Leading up to last Saturday's game against lower-division UT-Chattanooga, Alabama coach Nick Saban had everyone around the team under strict orders not to talk about Auburn.

Once No. 3 Alabama (11-0) had effectively put away the Mocs 45-0, the conversation went almost immediately to the annual state obsession that is the Iron Bowl, the regular-season-ending clash against cross-state rival Auburn (7-4).

"It will be a challenging game for us in every way," Saban said.

"It's an important game for everybody that's involved, in terms of our program here, that we do a good job of getting our players ready to play their best football. Our coaches will do whatever they need to do to get that done."

Alabama travels to Auburn, where the Crimson Tide has not won in ...More