Corbyn Wile, 19, of Enterprise, is Bama, through and through.

The University of Alabama freshman has three sisters who went there before her.

Kayla Perry, 19, is Auburn, orange and blue.

The Auburn University freshman from Birmingham knew at age 13 this school was for her.

They're on opposite sides when the two schools meet Saturday in the classic Iron Bowl football game. But they are fast friends. They stand united against one thing:

Cancer.

Both have it.

Perry has neuroblastoma, a pediatric cancer rare in people Kayla's age. Her doctor told her a chance for a cure is low, so start thinking about what to do with the time left.

Wile has rhabdomyosarcoma, a cancerous tumor of the muscles, and a prognosis not much different than Perry's.

The students met on Facebook, introduced by Kayla's mom, Christen Perry.

Then they met in person, kind of unexpectedly, when they both were waiting to see a doctor at Children's of Alabama in Birmingham.

Football wasn't the tie that bound. Cancer was.

"We have a lot of the same issues to talk about," Wile said. "We have some of the same chemos and (can discuss) a lot of stuff doctors will tell us, and what it's like in college trying to get through class when you're not feeling good, and losing your hair."

Both young women love their football.

"I just love that it is something I can care about but it is something unrelated to real life," Perry said. "It's great to wake up on Saturday morning and know that the only thing you have to do is cheer for Auburn. It's one of the best stress relievers in the world."

On Saturday Corbyn and Kayla will be sitting side-by-side at the game with tens of thousands of others trying to reduce stress. The young women are guests of the Auburn coach's wife, Kristi Malzahn, who surprised them with Iron Bowl tickets recently while they were taping an interview with Bleacher Report (see below).

It'll be their first Iron Bowl and neither knows exactly how to act as best-friend rivals with a coach's wife nearby.

"I'll probably wait until it's over" to react with emotion, Corbyn said.

Kayla generated some news earlier this season when it became known quarterback Blake Sims was wearing a bracelet in honor of her struggle.

"Even college rivalries can come together when it matters," Kayla said at the time.

Kayla has started a fund-raising effort called Open Hands Overflowing Hearts that has raised about $140,000 for childhood cancer research.

On this web page, they've set up a rivalry competition between Auburn donors and Alabama donors. They hope after a Dec. 7 fund-raising event in Birmingham at Region's Field, featuring St. Paul and the Broken Bones to have raised $250,000.

Life's about giving, says Kayla.

"I want my legacy to be getting what I can instead of taking," Kayla said. "I want to be giving of my time, giving of my energy and doing what I can for others, rather than trying to gather up everything I can from the world."

Video by Bleacher Report: