama defeated Auburn, 27-24, at Jordan-Hare Stadium on a last-minute touchdown pass from Jalen Milroe to Isaiah Bond on 4th and 31. It was the Crimson Tide’s 50th overall win over its in-state rival and fourth straight in the 88th meeting. On the 10th anniversary of the Kick Six, Alabama flipped the script and walked away victorious in miraculous fashion.

“I guess if you’re in this long enough, sometimes it goes against you in the last play of the game, and sometimes you’re fortunate and it goes for you,” Saban said. 

While there was plenty to celebrate, however, Alabama has plenty to work on this week as it preps to face No. 1 Georgia in the SEC Championship Game. That starts with the Tide’s run defense, which allowed a season-high 244 rushing yards, on 42 carries, for the Tigers’ offense.

Alabama (11-1, 8-0 SEC) opened the game strong with an eight-play drive to take an early lead and appear well on its way to cruising to an easy victory. But after back-to-back three-and-outs to begin the game, Auburn scored twice on the ground over its next three possessions to claim an early 14-0 advantage. The Tigers piled up 181 rushing yards at intermission.

“When we started the game, we had some great drives, we had two touchdowns called back because of penalties and we allowed them, by our inability to stop the run on defense, to get back in the game early on when we should have the game well in hand,” Saban said.

“Part of the strategy going into this game was we wanted to get ahead so that they couldn’t just run the ball and get them in some loose-play situations and maybe we could rush and do some things that would affect the quarterback and it would be a little bit more of a game in our favor. 

No Auburn runner eclipsed 100 yards, but Jarquez Hunter was close at 93 yards on 14 carries, while Damari Alston was second with 85 yards on 10 attempts and a touchdown. Quarterback Payton Thorne also added 57 yards, with 28 yards being negated by UA’s four sacks. 

The Tide’s run defense, or lack thereof, along with other miscues like two touchdowns coming off the board because of penalties – two of eight for the visiting team – call for self-assessment.

“It’s kind of a reality check, though, I think,” Saban said. “It’s what I told the team afterwards. Sometimes it can not be a great thing when you don’t play really good and win, even though it’s great to win. 

“But everybody needs to have a reality check and build on the good things that we did – and there were a lot of good things in this game – but also we’ve got to fix the things we need to fix because we’re going to play a really good team next week in the SEC Championship Game.”

Alabama has reason to celebrate on Saturday night, but with a difficult task on the horizon in Atlanta, the Crimson Tide will go back to the drawing board before facing the Bulldogs.

“I can’t tell you how proud I am of the guys and how good I feel about winning the game,” Saban said. “But as a coach, you always look at things like, ‘How did you play?’ Because we’re going to have to play at a higher level on a more consistent basis if we’re going to have success in the future, and that’s what you’re always evaluating. 

“That’s the reality check that we all have to make.”

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