The mood around the Auburn Tigers program is significantly different ahead of their clash with the Alabama Crimson Tide in the Iron Bowl on Saturday.

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.

If Alabama can stop the run and force Auburn into must-pass situations, there are opportunities to be had. However, Alabama had one combined sack (against Tennessee) in its three losses, due in large part because it didn’t force those teams into many third-and-long situations.