While it’s the time of year to give thanks and appreciate the good things in life, it’s also rivalry week—a time of intense rivalry and fierce disdain for an opponent. It’s a weekend that’s especially exciting in college football because anything can happen, no matter how each team’s season has gone so far. Here’s a full preview and predictions for three of the SEC matchups this weekend.
SEC Rivalry Week
The Iron Bowl – No. 10 Alabama vs Auburn
Undoubtedly one of the fiercest rivalries in college football, Alabama vs Auburn often becomes very intense very quickly. This game is never about team records or who has the better roster; it’s one of, if not the most unpredictable, rivalries in college football. Alabama enters Jordan-Hare Stadium as -5.5 favorites, even though they have had a much better regular season. Nick Saban, Alabama’s legendary coach, has frequently described Jordan-Hare Stadium as “haunted,” highlighting how challenging it is to play there, a venue considered one of the toughest in the nation.
Alabama’s playoff hopes ride solely on this game; simply put, if they win, they’re in. Lose, and the Crimson Tide faithful will be screaming to get head coach Kalen DeBoer out of Tuscaloosa after a second straight year outside the top 12.
Meanwhile, Auburn has had a tumultuous season, to say the least, firing head coach Hugh Freeze and benching transfer QB Jackson Arnold, a former five-star recruit. The offense has just never looked coherent for almost the entire season, and in the one game it did look coherent, they still lost in overtime to Vanderbilt. If Auburn looks to play spoiler and ruin Alabama’s CFP hopes, then the defense will have to carry the load and make the game messy.
Alabama QB Ty Simpson had only thrown one interception on the season before the Crimson Tide’s week 12 matchup against Oklahoma, but since then, he has thrown four. Simpson will have to return to his Heisman-level play if Alabama wants to leave no doubt and dominate its rival.
Ultimately, this Alabama offense will make enough plays to keep itself ahead, and the defense will limit Auburn QB Ashton Daniels and force him into mistakes. The game will stay competitive, but Auburn will be playing catch-up the entire time. Alabama beats Auburn 31-23, securing a CFP and SEC championship game bid.
No. 3 Texas A&M vs No. 17 Texas
The Longhorns likely won’t qualify for the College Football Playoff given their three losses, but they’ll approach this game as if a win ensures a top 12 spot. If that were truly the case, they’d still rely on help from other teams, particularly expecting Alabama and Oklahoma to lose, to improve their chances.
For Texas A&M, it’s crucial they don’t enter the game complacently as they did against South Carolina two weeks ago. Falling behind early and allowing Texas to build momentum at home could be disastrous. Unlike their previous comeback against South Carolina, returning from an early deficit might not be possible this time, given the strength of the Longhorns’ defense. The only question is whether they will prevent that scenario. The Aggies are a 2.5-point favorite on the road this weekend.
Mike Elko’s Texas A&M Aggies seem different this season. Unlike previous years, when this would typically be the moment for A&M to disappoint fans and underperform, their comeback victory against South Carolina suggests they’re fully committed. Even in a game where they were unprepared, they demonstrated the hallmarks of great teams—overcoming adversity, correcting their mistakes, and overcoming a 27-point deficit to secure victory. The Aggies not only outpace opponents but also rally from behind, giving this season a feeling of destiny for Texas A&M.
Texas didn’t meet expectations this season; they were preseason No. 1, but underperformed. Now, they approach this game feeling desperate. Meanwhile, the Aggies will smell blood in the water, especially after losing to the Longhorns last season. This game’s going to be straight cinema as both offenses will produce explosive plays, but Texas A&M finds a win and covers the 2.5-point spread, with a final score of 35-28 in Austin.
The Egg Bowl – No. 7 Ole Miss vs Mississippi State
The Egg Bowl, as a game, is flying under the radar; more people will watch the post-game press conference than the game itself, and for good reason. Current Rebels head coach Lane Kiffin will decide where he will coach after this season once the Egg Bowl ends, so obviously, all the fans will be distracted by the news. But will his players be? So far, it hasn’t affected their performance this season, as they’ve been one of the most complete offenses in college football. But heading into a rivalry game on the road with a potential coaching change looming, Mississippi State will have even more motivation than usual.
Ole Miss is currently a -7 favorite despite being on the road. This game looks like a shootout, as both offenses have explosive capabilities. For the Ole Miss team, their rushing and passing attacks make them one of the most balanced offenses in the country. Kewan Lacy, the starting running back for Ole Miss, should have a big day against the Bulldogs’ defense, which ranks 103rd in rushing yards allowed per game, giving up 203 yards on the ground each game.
Ole Miss will probably make the College Football Playoff regardless of this weekend’s result, as this game would be only their second loss of the season, with the only other coming from No. 4 Georgia. For Mississippi State, a win here would potentially play spoiler to their rivals’ season and make the Bulldogs bowl eligible, and also mark their first six-win season since 2022.
Mississippi State punches early in this game, making the Rebel faithful even more nervous about not only the game but also Kiffin’s decision afterward. The Ole Miss offense will come alive, and although the game might be messy at times and could involve turnovers on both sides, Ole Miss finds a way to win a high-scoring affair, 38-30.
When the dust settles on Thanksgiving and the leftovers are being taken home, rivalry week will finally be here to add on to an already incredible year of SEC football to this point.
Main Image: Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images
