Looks like Nick Saban finally helped Alabama find that identity it was searching for last fall.

Where did the Crimson Tide coach find it? In the loveliest village — better known as Auburn.

When Saban was hired at the Capstone, the only thing he was expected to steal from Auburn was a few recruits — and maybe a few Iron Bowl victories.

Tommy Tuberville saw the writing on the wall. The Auburn coach could see what was on the horizon, and it wasn’t good for his program.

Having a recruiter like Saban in the state was going to affect Auburn. There was no way around it, and Tuberville knew it.

National signing day was an eye-opening experience for Tuberville. Somehow, some way, his biggest rival inked every major recruit in Alabama.

How could Auburn survive with Saban recruiting like that? It takes great players to win big, and Alabama stole every single one of them from the Tigers’ primary recruiting base.

Apparently that’s not the only thing Saban stole from Auburn. He also took the Tigers’ identity.

Seeing what was on the horizon, Tuberville tried to be proactive — hiring Tony Franklin and changing to the spread offense.

The Auburn teams of old were built around the run. Strong rushing attacks is how Tuberville beat Alabama six times in a row.

Auburn has great backs on its team this year, but Tuberville wants to run a pass-oriented offense without the luxury of a proven quarterback?

It’s a recipe for destruction, especially since Saban is winning — and winning big — by doing what Auburn has done so well in recent years.

Alabama has a physical offensive line to go along with three very good running backs. The Crimson Tide may not have the most consistent quarterback in the Southeastern Conference, but it’s not like John Parker Wilson is being asked to carry the team on his shoulders.

Neither was Brandon Cox.

Jason Campbell didn’t have to, either.

Auburn simply rode its running backs to 10-win seasons and a BCS bowl appearance.

But Auburn isn’t doing that this year. That honor goes to Alabama.

Alabama has one of the SEC’s top running games. The Crimson Tide’s defense isn’t too shabby, either.

Running the football down the throats of its opponents, Alabama is winning game after game by establishing itself as the most physical team on the field.

Playing that type of football, Alabama has jumped from a middle-of-the-pack SEC West team to the second-ranked national media darling in just a matter of weeks.

On the other hand, Auburn looks a lot like Alabama did a year ago. And when everything is said and done, the final record may be similar, too.

Auburn has struggled to find its identity this season, and it doesn’t look like it’s going to get better anytime soon.

This was a team that was the preseason favorite to win the SEC West. Now, it looks like Saturday’s game with Arkansas will decide fourth place.

Tuberville has been around long enough to know that seven-win seasons don’t keep coaches employed in the SEC. It’s all about what you’ve done lately in this conference.

Six straight wins over Alabama doesn’t sound that significant when your team can’t even beat Vanderbilt.

Auburn had an identity once. This program wasn’t nicknamed Tailback U for nothing.

Breaking the mold, finding a new niche, may have been fun for a while. But now it’s starting to get serious down on the Plains.

The experiment has been conducted, and the spread failed — miserably.

Now it’s time for Tuberville to go back to what Auburn has always done best: Run the football and win with defense.

If Tuberville doesn’t make the call, Auburn’s higher-ups are going to. And if it plays out that way, odds of the “Riverboat Gambler” being there to see it are slim to none.

What have you done for me lately? Going backwards in the win column usually isn’t the best answer for that question in the SEC.