Alabama and Auburn football both had wobbly performances in Week 2, but on massively different scales.

For Alabama, a narrow escape at Texas exposed flaws that bring into question whether the Crimson Tide is truly national championship-caliber in 2022. For Auburn, an anxious home win against San Jose State might have foreshadowed the endangerment of Bryan Harsin's future as coach.

Both teams are 2-0, but boy is it messier than that. (Or is it? Should the mantra that "a win is a win" be taken to heart in a week defined by shocking upsets?) USA TODAY Network Alabama beat writer Nick Kelly and Auburn beat writer Bennett Durando are here to discuss what it all means on The Iron Bowl of Podcasts.

On this episode, Nick and Bennett debate which fanbase should be more unnerved. They also try to make sense of Texas A&M's alarming start, which has ironic ties to both Auburn and Alabama between coaching feuds and transfer quarterbacks. Lastly: Where should Alabama and Auburn fall in an SEC power ranking after two weeks?

The Iron Bowl of Podcasts is a USA TODAY Network conversation show in which Alabama beat writer Nick Kelly and Auburn beat writer Bennett Durando debate and discuss the greatest rivalry in sports — because what else really matters to sports fans in the state of Alabama?

It generally takes a few weeks every season for the college football hierarchy to sort itself out. Who's actually good?

Until then, rankings can be a little messy, as these two rookie AP top 25 voters are learning.

On the newest episode of The Iron Bowl of Podcasts, USA TODAY Network Auburn beat writer Bennett Durando and Alabama beat writer Nick Kelly debate their developing ballot philosophies. How should the top three be ordered, with Alabama annihilating a paycheck opponent while Georgia and Ohio State convincingly defeated good teams? How costly should a bad Week 1 performance be?

And then there's the rest of the SEC: What to make of Texas A&M after a slow start or Florida after a fast one?

One team that does not come up in the rankings conversation yet: Auburn. The Tigers have their own quarterback questions to worry about for now. Nick and Bennett discuss what's next in Bryan Harsin's system and what to expect when Alabama takes on Texas this weekend.

After months of discussion, predictions and speculation, real football is almost here for Alabama and Auburn.

Neither team has a Power Five matchup in the first game of the season. Auburn faces Mercer at 6 p.m. Saturday. Meanwhile, Alabama will hold a game against Utah State at 6:30 p.m. Saturday. Both are at home.

Utah State is one of the better squads among Group of Five teams, but neither the Aggies nor the Bears are expected to give Alabama or Auburn, respectively, too much of a game.

So, how much can we take stock in what happens on Saturday? Auburn writer Bennett Durando and Alabama writer Nick Kelly discuss on this week's episode of the Iron Bowl of Podcasts.

The Iron Bowl of Podcasts is a USA TODAY Network conversation show in which Kelly and Durando debate and discuss the greatest rivalry in sports — because what else really matters to sports fans in the state of Alabama?