By Reice ShipleyShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberBoth the Auburn Tigers and the Alabama Crimson Tide likely don't need much added motivation for Saturday's Iron Bowl matchup. However, for Auburn interim head coach D.J. Durkin, Saturday's game reportedly may serve as a huge factor on whether he will remain with the Tigers past the 2025 season.
Durkin, who served as the defensive coordinator to start the year, took over for head coach Hugh Freeze upon his firing earlier this month. Thus far, results have largely been mixed, losing in a heartbreaking overtime loss to Vanderbilt in Week 11 followed by a win in impressive fashion against Mercer in Week 13.
Saturday's game serves as an important one for Auburn for a number of reasons. Notably, Auburn hasn't beaten Alabama in the Iron Bowl since 2019. Additionally, the Tigers would become bowl eligible with a win in Week 14.
It also serves as an incredibly important game for Durkin individually based on recent reports on the highly discussed Auburn head coaching search.
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After Tulane head coach Jon Sumrall removed himself from the running for the Tigers' head coaching job on Friday, reports quickly emerged that Durkin now finds himself as a leading candidate to be named the full-time head coach of Auburn.
Jon Talty of CBS Sports further verified these reports. Prior to the start of Saturday's Iron Bowl, Talty reported that the game could very well serve as a "big opportunity" to strengthen his case to be the lead man at Auburn for the 2026 college football season.
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Given how much importance is placed on the Iron Bowl on a yearly basis, it's easy to see why a win for the Tigers would help boost Durkin's case to be Auburn's next head coach.
Regardless of whether Durkin ends up being the permanent head coach of the Tigers or not, it seems as if Auburn will make a decision on their next head coach shortly after Saturday's Iron Bowl.
Auburn AD John Cohen has said that he would like to publicly announce their head coaching decision 24 hours after the Iron Bowl. So regardless of whether Durkin ends up earning the job or not, it seems as if there will be a resolution to the program's coaching search sooner rather than later.
For more college football news, head to Newsweek Sports.
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