Alabama is on the receiving end of a weird Iron Bowl trend that is set to continue following recent decision from Auburn Tigers
For the 7th year in a row, the Iron Bowl will feature a new face.
With the calendar flipped to November, the Alabama Crimson Tide is officially finished with two-thirds of the regular season. It’s a huge couple of weeks for the players at the Capstone, as they take on a new look LSU Tigers this week, and a surging Oklahoma Sooners the following week.
But at the end of the month, it’s everyone’s favorite rivalry as Alabama meets the Auburn Tigers in an Iron Bowl that will look different yet again.
That’s because for the 7th year in a row, the in-state matchup will feature a new head coach on one side of the field.
2025 Iron Bowl to continue odd coaching trend
The trend continues after Auburn resumed what has been a litany of in-season firings by big-time programs. Hugh Freeze joins Billy Napier of the Florida Gators, James Franklin of the Penn State Nittany Lions, and Brian Kelly of the LSU Tigers to all be relieved of their duties before the season was up.
From Alabama’s point of view, they will now face two interim head coaches, starting this week with Frank Wilson of LSU, and they will bookend the season against DJ Durkin. Typically, when programs look to make such brash changes, it benefits the others in the conference.
But when the move happens in season, there is something called an interim coach bump. Alabama will be trying to safeguard against that this week, but any momentum or lack thereof will have worn off by the time Auburn is ready for the Iron Bowl.
Either way, it’s an odd trend to see from two of college football’s more historic programs. The Tigers have had trouble finding a solid footing since Cam Newton left and it looks like that will continue for the forseeable future.
Or at least, that’s what Alabama fans are hoping.
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