AUBURN, AL - SEPTEMBER 10: Running back Kamryn Pettway #36 of the Auburn Tigers runs the ball past linebacker Kyle Wilson #15 of the Arkansas State Red Wolves at Jordan Hare Stadium on September 10, 2016 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images)

Auburn gets good news ahead of annual matchup with Alabama

Pettway had missed the past two games.

While some people don't think this year's annual Iron Bowl matchup will be close, it just got a lot closer on Tuesday.

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Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn announced on Tuesday that star running back Kamryn Pettway will be able to play against the Crimson Tide after sitting out the past two weeks with a leg injury.

"[Pettway]'s one of the best running backs in all of college football and one of the best in our league," Malzahn said in his weekly presser on Tuesday. "Any time you have a guy like that back, it changes things."

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Pettway suffered the injury against Vanderbilt on a long run that was likely going to be a touchdown before he started limping mid-run. The touchdown would have sealed the game, and instead, Auburn then had to fend off the Commodores for the rest of the fourth quarter.

Despite missing three games this season, Pettway is still the SEC's second leading rusher with 1,106 yards. Pettway was a major reason for Auburn's offensive resurgence in the middle of the season, and his absence was likely why Auburn had some many problems against Georgia two weeks ago.