Nov 30, 2013 09:56 AM EST By Russell Westerholm, UniversityHerald Reporter

The 2013 Iron Bowl is here and the Alabama Crimson Tide (1) will go on the road to face the Auburn Tigers (4) in what may be the game of the year.

Both teams have said they are preparing for this game like any other, but it will certainly have implications on the BCS National Championship game. For Alabama, it is simple: win and play for the title. For Auburn, it is win and hope Ohio State and Florida State lose enough points in the standings to fall one spot each.

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Alabama has steamrolled its competition this season, for the most part, and would like to take home their third consecutive national title and fourth in five years. But that one year they did not win was Auburn's year.

That year it was Cam Newton and this year, it is the running game. The Tigers' rush attack is the second-best in the nation in terms of years, but it is their primary source of touchdowns as well.

Marshall has thrown for just nine touchdowns and ran for just as many. Starting running back Tre Mason has run for 17 touchdowns. What's more is the Tigers have featured 12 different runners this year, five of which have at least one touchdown and five also have at least 100 yards.

Alabama's winning formula of iron defense and solid offense has not changed, except for their quarterback. Now a senior, A.J. McCarron is a fully developed and Heisman-qualified QB who does more than compliment running back T.J. Yeldon and the defense.

Despite Yeldon's electrifying 6.2 yards per carry and the defense's average of nine points allowed per game, McCarron does not need to do much. Still, he has thrown for 2,399 yards, 23 touchdowns and just five interceptions.

The Iron Bowl is the championship before the real championship; the bowl game before the real bowl game, and the significance is not lost on the players. Auburn tight end C.J. Uzomah said Saturday's game will be "the most unbelievable atmosphere I've ever gotten to play in."

He said the Alabama game is the "focal point that can define the season" and players know its importance as early as recruitment. He said he first realized the importance of the game when he saw a packed RV lot a week before kickoff.

Said Uzomah: "This is going to be huge."

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