Nick Saban knows the Iron Bowl just as well as any other person on the face of this Earth. The longtime Alabama head coach is 11-5 against the Tigers since taking over in Tuscaloosa, but 4 out of those 5 defeats came within the confines of Jordan-Hare Stadium.

Thus, Saban knows what it takes to walk out of that place with a win… and what would guarantee a loss.

“If we’re going to have success there, we’re going to have to execute. Any time you play on the road in this league it’s a difficult place to play, this is no different,” Saban said on Monday. “People talk all about the crazy stuff that happens in this game, but since I’ve been here the team that should have won the game, won the game based on who played the best.”

Per usual, Saban looks internally within his own program when discussing what the keys to victory will be. In the end, he knows that the way his team responds to the hostile conditions will go a long way in determining if the Tide can come out on top.

“I think the focus needs to be on how we’re going to play and how we’re going to execute and do what we do, what kind of consistency are we going to be able to maintain in a difficult environment?” Saban continued. “We’ve had this challenge several times before, this one’s going to be just as difficult as any of the rest.”

Hear more from Saban here:

The 88th Iron Bowl between Alabama and Auburn will take place at 3:30 ET on CBS this Saturday.

Parker Gillam

Current Missouri student entering my third year of covering Tiger football and basketball. Contributor to The Transfer Portal CFB and overall college athletics enthusiast.