Here’s everything you need to know about the 79th meeting between Auburn and Alabama.

When: Today
Where: Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Game Time: 7:45 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN
Current Line: Alabama (-9)

Game Buzz: The rivalry is renewed between the Tigers and the Tide, and after last year’s historic finish, Saturday night’s game takes on a newer meaning. Alabama — a much better team inside the confines of Bryant-Denny Stadium — is looking to hang on to its No. 1 spot and earn a trip to Atlanta to face SEC East champ Missouri. The Tigers’ recent conference losses have left them out of  the national title picture, but Gus Malzahn’s team arrives in Tuscaloosa believing it can win.

SATURDAY DOWN SOUTH PREVIEWS

• Iron Bowl to be Nick Marshall’s grand finale as collegiate
• Auburn ruined Alabama’s season last year; can it play spoiler again in 2014?
• Auburn down two defensive linemen for Iron Bowl
• Blake Sims has a chance to make his own legacy in Iron Bowl
• Alabama cornerback Cyrus Jones eager for another shot at Auburn
• Alabama injury update: Vogler, Stewart ‘very questionable’

NO. 15 AUBURN TIGERS

Players to watch:

• QB Nick Marshall
• RB Cameron Artis-Payne
• WR Sammie Coates
• WR Duke Williams
• DL Gabe Wright
• CB Jonathan Jones
• LB Kris Frost

Keys for Auburn: 

• Play big, Nick Marshall. The Tigers need their senior leader to have a big game on a big stage. Marshall improved as a passer in 2014, and as a result, Auburn is more balanced on offense. Marshall’s best trait, however, is that he relishes the spotlight. If the Tigers are going to have any shot on Saturday night, it will begin with No. 14.
• Don’t beat yourself. Penalties and turnovers have plagued Auburn during the past six weeks. The Tigers must play mistake-free football and not give the Crimson Tide extra yardage or possessions.
• Make some plays defensively: Auburn’s injury-riddled on the defensive front, but its secondary is finally healthy and faces a challenge in Amari Cooper. The Tigers need to make some momentum-swinging plays on the defensive side of the football, whether it be forcing a turnover, getting off the field on third downs or a few red zone stops.

Auburn’s glaring weakness: The pass rush. It’s been a weakness all season for the Tigers, but with the absence of team sack leader DaVonte Lambert and Jeff Whitaker, defensive line coach Rodney Garner is forced to shuffle some pieces. Auburn needs to play man coverage on the back end of the defense to neutralize the Tigers’ inability to get pressure with a four-man front.

Most interesting part of the game: It seems Auburn’s magic has run out this season, but head coach Gus Malzahn has said he likes the position his team is in entering the Iron Bowl. Can the Tigers find a way to recreate some of its magic from last season?

Team buzz: Auburn enters Saturday night’s game looking for its ninth win of the season, and perhaps a berth in a New Year’s Six bowl. The Tigers are a considerable underdog, but would love nothing more than spoil its arch rival’s hopes of another ring.

No. 1 ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE

Players To Watch:

• QB Blake Sims
• RB T.J. Yeldon
• RB Derrick Henry
• WR Amari Cooper
• OL Ryan Shepherd
• LB Xzavier Dickson
• LB Reggie Ragland
• S Landon Collins

Keys For Alabama:

• Get in an offensive rhythm. Alabama has been rolling at home all season, setting the tone in games early. The Tigers have fallen behind early in their three losses this season, forcing them to throw more than they’d like. If Alabama can put points on the board and get the offense going, they can put Auburn in a difficult spot.
• Win the turnover battle. Alabama is barely on the positive side in turnover margin this season at plus-1, but they’ll have a chance to pad that number on Saturday. Auburn has been struggling with ball control over the past month, with a minus-3 turnover margin in November. The Crimson Tide will have to find ways to be opportunistic when it comes to stripping the ball.
• Contain Auburn’s running game. Auburn’s read-option attack has the potential to give Alabama’s defense fits. The defensive ends and linebackers will have to keep containment on Nick Marshall and Cameron Artis-Payne and let the men in the middle do their jobs to wrap them up.

Crimson Tide’s glaring weakness: Special teams play. Alabama has missed at least one kick in six of its last seven games, and they tried out a new kicker last weekend. The Tide had some issues fielding kicks earlier in the season as well, although that’s been cleaned up. Everyone knows how last year’s game ended, so Alabama might be a little gun-shy trying any long kicks.

Most interesting part of the game: Will Alabama be able to contain Nick Marshall? Nick Saban probably doesn’t want to hear it, but Alabama has struggled with mobile quarterbacks over the past few years. They did a great job against Dak Prescott two weeks ago, a good sign for this game.

Team buzz: Alabama still has two games to go if they want to make it to the College Football Playoffs, but they’ve hit their stride since the Ole Miss loss. The Crimson Tide will be out to avenge last year’s Iron Bowl heartbreaker, and with the way they’ve played at home have to feel good about their chances.

Jordan Cox

After living in Birmingham, Ala., Jordan left the ground zero of SEC Nation to head south to Florida to tell the unique stories of the renowned tradition of SEC football. In his free time, his mission is to find the best locales around.