Tim Smith left Alabama not only having never lost to Auburn, but sharing in a record that could potentially last a while.
Smith was a true freshman with the Crimson Tide in 2020, for which he got an extra year of eligibility due to COVID. Alabama never lost the Iron Bowl in his entire career, leaving the defensive tackle with a perfect 5-0 record against the Tigers.
“Pretty much after the game, I hadn’t really kept track of the record until we got into the locker room and started conversating,” Smith said Tuesday in Mobile, where he’s set to play in Saturday’s Reese’s Senior Bowl. “I was like, ‘Dang, have I lost to Auburn since I’ve been here?’ And the answer was ‘no,’ so I ended up counting five games, and that’s when it kind of dawned on me.”
Smith played in the Iron Bowl all five years he was at Alabama, starting the last three. He shares the “5-0 vs. Auburn” distinction with Malachi Moore, the former Crimson Tide safety who was also set to play in the Senior Bowl before suffering undergoing surgery in December.
Smith and Moore’s record might not last long, however. Fellow defensive lineman Jah-Marien Latham is set to return for a sixth season in 2024, giving him a shot at another win against Auburn, though the Tigers host the 2025 Iron Bowl, one of the tougher road venues in the SEC.
Nevertheless, Smith finished his college career knowing he’ll have eternal bragging rights in the Iron Bowl rivalry.
“It’s a great feeling,” Smith said. “There’s a lot more teams I wish I could say the same about, but yeah, it’s a wonderful feeling. Especially that they’re right down the road from us.”
