This is an opinion column.

The hangover was real.

Both Alabama and Auburn were coming off historic runs over the last few seasons. Matching Final Four runs, both hit No. 1 last season as their hoops brands eclipsed football disappointments.

Auburn danced all the way to the national semifinal — a game further than Alabama traveled in its bid for a second straight Final Four.

Then what?

Both veteran-heavy rosters were hit hard by graduations, transfers and a few early exits to the NBA draft.

Back to the middle they went?

Well, both got an IV to the jugular Wednesday when two star rookies opted out of the NBA draft in favor of Year 2 on campus.

Auburn’s Tahaad Pettiford went first, announcing he’d be back on the final day for underclassmen to withdraw from the draft. By all accounts, he performed well in all the pre-draft workouts but his move back to Auburn wasn’t met with surprise.

Labaron Philon is another story.

Just two weeks ago, the former high school All-American told ESPN he was “all in” on the NBA draft and agreed the door was shut on a return to Alabama. Certainly not binding but not the sentiment that leads one to believe he’s ready for another semester in Tuscaloosa.

So the late-night announcement by Alabama’s NIL collective was notable. Just 29 minutes before the deadline to withdraw, a quick graphic was posted on social media as a treat for fans who don’t have early bedtimes.

His return is being called one of the biggest moves by an underclassman in this draft cycle for good reason.

His situation was similar to Pettiford’s.

Both rivals were stars in the making last season but played more complementary roles to All-Americans. Pettiford had his moments but wasn’t the focal point like Johni Broome, a top national player of the year candidate.

Philon had All-American Mark Sears in the same backcourt. Perhaps he learned from his former teammate who went through the draft process last year. It was Sears’ return for another season that was a final piece in the hype train that made Alabama a national preseason front-runner.

Neither Philon nor Pettiford’s move Wednesday would make Alabama or Auburn the same offseason darling but it offered momentum amid the heavy departures. Both are solid top-25 teams, not necessarily getting the top-10 or top-5 treatment after losing so much depth from last year.

But this is a win for both and a loss for those who think NIL is ruining college sports.

Both Pettiford and Philon would have been drafted if they had remained in the process. In the old days, there was no incentive to look back and the gamble could’ve backfired with a draft day surprise and no contract guarantees.

Now, NIL and revenue sharing can offer a bridge for player on the first-round fringe. They can get a solid payday — not first-round cash but not a dice roll on second-round deals and possible G-League demotions.

They can improve their stock with a much larger share of the spotlight while pumping life into programs hit hard after last season.

Auburn will miss Broome, Chad Baker-Mazara, Dylan Cardwell, Miles Kelly and Denver Jones.

Alabama’s without Sears, Grant Nelson, Cliff Omoruyi, Jarin Stevenson, Derrion Reid and Mo Dioubate.

Philon’s return alongside Aden Holloway and Latrell Wrightsell gives Alabama a solid core.

Neither school had the marquee recruiting class as Alabama ranked 15th and Auburn 16th in 247Sports’ composite ranking.

Both were active in the portal.

Auburn built its Final Four team without blockbuster or household transfer names and that’s the hope again with this group. They proved it’s not necessary with a Morehead State transfer developing into an All-American in Broome and a former Division II player in Chaney Johnson.

Alabama’s got former McDonald’s All-American Jalil Bethea headlining the transfers from Miami along with a few other from Bucknell (Noah Williamson), Florida State (Taylor Bol Bowen) and Tarleton State (Keiteen Bristow).

It’s fair to say both Alabama and Auburn will look incredibly different as they try to continue these program-defining runs over the past few years.

But each had the biggest day of their offseasons Wednesday when two star sophomores opted out of the NBA to set the stage for a few huge showdowns next season.

Two perfect hangover cures at the perfect time.

Michael Casagrande is a reporter for the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @ByCasagrande or on Facebook.