Put down the turkey leg and pumpkin pie. The Iron Bowl is here. Alabama and Auburn have been bruised and battered in a scrappy SEC, but fans have plenty to keep them thankful in 2024. The Crimson Tide remain part of the College Football Playoff conversation.

The massive national stakes we've come to expect with the Iron Bowl are mostly gone this year. After losing to Oklahoma last week, No. 13 Alabama (8-3, 4-3 SEC) will miss the College Football Playoff unless chaos unfolds around the sport.

For Alabama, one key addition was made. Linebacker Deontae Lawson suffered a season-ending injury in the Crimson Tide’s game at Oklahoma last Saturday night. According to Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer, Lawson underwent surgery on Tuesday.