Greg McElroy News

It is rivalry week in college football and in the state of Alabama, it doesn't get any bigger than this week's clash between the second-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide and the Auburn Tigers from Jordan-Hare Stadium.

Senior left guard Mike Johnson, one of only two returning starters on Alabama's offensive line, gives first-year starter Greg McElroy time to pass in a 12-10 victory over Tennessee.

Alabama and Auburn are scheduled to square off Friday afternoon for the 73rd installment of, not the "Deep South's Oldest Rivalry," not the "World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party," certainly not the "Third Saturday in October," and definitely not for anything called the "Egg Bowl," or even the "Saban Bowl." No, the Tide and the Tigers meet again ...

The next game is the biggest. That's Alabama coach Nick Saban's mantra, repeated over and over whether his team is playing LSU or Chattanooga.

TUSCALOOSA - No worries and no injuries. That was the goal for second-ranked Alabama heading into Saturday's game with Chattanooga and the mission was accomplished as the Tide scored three first-quarter touchdowns and cruised to a 45-0 win over the Mocs at Bryant-Denny Stadium on Senior Day on Saturday afternoon.

Mark Ingram ran for 102 yards and two long touchdowns in the first half, and No.

One of the top remaining targets on Alabama's recruiting wish list has reportedly set a time to announce a commitment.

I understand the "guarantee game" and the financial reasoning behind scheduling these games.

Three turnovers forced, none committed. And a commanding 444-213 edge in total yards.

In what appears to be a monumental mismatch, the second-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide welcome the Chattanooga Mocs, a mediocre FCS team, to Tuscaloosa this weekend.Chattanooga closes out its regular season on Saturday and carries a 6-4 record into the tilt.

Mark Barron made his fifth and six interceptions of the season, most in the Southeastern Conference, and helped the Crimson Tide smother the Bulldogs.

Of course, the dark theater supplied the safety that comes with anonymity. The second-ranked Crimson Tide watched "The Blind Side" last Friday night before playing Mississippi State the next evening, checking out their ultra-intense coach playing himself on the big screen.

OneA of theA fewA absolute things I can say that I've learned throughout my time as a writer is that every team needs at least a decent quarterback.

Greg McElroy thought he was prepared for the starting job as quarterback at the University of Alabama.

Colt McCoy tied the NCAA record for career victories by a starting quarterback, throwing two touchdown passes for No.

Editor's note: Bama Bandwagon is a weekly column by Josh Moon that appears every Monday and looks at the Crimson Tide's pursuit of a national championship.

In this Sept. 19, 2009 file photo, Mississippi State running back Anthony Dixon carries the ball against Vanderbilt during an NCAA college football game in Nashville, Tenn.

Alabama has already clinched a spot in the SEC title game, but there's still a lot at stake over the final weeks of the regular season.

With the SEC West already won and a date with the defending national champion Florida Gators in the SEC Championship Game already set, the third-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide invade Starkville this week for a conference showdown with the Mississippi State Bulldogs.

AJ McCarron signed with Alabama earlier this year as a touted prospect from St. Paul's in Mobile Alabama true freshman quarterback AJ McCarron , a former St.