Cody Slovensky
Writer
Welcome to hate week. The one week of the year when your team faces its most hated rival. Unfortunately, the SEC has rewritten the law of hate week and has modified the teams that play in some instances.
LSU vs Oklahoma, a “rivalry” that hasn’t really established itself. They met in 2004 for the National Championship, in 2019 in the semi-finals of the College Football Playoff, and in 2024 for the first time ever during the regular season. LSU leads the series 3-0. Due to location and program prestige, this game has all the makings of a good rivalry. Hopefully, this match-up will develop a rivalry name soon.
The Battle Line Rivalry, aka the match-up between Missouri and Arkansas. A series that Missouri leads 12-4, which, until about five minutes ago, I had no idea that it had a name. Like LSU vs Oklahoma, this game has the potential to give the fans some good football.
Outside of the two games listed above, it is time for some traditional rivalries. The Iron Bowl, The Egg Bowl, The Florida Cup, The Governor’s Cup, The Lonestar Showdown, The Palmetto Bowl, Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate, and Tennessee vs Vanderbilt (HOW DOES THIS NOT HAVE A RIVALRY NAME!?!?)
It is such a fun week of football, especially after cupcake week. That being said, there are some important things that need to be discussed.
Coaching Rumors
Lane Kiffin remains the most talked-about person in College Football. He is the next Head Coach at Florida, he is the next Head Coach at LSU, he is returning to Ole Miss, he is going to hold out until Kalen DeBoer announces that he is going to Penn State, and then take over at Alabama. There are just so many things being said.
Here is the official status of where things stand: “No one knows what is going to happen after the Egg Bowl except Lane Kiffin and Jimmy Sexton.”
Many believe Kiffin will be at LSU in 2026, including those outside the LSU media or fan base. Leaks of an “offer made” have surfaced, and the rumor is that Florida and Ole Miss are ready to match anything LSU offers.
Besides the Kiffin news, many are waiting to see other openings filled soon. Arkansas was expected to land either Eric Morris or Ryan Silverfield, but now it is being reported that USF head coach Alex Golesh is taking the job. To date, this is the best hire/culture match in the coaching carousel. *UPDATE* Alex Golesh has NOT agreed to terms with Arkansas. Golesh is expected to make this decision this weekend. Eric Morris was named the new head coach at Oklahoma State, which is an A+++ hire for them.
Auburn, on the other hand, has been very quiet in its hunt. As of now, Jon Sumrall is the clear favorite. Sumrall has thrived in his time at Tulane and could be a perfect match for Auburn. Another name to monitor here is DJ Durkin, the current interim coach at Auburn.
Rumors are swirling about Kalen DeBoer heading to Penn State from Alabama. Currently on Kalshi, he has been listed as the number two option behind Georgia Tech’s Brent Key.
As a person who lives in the state of Alabama, I can say that I have not heard any concrete evidence of DeBoer leaving Alabama. After many phone calls and deep research, all of this seems as if it is just your typical rumor-mill talk. Maybe I am wrong, but as of this moment, I am 95% sure that DeBoer remains at Alabama.
Upset Alert
Anything can happen during rivalry week. We have seen it for years. We have seen Michigan own Ohio State the last four years, which is insane considering where each program currently stands.
Alabama vs Auburn, the Iron Bowl. Alabama started the season in a bad spot with its loss on the road to Florida State. However, the Crimson Tide bounced back and established its dominance as the season went on. Now, they find themselves in a weird spot with many close games and an eventual loss to Oklahoma at home.
Auburn, on the other hand, has not had the season that it had hoped for. Once Hugh Freeze was fired, things appeared to get better for the team. The one word to describe Auburn is “pesky.” All season, they have played everyone close, with all of their losses being by ten points or less. Now, they sit in an interesting place.
A bowl appearance is on the line for Auburn, while a spot in the SEC Championship and the College Football Playoff is on the line for Alabama. In 2024, Alabama was the first team out of the CFP. Now, history has a chance to repeat itself if they were to lose to Auburn. Currently sitting at 10th in the College Football Playoff rankings, a loss to Auburn would send Alabama to a ranking of 15-20 and eliminate them. A win would keep them between 8-10, heading into the SEC Championship game.
2015 was the last time that something wild did not take place at Jordan-Hare Stadium during the Iron Bowl. Alabama won that game 29-13 on its way to a National Championship. Since then, chaos has transpired.
2017: 11-0 Alabama heads to Auburn, and Auburn wins 26-14. Alabama still went on the win the National Championship against Georgia.
2019: Auburn defeated Alabama 48-45 after Alabama missed a field goal at the end of the game.
2021: Alabama defeats Auburn 24-22 on 4 OT.
2023: Alabama defeats Auburn 27-24 after Alabama set up a first and goal at the Auburn eight-yard line, and a fumble followed by a penalty set up fourth and goal at the Auburn 31-yard line, and Jalen Milroe connected with Isaiah Bond for a 31-yard touchdown pass with 32 seconds left in the game.
Can 2025 top those games? Auburn fans sure hope so.
Power Rankings
The season of coaching carousels has begun, and now, the Kentucky Wildcats have their next head coach in Will Stein
Joe Rutland
Writer
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The Lane Kiffin era at Ole Miss is over. Kiffin, who kept the college football world guessing about his status with the Rebels, announced on Sunday that he’ll leave the school for a new job as head coach at LSU. For LSU, it’s a solid pickup in the wake of Brian Kelly getting fired and […]
