Auburn opens its 2016 season against Clemson at Jordan-Hare Stadium on Sept. 3, and you can guarantee that the stadium will be rocking with over 80,000 fans in attendance.

Alabama, the Tigers’ arch rival (and vice versa), won’t be at the game — nor will it be watching, considering it squares off against USC around the same time for a PM primetime kickoff — but the players have expressed their feelings on the matchup.

During SEC Media Days on Wednesday morning, many Crimson Tide players actually gave their support to Auburn — and even provided some useful advice in the process.

“You’ve always got to go for the SEC team,” said Alabama defensive end Jonathan Allen said. “I think Auburn has a good chance. It’s at the beginning of the season, so we don’t know how teams are going to be, we don’t know how chemistry is going to fight in, so we’re excited.”

Alabama defeated Clemson 45-40 in the 2015-16 College Football National Championship Game last January, adding its fourth title in a seven-year span.

More from players:

Even coach Nick Saban had some words of advice for Auburn in its Week 1 debut:

“Any advice I would give them about Clemson?” Saban said. “Clemson is a very talented team with a great quarterback who is probably the most significant player and impact in a game since we played Cam Newton. This guy can run, he can throw, he can scramble, extend plays, very accurate as a passer. Very well coached. I don’t really know who all they have coming back and all that kind of stuff, so I can’t give you that scouting report, but I know they have some significant players you have to manage in the game if you’re going to have a chance to be successful against them.”

Alabama ranks No. 1 in Saturday Down South’s 2016 preseason Top 25 rankings, with Clemson coming in at a close No. 2. Auburn appears on “the outside looking in.”