In a game that seemed like a close matchup in ranking only, No. 1 Alabama cruised to a 30-12 victory over No. 13 Auburn, giving the Tide their third straight Iron Bowl victory and sending the club into the College Football Playoff regardless of next week’s outcome in the SEC Championship.
Two Jalen Hurts interceptions and a big punt return allowed Auburn to stay within 13-9 at the half despite trailing 14-1 in first downs, but a clean second half from the Tide’s talented freshman quarterback allowed Alabama to cruise to a comfortable victory. A 4-yard scoring dash by Hurts put Alabama up 20-9 at the 9:58 mark of the third quarter, and his 38-yard strike to ArDarius Stewart on Alabama’s next possession put the game out of reach at 27-9.
Coupled with a first half scoring strike to Damien Harris, Hurts finished the game connecting on 27-of-36 passes for 286 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions while rushing 12 times for 37 yards and a score. Bo Scarborough led all runners with 17 carries for 90 yards, and Harris added nine carries for 47 yards. Stewart hauled in 10 receptions for 127 yards and a score.
In the end, the only drama of the game proved to be whether Alabama could complete the entire month of November without allowing a touchdown. And they did. Four Daniel Carlson field goals were Auburn’s only dents on the scoreboard, and Alabama will enter next week’s SEC title game having not allowed an opponent to cross the goal line since the third quarter of the Texas A&M game back on Oct. 22.
Playing without starting quarterback Sean White, Auburn struggled to create any offense against Alabama’s suffocating front. Jeremy Johnson earned the start and completed 4-of-13 passes for 34 yards. John Franklin III finished the game and hit 2-of-4 passes for 85 yards, but even his 55-yard strike to Eli Stove did not result in a touchdown. Nominally productive running backs Kamryn Pettway and Kerryon Johnson combined to rush 20 times for 56 yards.
Overall, Alabama out-gained Auburn 501-182 and won the first downs battle 26-7.
Alabama (12-0, 8-0 SEC) will now begin preparations to meet Florida in the SEC Championship while Auburn (8-4, 5-3 SEC) awaits its bowl destination.