Ole Miss and Alabama have had quite the rivalry in three years, losing two games against the Tides and then going on to beat them consecutively in 2014 and 2015. Hugh Freeze was leading the Rebels back then, and now he’s with the Tigers. Back then, QB Chad Kelly was the game-changer for the Rebels. In the 2015 season, Kelly went 18 to 33 for around 340+ yards. He also managed to pull in three touchdowns for the team, with the final score being 43-37. However, after Nick Saban called it off this year, something has bothered Freeze ever since.

And On3 took to X on August 12th to reveal what has been eating Freeze away. “Nick is incredible, but I should have four wins against them,” Freeze told ESPN during an interview. With two wins against the tides and then going 24-3 in the third year, 2016 saw Nick Saban take away the win from Freeze after a long battle.

The tides did come back to wash over the Rebels yet again. 2020 saw an explosive match between Ole Miss and Alabama. The game went on to become the one with the highest scores in the history of their rivalry. While the Rebels had their star, Matt Corral, Mac Jones from the Tides brought it in for Nick Saban. However, now that the Tides are under new management, things could get rough for Freeze.

Chris Doering from the SEC Network had mentioned why. “The pressure is more on Hugh Freeze and the Auburn Tigers,” Doering had said. Freeze is currently fully hands-on-deck with the play calling and the overall game plan for the team. Also, he had major faith in Payton Thorne. But that kid had a rough season back in 2023, with around 16 touchdowns and 1700+ yards under his belt. Derrick Nix and Kent Austin are also now on board to ensure that Thorne does not mess up this year. However, will this be enough to deal with what Kalen DeBoer is doing back at the tide?

The new Crimson Tide under DeBoer

There is no doubt that Nick Saban and his Alabama were a force to be reckoned with, but back when Joel Klatt mentioned that the Tides right now have “the best offensive lines in the country,” you can credit that to Kalen DeBoer. The team has seen a drastic change in its offensive playbook. And DeBoer’s ace Jalen Milroe has shown massive improvements in his skills and speed. He went from 55% accuracy to 70% under DeBoer and even landed a solid 50-yard touchdown during the scrimmage.

On the defensive end, the Tides have Keon Sabb (Michigan’s trump card) and Malachi Moore. Both guys have handled the defense of the team quite well. While the Alabama vs. Auburn Iron Bowl rivalry is something out of a book, will Freeze be able to handle what DeBoer will bring to the table? Well, we shall find out soon.