The 2024-25 NCAA Division I basketball season is days away as teams prep for the start with exhibitions and practice. University of Alabama and Auburn University both enter the season ranked within the top 15 in the Associated Press Top 25 poll. Alabama is ranked No. 2 and Auburn is ranked No. 11. For both schools, historically seen as football powers, the recent trend has been nearly as successful in basketball. So has the basketball edition of the Iron Bowl supplanted the football edition in terms of significance? Let’s examine some recent trends:
End of Season AP Rankings
Auburn
- 2019: Basketball – 5; Football – unranked
- 2020: Basketball – 20; Football – 14
- 2021: Basketball – unranked; Football – unranked
- 2022: Basketball – 14; Football – unranked
- 2023*: Basketball – unranked; Football – unranked
- 2024: Basketball – 18; Football – unranked
Alabama
- 2019: Basketball – unranked; Football – 2
- 2020: Basketball – unranked; Football – 8
- 2021: Basketball – 5; Football – 1
- 2022: Basketball -unranked ; Football – 2
- 2023*: Basketball – 1; Football – 5
- 2024: Basketball – 3; Football – 5
Source: ESPN.com and College Poll Archive
*2023 AP Top 25 Men’s Basketball Week 19 poll (last one issued)
Alabama Football was consistently in the Top 10 from 2018-2024. The best year for the football rivalry was 2019-2020 where both teams finished in the Top 15.
Auburn and Alabama Basketball have ended 3 and 4, respectively, of the last years with ranked finishes in the AP poll. This includes last season where Alabama finished 3rd and Auburn finished 18th.
CFB Playoff Results/NCAA Tournament Finishes
Auburn
- CFP: 2019 – N/A, 2020 – N/A , 2021 – N/A , 2022 – N/A , 2023 – N/A , 2024 – N/A
- NCAAT: 2019 – Final Four, 2020 – N/A, 2021 – N/A , 2022 – Round of 32, 2023 – Round of 32, 2024 – First Round
Alabama
- CFP: 2019 – Runner-up , 2020 – Champion, 2021 – Runner-up, 2022 -N/A , 2023 – N/A , 2024 – Semi-Finalist
- NCAAT: 2019 – N/A, 2020 – N/A , 2021 – Sweet 16, 2022 – First Round, 2023 – Sweet 16 , 2024 – Final Four
Sources: College Football Playoff, Basketball Reference – Alabama , Basketball Reference – Auburn
Alabama Football has been fairly consistent with 4 playoff appearances and a national title within the last 6 seasons. Auburn Football has not had any recent postseason success in football, but has challenged its in-state rivals with several competitive contests.
Auburn and Alabama’s basketball programs have both been to the NCAA Final Four within the last six seasons! Bruce Pearl, Auburn’s head coach, has guided his program to four tournament appearances in that time frame. So too has Alabama’s head coach, Nate Oats.
Recruiting
Auburn
- Basketball: 2019* – 19, 2020* – 10, 2021* – 79 , 2022 – 16 , 2023 – 74, 2024 – 22
- Football: 2019* – 11, 2020* – 7, 2021* – 19 , 2022 – 21, 2023 – 19 , 2024 – 8
Alabama
- Basketball: 2019* – 20 , 2020* – 12, 2021* – 14 , 2022 – 5 , 2023 – 17 , 2024 – 2
- Football: 2019* – 1, 2020* – 2 , 2021* – 1 , 2022 – 2, 2023 – 1 , 2024 – 2
Source: 24 7Sports (basketball – Overall); 24 7Sports (football – Overall)
*Factors only high school recruits; the years that follow include high school recruits and transfers
Alabama Football has notably dominated on the recruiting trail as well as the transfer portal (which has increasingly factored in how teams bring in players the last three years). Auburn Football has also been competitive in recruiting and notably brings in a Top 25 class each year.
The basketball counterparts have not been as consistently successful in recruiting. However, each has shown the ability to bring in talented classes. Auburn has notably sent Jabari Smith Jr. and Walker Kessler to the pros within the last 6 years. Alabama has similarly guided Brandon Miller and Herb Jones to the next level.
Bottom Line: The Iron Bowl is a factor in basketball, too.
Recruiting and interest from fans continue to make the football edition of the Iron Bowl one of the most intense in college sports. The rivalry between Auburn and Alabama on the hardwood is noticeably producing results. With one player each on the preseason all-American team (Auburn has Johni Broome and Alabama has Mark Sears), the basketball programs in the state of Alabama may be closer to post-season success than their football counterparts.
