the tide began their season with a 4–0 start before being upset by no. 11 ole miss on october 4. since then, they won their last seven games, including knocking off no. 1 mississippi state. alabama closed out the regular season with a 55–44 win over no. 15 auburn to avenge last year's loss, and finished 7–1 in conference play, 11–1 overall. the crimson tide are entering their 9th sec championship game, having won in their last two appearances (and eventually the bcs national championship game), and have a 4–4 overall record in the game. alabama was able to clinch the western division on november 29 prior to the iron bowl game kicking off, as ole miss defeated mississippi state in the egg bowl to drop mississippi state to 6–2 in sec play.