The Iron Bowl is regarded as one of college football's premier rivalry games, if not the biggest of them all. The annual grudge match played between Alabama and Auburn is mentioned in the same breath as 'The Game' between Michigan and Ohio State, Army-Navy, and the Red River Rivalry between Texas and Oklahoma.
However, this year's rendition of the Iron Bowl is rated to play host to one of the worst quarterback duels in the SEC, at least according to Sporting News' Bill Bender.
The Crimson Tide is expected to roll with junior quarterback Ty Simpson. The former five-star recruit has zero collegiate starts after backing up Bryce Young and Jalen Milroe for his first two years in Tuscaloosa.
Simpson is rated as the 10th-best quarterback in the conference by Bender, who says that Alabama has one of the best receiving weapons in the conference.
"Second-year coach Kalen DeBoer brought back offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb, and the receiving corps is loaded with Ryan Williams and Germie Bernard," Bender said. "Simpson will be the starter to open the season, so the backup battle between Mack and Russell will be the focus of fall camp."
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Bender added: "DeBoer has a deep quarterback room, and that's why we like their spot on this list. "
Ranked just behind Alabama's quarterback room in 11th is Auburn, their counterpart in the Iron Bowl.
The Tigers are expected to line up junior Jackson Arnold under center to start the year. Arnold has 10 career starts at Oklahoma. Nine of those came last season, and Arnold led the Sooners to a 5-4 record in those games.
Last season, Arnold threw for 1,421 yards, converting 62.6 percent of his passes for 12 touchdowns and three interceptions. He'll be backed up by senior quarterback Ashton Daniels, who spent three years at Stanford and amassed 20 starts.
On Arnold, Bender said: "Oklahoma ranked last in the FBS in sacks allowed – and Arnold took nine sacks in a loss against Ole Miss on Oct. 26. Will Arnold fare better with the Tigers? He could be a sleeper given the receiver room features Cam Coleman, Malcolm Simmons and Georgia Tech transfer Eric Singleton, Jr."
While the rivalry has featured iconic quarterbacks such as Cam Newton and A.J. McCarron, this year's edition of the game is seemingly not going to be a quarterback-heavy one.
The game, to be played at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Alabama, will be the last of the regular season for both teams, and will be played on November 29.
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