ESPN College GameDay host Rece Davis understands the passion behind college football.

After all, he was a part of one of the best rivalries in college football: the Iron Bowl.

Originally from Muscle Shoals, Alabama, Davis attended the University of Alabama and graduated in 1988. Now in a college football media power position (and he’s complete certified for it), Davis shared his thoughts on Alabama and Auburn Thursday night at the Landmark Church’s Gridiron Kickoff in Montgomery, and AL.com was there to capture everything he said. Davis thinks both are College Football Playoff contenders.

“I think both Auburn and Alabama, based on what we saw last year from Alabama they’ll get their quarterback situation straightened out one way or the other, and I think both of them are contenders … for the SEC Championship as well as for a spot in the College Football Playoff,” Davis said.

The one aspect of Alabama everyone is waiting to see is the quarterback position, while Auburn is in a different boat with known (and first-year starter) Jeremy Johnson. Count Davis as one who isn’t worried about the hype of Auburn’s Johnson.

“I think Jake Coker has a tremendous amount of talent but he hasn’t been able to put it together yet,” Davis said. “The one thing I’m not concerned at all about is Jeremy Johnson at Auburn. I think Jeremy is a tremendous talent.

“Tongue and cheek with (Gus Malzahn) last year after practice after watching Jeremy play a little bit I sort of jokingly said to him ‘Are you sure you’re playing the right guy?’ I think Jeremy is going to have a tremendous season for Auburn.”

The SEC West could come down to the Iron Bowl game, and this year, it comes back to Auburn’s Jordan-Hare Stadium for the first time since the Kick-Six.