AUBURN, Ala. — Running back Kamryn Pettway is returning for the Iron Bowl.

Auburn's leading rusher will travel to Tuscaloosa for the Iron Bowl and will play against No. 1 Alabama, Auburn coach Gus Malzahn said.

"He's one of the best running backs in all of college football and one of the best in our league," Malzahn said. "Any time you have a guy like that back, it changes things. It changes things in a good way for us."

Pettway surpassed 1,000 yards for the season against Vanderbilt three weeks ago and injured his left quadricep at the tail-end of a 60-yard run against the Commodores. He did not play in the Tigers' last two games and was replaced by former starter Kerryon Johnson in the lineup.

"It means a lot," Johnson said of Pettway's return. "It means I won't be as tired, I hope. It means you get another 1,000 yard rusher back, that's a very huge deal. ... To have both of us back there together again is nice."

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Pettway rushed for 150 yards or more in each of his last four games, the best stretch by an Auburn running back since Bo Jackson in 1985.

"Pettway can open a lot of things for our offense because a lot of people are so worried about Kamryn Pettway, like the way he runs is just fierce," Auburn linebacker Tre' Williams said. "When he grabs that handoff, you better know you better buckle your chinstrap because he’s coming with a full head of steam, and that’s something we speak on as a defense as well. Whenever we see Pettway run, we’re like, ‘they in trouble.’"

The challenge this week for No. 15 Auburn (8-3, 5-2 SEC) at No. 1 Alabama (11-0, 7-0) will be much tougher than usual. The Tide own the nation's best rushing defense against FBS teams (68.8 yards per game). Auburn is No. 7 in rushing offense against FBS opponents at 282.5 yards per game.

Kickoff Saturday at Bryant-Denny Stadium is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. CT on CBS.