Katherine Webb has a decision to make.
The 24-year-old model has watched her boyfriend, Alabama quarterback AJ McCarron, put together a stellar career that includes three national titles (one of them while he was a redshirt freshman). He and the Crimson Tide are going for an undefeated season, and one of the only teams now standing in the way is Auburn.
That would be the No. 4 ranked Auburn, which also happens to be the alma mater for Katherine Webb.
This year will be the first time that Webb is actually able to attend the Iron Bowl, the annual rivalry between the teams. She got tickets when she was a student at Auburn but always ended up selling them.
“This is the first actual game, Iron Bowl, that I will be attending,” Webb told USA Today Sports last week. “I don’t know what to expect and I’m really nervous.”
The game has extra importance this year. The winner will be going on to play in the SEC title game, and would have an inside track to the BCS championship game. The loser would give up the chance to play for a national title.
Katherine Webb said she’s made her decision — she is rooting for AJ McCarron and Alabama over her alma mater. But she said she’s worried what her fellow Auburn alums might think.
“Honestly, I don’t know what to expect,” Webb told USA Today . “AJ just in his protective nature, we talked about it (Wednesday) night. And he was like, ‘I’m concerned. I don’t know what the fans are gonna do.’ And I’m like, ‘It’s OK. I’ll be sweet, genuine and nice like I always am if anything were to happen.’
“Even in my experience at Auburn, it’s been very, very rare to see fans that have been rude or anything like that.”
Webb has become a popular figure since she burst onto the scene during last year’s national title game. She was featured prominently on television during the game, and was the recipient of some slightly awkward praise from broadcaster Brent Musburger.
There were rumors earlier this year that Katherine Webb and AJ McCarron were getting married after she was spotted with what appeared to be an engagement ring, but Katherine cleared up the rumors, telling Twitter followers that she would let them know as soon as the two got engaged.