Skip to content

Auburn AD not willing to give up Iron Bowl for SEC East move

John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

Most teams wouldn't want to see Alabama on their schedule, except maybe Auburn.

Speaking with WNSP-FM 105.5 on Thursday, Auburn athletic director Jay Jacobs said he would be open to moving to the SEC East but not if it meant giving up the Iron Bowl.

"It makes sense," Jacobs said, according to Creg Stephenson of Al.com. "If we ever had the opportunity to geographically realign, it makes sense. It really makes sense for Missouri, because of the travel or other things like that."

It would probably make sense from a competitive standpoint, too. The SEC West has won the last eight conference title games, with the Tigers claiming two of those. Flipping with Missouri would likely even out the balance of power somewhat.

Still, a move would likely mean Auburn's annual game with Alabama would be scrapped. Jacobs thinks the game is too important to fans.

"I would want to preserve the Auburn-Alabama rivalry, however we could do that. ... The Auburn-Alabama game right now, it just means too much to too many people to give that up," he said. "I think there are other ways that we could possibly change without having to give that rivalry up."

Each SEC team plays the six teams in its division and one permanent rival in the other. Alabama currently does a crossover game with Tennessee, meaning it would abandon the Auburn rivalry under a realignment.

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox