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With minimal postseason stakes, Alabama playing for pride in regular season finale against Auburn

63571867_t466o7i5ncby:Blake Byler•03/07/25•

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Feb 15, 2025; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nate Oats directs his team against the Auburn Tigers during the first half at Coleman Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Will McLelland-Imagn Images

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Three weeks ago today, it was eve of a battle between No. 1 Auburn and No. 2 Alabama, with both teams tied at the top of the SEC standings. There was a fairly widespread belief that, regardless of who won that Feb. 15 matchup, the rematch on March 8 could very well have the SEC regular season title, or a share of it, on the line.

Fast forward to now, and that is not at all the case.

Auburn won that first meeting, and has since gone on to secure the outright SEC regular season title. Alabama has gone in the opposite direction, losing four of its last six games, but has locked up a double-bye in the SEC Tournament.

There is technically some seeding on the line in this game, such as being either the 3-seed or the 4-seed in the SEC Tournament. In the NCAA Tournament, Alabama seems pretty locked on the 2-line after its recent losses.

So with minimal seeding at stake and a conference championship already out of reach, is this a game where Alabama can just go out and play like it has nothing to lose?

“Yeah, I definitely think so,” Alabama head coach Nate Oats said during his Friday press conference. “Because there’s really nothing other than either a 3- or a 4-seed (in the SEC Tournament) and whatever the NCAA Tournament committee wants to decide on our resume. Obviously a win here would help against the No. 1 team in the country, but I still think we’ve got a good resume for our seed in the NCAA Tournament.”

With Alabama also looking to avoid getting swept, Oats did say there was one thing on the line in this game: pride.

“So there’s not a whole lot riding on this game other than some pride. Which, Alabama-Auburn rivalry, there’s obviously gonna be some pride in this game,” Oats said. “I’m sure both teams, maybe in difference circumstances, would think about resting their guys, but unless somebody’s really banged up bad our guys are planning on playing in this game.”

Oats went on to say the only Crimson Tide player that will miss the game is Derrion Reid, who is back to doing basketball things in practice while nursing an ongoing hamstring injury but isn’t quite ready to take the court again.

Tomorrow’s game between No. 1 Auburn and No. 7 Alabama will tip off at 1:30 p.m. CT on ESPN.

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