Lane Kiffin believes if Tua Tagovailoa was healthy last season, Alabama would have beaten Auburn.

Granted, it doesn’t mean much now. The fact this revelation comes a day after the NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel changed a rule in what appears to be a direct response to last season’s 48-45 Auburn win in the Iron Bowl is purely coincidental.

The Ole Miss coach joined Laura Rutledge for an interview with the SEC Network. He was asked how he would sort out the quarterback pecking order for Thursday night’s NFL draft, and the former Alabama offensive coordinator revealed what he believes everybody assumes.

“Because of (Tua’s) injury, Joe (Burrow) is gonna go first,” Kiffin said Wednesday. "That’s a given.

"It would be interesting if Tua wasn’t still in that game against Mississippi State, so, obviously, he doesn’t get hurt. He uses the bye before Auburn, gets healthy and they probably beat Auburn. I think everybody would say that.

“They would get themselves in the playoff. Then, I think, they’re playing LSU. Who knows what happens in that game? Then, I think we’re thinking about who is No. 1 (in the draft).”

If Kiffin was a coach holding the No. 5 overall pick, he said his pitch to an NFL team owner is simple: you are getting a potential No. 1 overall draft pick and at a discounted rate.

“He has unbelievable deep-ball accuracy, accuracy in general,” he explained. “He looks like Steve Young when you watch him work out. Great feet, obviously left-hander, similar size and unbelievable accuracy.”

Check out the full interview below.

In last season’s Iron Bowl, Auburn survived a late Crimson Tide drive when Joseph Bulovas’ 30-yard field-goal attempt missed with two minutes left.

The Tigers couldn’t get a first down on JaTarvious Whitlow’s three runs while Alabama burned its final two time outs. But the Tide were called for illegal substitution after the Tigers lined up for a punt, giving Gus Malzahn’s team a fresh set of downs.

Mark Heim is a sports reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim.