The Alabama Crimson Tide defeated the Auburn Tigers 28-14 in the 89th Iron Bowl in Tuscaloosa on Saturday afternoon to finish the regular season 9-3 and keep Auburn from bowl eligibility at 5-7.

Alabama got the scoring started off with Jalen Milroe’s first rushing touchdown of the night late in the first quarter after a Ryan Williams fumble on the first drive for the Tide and a punt on the second. Auburn missed a field goal two drives earlier as walk-on Ian Vachon pulled it left:

He GONE! 👀

📺: ABC pic.twitter.com/L8iL9qk5pu

— Alabama Football (@AlabamaFTBL) November 30, 2024

Vachon’s second attempt would go through the uprights to make it a 7-3 ballgame midway through the second quarter after a Milroe interception in the red zone before an impressive 12-play, 75-yard Tide drive would end in Milroe’s second rushing score with a quarterback sneak from the one:

OHH YEAHHH 4️⃣@JalenMilroe

📺: ABC pic.twitter.com/n5X9ggsG3O

— Alabama Football (@AlabamaFTBL) November 30, 2024

Controversially, Hugh Freeze decided to kick a field goal on fourth and goal from the two-yard line in the final moments of the second half after the Tigers forced a Milroe fumble in order to make it a 14-6 ballgame at the break:

Don't forget to block 3️⃣5️⃣@_JayRashaan pic.twitter.com/QhMewu793O

— Auburn Football (@AuburnFootball) November 30, 2024

.@IanVachon6 is good from 25 🎯 pic.twitter.com/JrmUDa054c

— Auburn Football (@AuburnFootball) November 30, 2024

With a nine-play, 75-yard scoring drive to begin the half and take a 21-6 lead with Justice Haynes scoring from two yards out and a forced punt before another touchdown via Milroe’s third rushing score of the night put Alabama squarely in control and leading 28-6 midway through the third quarter:

👏2️⃣2️⃣👏@justicehaynes6

📺: ABC pic.twitter.com/BAyMX8nBIE

— Alabama Football (@AlabamaFTBL) November 30, 2024

Not Stoppin' MILLY ROCK ✊@JalenMilroe

📺: ABC pic.twitter.com/1duZzlzbP2

— Alabama Football (@AlabamaFTBL) November 30, 2024

The Tigers made it a ballgame late in the third quarter with a Cam Coleman 29-yard touchdown from Payton Thorne and a successful two-point attempt brought the score to 28-14:

Touchdown TIGERS‼️

Payton Thorne finds @CamColeman12 for the 29 yard score. https://t.co/I3ZiSHy9nB pic.twitter.com/bwupwMqkV2

— Auburn Football (@AuburnFootball) November 30, 2024

.@JArquez27 punches it in for the 2-PT conversion 💥 pic.twitter.com/ISsCnLXCZ5

— Auburn Football (@AuburnFootball) November 30, 2024

After a second Milroe fumble which was Alabama’s fourth turnover set the Tigers up with all the momentum and a short field trailing by just 14, Freeze called a head scratcher that saw Jarquez Hunter throw a double-pass attempt which was intercepted by Bray Hubbard:

see ball. take ball. 🤫@BraysonHubbard

📺: ABC pic.twitter.com/eNycJxvjO4

— Alabama Football (@AlabamaFTBL) November 30, 2024

The Tide would punt on the ensuing possession, but was also able to drain nearly eight minutes off the clock and pin Auburn deep still down two scores with just four minutes to go.

Zabien Brown put the final nail in the coffin with an interception of Thorne with just over two minutes left in the game:

2️⃣ gonna take that.@zabien_brown

📺: ABC pic.twitter.com/MuS986ZGge

— Alabama Football (@AlabamaFTBL) December 1, 2024

Milroe finished the game 18 of 24 passing with 254 yards, no touchdowns, and an interception with 104 yards on the ground and three touchdowns. Germie Bernard led the way through the air for the Tide with 7 catches for 111 yards.

For Auburn, Payton Thorne finished 22 of 39 with 301 yards, one touchdown, and one interception while KeAndre Lambert-Smith had eight catches for 116 yards and Cam Coleman caught seven for 78 yards and the score.

Sitting at home next week during the SEC Championship, Alabama will have to await their playoff or bowl fate until the end of next week.