Iron Bowl - Notable Games

Notable Games

1893: First Game - This was first meeting between Auburn and Alabama. Auburn beat Alabama in Birmingham 32-22. It was the second year of each university's football program.

1948: Rivalry Renewed - The rivalry resumed after being suspended for 41 years due issues related to player per diems and officiating. Alabama defeated Auburn 55-0 at Birmingham's Legion Field. It remains the largest margin of victory in series history.

1957: Auburn's National Championship - Auburn defeated Alabama 40-0 in Birmingham en route to a 10-0 regular season and the Associated Press (AP) national championship. This was the first of two Iron Bowls whereafter the winner was awarded the national championship. Auburn did not participate in post-season play due to NCAA probation.

1964: First Televised Iron Bowl - Played on November 26, 1964, this was the first Iron Bowl broadcast on national television. Quarterback Joe Namath led Alabama to a 21–14 victory over Auburn. Alabama finished the regular season 10-0, and won the SEC Championship. This was the second of two Iron Bowls whereafter the winner earned the AP National Championship. National championship trophies from the AP and UPI were awarded prior to the bowl games in 1964.

1967: The Run in the Mud – This was the first night game of the series. Thunderstorms soaked Legion Field, turning the field muddy. The game was frequently stopped to clear raincoats and other wet weather gear from the field. Late in the game, Alabama quarterback Kenny Stabler ran for 47–yards for touchdown to give Alabama a 7–3 victory.

1971: The Undefeateds - Both teams were playing for a berth in the Orange Bowl to face # 1-ranked Nebraska for the national championship. In the game # 3 Alabama defeated # 5 Auburn 31-7. The game featured Alabama's Heisman Trophy finalist Johnny Musso, and Auburn's Heisman Trophy winner, Pat Sullivan. The victory clinched the SEC Championship for Alabama that season.

1972: Punt Bama Punt – # 2 Alabama was leading Auburn 16-0 when an Auburn drive stalled, forcing the Tigers to settle for a field goal. On the ensuing possession Alabama was forced to punt. Auburn's Bill Newton blocked Greg Gantt's punt. Auburn teammate David Langner caught the blocked punt and ran the ball back 25 yards for an Auburn touchdown, narrowing the score to 16–10. Several minutes later, Alabama was forced to punt again. Once again Newton blocked the punt and Langner returned it for a touchdown. Gardner Jett kicked the extra point to give Auburn a 17-16 win. In August 2010, ESPN.com ranked the game as the 8th most painful outcome in college history. Despite the loss, Alabama won the SEC Championship that season.

1981: 315 – Alabama coach Paul "Bear" Bryant earned his 315th career victory after Alabama defeated Auburn 28-17. With the victory, Coach Bryant passed Amos Alonzo Stagg's winning record and became the all-time winningest FBS coach. Since then, Coach Bryant's wins have been surpassed by Florida State's Bobby Bowden, but Bryant remains second in the List of college football coaches with 200 wins. Alabama shared the SEC Championship that season with Georgia.

1982: Bo Over the Top – With two minutes remaining, Auburn drove the length of the field and scored when running back Bo Jackson jumped over the top of the defensive line for a touchdown. Auburn won the game 23–22. The victory ended Alabama's nine-game winning streak over Auburn. Coach Bryant ended his Iron Bowl career with this loss.

1983: Bye-Bye Bo - Auburn defeated Alabama 23-20 at Legion Field. Bo Jackson set the Iron Bowl rushing record for 256 yards. Auburn won the SEC championship that season. Auburn was awarded the national championship by Billingsley, FACT, Football Research, The New York Times, and Jeff Sagarin.

1984: Wrong Way Bo – Late in the game Auburn trailed by two-points, and had 4th-and-goal from the one yard line. Coach Pat Dye opted to go for a touchdown instead of a field goal. The ball was pitched to Auburn running back Brent Fullwood. Bo Jackson ran the wrong direction on the block, causing Fullwood to be forced out of bounds by an Alabama defender, Rory Turner. Alabama won the game 17–15.

1985: Van Tiffin's Kick – After four lead changes in the fourth quarter, Alabama had the ball on their own 12-yard line, trailing by one point with 37 seconds remaining. Alabama quarterback Mike Shula led the offense to the Auburn 36 yard line. Van Tiffin kicked a series-record-tying 52-yard field goal. Alabama won the game 25–23.

1986: Reverse to Victory – Trailing 17-14, Auburn had the ball on the Alabama 7-yard line with 32 seconds remaining. The called play was a reverse to wide receiver Lawyer Tillman. Auburn Coach Dye ran down the sideline and shouted for Tillman to call a time out. Tillman attempted to call the timeout, but his signal was not seen by the officials. Auburn ran the reverse, scored a touchdown, and won the game 21–17. Speculation surrounded the play. Alabama's players saw Pat Dye's pleas for a time-out and froze, possibly giving Auburn the needed edge to run the risky reverse.

1989: The First Time Ever – Auburn defeated Alabama 30–20 in the first Iron Bowl played at Jordan-Hare Stadium. The SEC championship was shared that season among Alabama, Auburn, and Tennessee; Alabama represented the SEC in the Sugar Bowl.

1990: Tide Breaks the Streak - In Gene Stallings' first season as head coach, Alabama defeated Auburn 16-7 in a defensive struggle. The victory ended Auburn's four-game winning streak in the series. The Tide finished the regular season with a record of 7-4 after opening with three losses.

1993: Radio Championship – # 6 Auburn defeated # 11 Alabama 22-14. The game was not televised due to Auburn's probation, but was shown on closed-circuit television before 47,421 fans at Bryant–Denny Stadium, becoming the first college football game to sell out two stadiums. Despite the loss, Alabama earned a berth in the SEC Championship for the second straight season Auburn finished the season undefeated and was awarded the national championship by the National Championship Foundation. This is documented in the 2012 NCAA Football Records Book online. Other national championship selectors included Harry Frye, Nutshell Sports, Sparks Achievement, and David Wilson.

1994: The Inch that Stole Christmas - # 3 Alabama defeated # 6 Auburn 21–14. Auburn's drive late in the game ended when they were denied a first-down by approximately one inch. The victory ended Auburn's 21–game unbeaten streak, and earned Alabama a berth in the SEC Championship game for the third straight season.

1996: Gene's Farewell - Alabama came from behind to beat Auburn 24–23 in the final minutes of Gene Stallings' final Iron Bowl as Alabama head coach. The win earned Alabama a berth in the SEC Championship game for the fourth time in five years. Later inducted into the Hall of Fame Coach Stallings finished his career with a 5–2 record over Alabama's in-state rival.

1999: Alabama's Win on the Plains - Alabama defeated Auburn 28-17, giving the Crimson Tide its first victory at Jordan-Hare Stadium. The win earned Alabama a berth in the 1999 SEC Championship game. Alabama won the SEC Championship in 1999.

2000: Shut Out in T-Town - The Iron Bowl returned to Tuscaloosa for the first time in 99 years. Amidst cold weather and sleet Auburn defeated Alabama in a 9-0 victory, and earned Auburn a berth in the 2000 SEC Championship game. It was the final game for Alabama head coach Mike DuBose.

2004: Championship Season - Alabama came into the game unranked but led # 3 Auburn by a score of 6-0 at halftime thanks to two Brian Bostick field goals. In the second half, Auburn quarterback Jason Campbell and running back Carnell "Cadillac" Williams led Auburn to 3 touchdowns, winning the game 21-13. The win earned Auburn a berth in the SEC Championship game. Auburn won the SEC Championship that season.

2005: Sacked Bama Sacked - Auburn set a new school and series record by sacking Alabama quarterback Brodie Croyle 11 times. Seven different Auburn players recorded at least half a sack in the game, leading Auburn to a 28–18.

2008: The Beat Down in T-town – # 1 Alabama defeated Auburn 36–0 in Tommy Tuberville's last game as Auburn's head coach. The win resulted in a 12-0 regular season for Alabama (first time in SEC history), and earned Alabama a berth in the SEC Championship game.