TUSCALOOSA — As much as he’d rather not deal with it, Nick Saban had been anticipating the question for several years now.

TUSCALOOSA — Out of the running for a national championship for the first time in the College Football Playoff era, Alabama had to wait a couple extra hours more than usual to learn its postseason fate.

TUSCALOOSA — Aubrielle Petty’s legs wobble as she stands atop her grandmother’s knees, her eyes focused on the action in front of her.

TUSCALOOSA — Despite rampant speculation to the contrary, Tua Tagovailoa still has no idea what his future holds, especially especially in regard to the NFL.

TUSCALOOSA — While complaining about the “unfair” treatment Alabama received at critical junctures in Saturday’s 48-45 Iron Bowl loss, a visibly frustrated Nick Saban struck at the root of what went wrong for his team this season.

TUSCALOOSA — The outpouring of support flowed across Mac Jones’ Twitter timeline almost as quickly as the Auburn fans descended on Pat Dye Field after Alabama’s 48-45 loss Saturday night.

Alabama dropped to No. 9 in The Associated Press college football poll, snapping the Crimson Tide's record streak of 68 appearances in the top five.

AUBURN — Another wild, triumphant Iron Bowl finish turned Auburn’s field into a teeming mass of orange and blue.

AUBURN — In one of the wildest Iron Bowls in a decade of wild Iron Bowls, it once again came down to a field goal that never made it through the uprights.

Forget everything you’ve come to know. Expectations mean nothing. Not when it comes to the Iron Bowl.

AUBURN — Jaylen Waddle leaned against the brick that housed the visiting locker room beneath Jordan-Hare Stadium's North end zone and stared at the ground.

MONTGOMERY — Anders Carlson fell backwards after taking a blow from Alabama corner Trevon Diggs late in the first half, and as he hit the ground he watched the ball he just kicked soar through the beginnings of the evening sky.