By Mmesoma 
With Nick Saban officially retired and a new chapter beginning for the Alabama Crimson Tide, the college football landscape in the SEC is bracing for a shift — and few are more vocal about it than ESPN analyst Paul Finebaum.
During a recent appearance on The Paul Finebaum Show, the longtime college football commentator weighed in on whether Auburn can finally seize control of the Iron Bowl rivalry and overtake Alabama in the SEC West now that the legendary Saban era has ended.
> “If there was ever a time for Auburn to make a move, it’s now,” Finebaum declared. “The door is cracked open — maybe for the first time in over a decade — and it’s up to Hugh Freeze and the Tigers to kick it wide.”
With Saban stepping away from the game earlier this year, Alabama handed the reins to former Oregon head coach Dan Lanning, a defensive mastermind and rising star in the coaching ranks. While Lanning is expected to maintain Alabama’s elite recruiting and competitive edge, Finebaum believes the transition period could give rivals, particularly Auburn, a brief opportunity to gain ground.
> “You don’t replace Nick Saban — you survive the fallout,” Finebaum said. “Alabama is still Alabama, but they’re vulnerable in a way we haven’t seen in 15 years. That’s the reality. And Auburn, under Hugh Freeze, has quietly put together something dangerous.”
Auburn showed flashes of promise in the 2024 season, finishing 9-4 with an upset win over LSU and a narrow loss to Georgia. Freeze, entering his second full season at the helm, has bolstered the Tigers’ roster with a top-10 recruiting class and several high-impact transfers — including a new quarterback expected to bring explosiveness to the offense.
Still, Finebaum cautioned that talent alone won’t be enough.
> “The mentality has to change. Auburn’s been living in Alabama’s shadow for years — but now there’s a chance to flip the narrative,” he said. “It comes down to execution, belief, and taking advantage of the moment.”
The 2025 Iron Bowl, set to be played in Jordan-Hare Stadium, is already shaping up to be one of the most anticipated matchups of the year. With both programs undergoing change — one rebuilding its identity and the other trying to reclaim its former dominance — the stakes will be sky-high.
Finebaum’s bold prediction?
> “Auburn can top Bama this year,” he said. “I wouldn’t go so far as to say they’ll dominate the rivalry, but this could be the year the pendulum finally starts to swing.”
For fans of the Tigers, that prediction offers hope. For Alabama faithful, it’s a warning — the post-Saban era might not be as smooth as expected.