The Iron Bowl rivalry is considered among college football’s best. The kick six has been etched in all of our collective memories. So it is a testament to how much the landscape of college athletics has shifted to see these two bitter rivals come together to stand in defiance of the latest legislation from Washington.

Alabama and Auburn have issued a joint statement opposing the Protect College Sports Act (PCSA), asking the Senate not to advance with it in its current form. While they acknowledge the Senate’s aim of better regulation within college sports, they argue that most of the bill’s directives would do more harm than good to college athletics.

Championed by Senators Ted Cruz and Maria Cantwell, this Act was proposed to stabilize the chaos brought about by the NIL era. College sports is also governed by too many conflicting rules and regulations. Oftentimes, programs are torn between conflicting state laws, wavering NCAA provisions, and self-serving conference rules.

As a result, the bill was intended to establish a federally recognized set of rules governing all institutions with antitrust protections. NIL deals, coaching changes, the transfer portal, media rights, agent fees, and other key areas would be affected should the bill become law.

However, Auburn and Alabama argue that the rules set up by the proposal are “too narrow to displace the current patchwork of conflicting state laws while simultaneously creating new forms of liability through expanded private rights of action.” They posit that the NCAA consistently seeks to ensure uniformity among college programs despite differences in state laws and that passing the bill would end these efforts, as all laws would become unchangeable.

Auburn and Alabama also believe that the bill, in its current form, would do nothing more than micromanage the entire college football landscape. Addressing issues, such as roster decisions, game scheduling, and internal governance, is seen as the federal government overstepping its boundaries into the business of college sports.

While the idea of sustaining women’s and Olympic sports, creating more opportunities for student-athletes, and establishing a fair competition among programs through national rules sounds appealing to both programs, they maintain that the bill, as currently drafted, “does not meet the standard.” To them, the same issues that often lead college programs, players, conferences, and the NCAA into courtrooms have not been addressed in the bill.

Recently, a court decision to allow former Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby to participate in the 2026 season brought about a decision from some programs not to play Texas Tech, while multiple Big 12 programs unanimously filed a lawsuit against Texas Tech. This is in contrast to the reality in college football, where programs and conferences rarely come together to reach an agreement due to conflicting interests.

The joint statement by Auburn and Alabama aligns with the SEC’s public stance against the bill. Even the Big Ten has opposed PCSA’s provisions related to media rights pooling and the ban on super leagues. Despite support from other conferences, the NFL, and some major leagues, its passage remains uncertain.

Auburn vs Alabama rivalry 

Forget about the statement. It is probably the only thing both programs will agree on for the rest of the year. On November 28, both teams will lock horns, despite having jointly issued a statement months earlier. The rivalry between Auburn and Alabama remains one of the greatest rivalries in college football, regardless.

Alabama leads Auburn in the Iron Bowl rivalry with a 52-37-1 record. The rivalry is turning 133 years old in 2026. The Tigers now have an OSU alum as their head coach. Notwithstanding, Alex Golesh has rated the Iron Bowl above The Game. He has a tall order in front of him as Alabama has won their last six matchups.

As they prepare to travel to Tuscaloosa to face Kalen DeBoer’s Alabama Crimson Tide at Bryant-Denny Stadium on November 28, 2026, Auburn is leaning on a high-flying, transfer-heavy offense balanced by a veteran, returning defensive core. Coach Golesh has completely remade Auburn’s offensive identity by bringing 13 transfers with him from USF.

The headliner is USF transfer quarterback Byrum Brown. Brown is a dual-threat weapon who racked up over 3,100 passing yards and 1,000 rushing yards in a single season for the Bulls. Running back is also projected to be Auburn’s biggest offensive strength. The Tigers return senior Jeremiah Cobb (who finished 6th in the SEC last year with 969 yards) and paired him with heavy-hitting Baylor transfer Bryson Washington, giving them multiple options with 1,000+ career rushing yards.

After losing star wideout Cam Coleman to the transfer portal, Golesh entirely imported his USF wide receiver room. Top targets Keshaun Singleton (8 TDs), Jeremiah Koger, and Chas Nimrod all followed him to the Plains to maintain chemistry with Brown.

The offensive line is the biggest question mark. It is a hastily put together group of transfers anchored by only three returning second-year players, making pass protection a major concern against Alabama’s defensive front.