Auburn's turnaround after home losses to top 10 teams Clemson and Texas A&M has been a welcome sight for Verne Lundquist and CBS.

It means if the Tigers stay on the right path after a 4-2 start, 2-1 in SEC play, that the Iron Bowl matchup at Alabama on Nov. 26 should be selected by CBS.

Auburn has won three straight after dropping to 1-2 following a 29-16 loss to Texas A&M. The Tigers host Arkansas in a battle of top 25 teams on Saturday at 5 p.m.

"I'm pleased for us that they seem to have gotten it right," said Lundquist, a longtime play-by-play commentator for CBS Sports. "It won't be announced for a while, but I can't imagine any scenario in which we don't do the Iron Bowl. It's great for us to have Auburn competitive."

Lundquist spoke to Birmingham's Monday Morning Quarterback Club earlier this week.

Auburn has also won all three games since head coach Gus Malzahn ceded play-calling duties to offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee. Auburn beat LSU 18-13, ULM 58-7 and won 38-14 at Mississippi State before a bye week.

"That seat that was supposedly warm under Gus, I think has gotten a little cooler right now," Lundquist said. "I'm glad for that because he's a favorite of ours."

Malzahn has been helpful to Lundquist and color analyst Gary Danielson and the rest of the CBS crew in preparation for games involving Auburn.

"I like his personality," Lundquist said. "It's a same way (Alabama head coach) Nick (Saban)'s a favorite. I hated to see Les (Miles) leave at LSU. We have a relationship with all these coaches. Have we had some bad ones in the league? Of course.

"Most of the guys are really great at interacting with us and I grow fond of them. I don't have favorite teams in the league, but I darn sure have favorite coaches and players, and you pull for the human. So, I just think it's nice to see Gus get out of the spotlight."