The Iron Bowl is a rivalry unlike any other in sports. It divides families to the core, as cries of “Roll Tide” and “War Eagle” are more likely to incite hostility at the Thanksgiving table than discussions of politics. For the past six years, the winner of the game has gone on to represent the SEC in BCS National Championship or the College Football playoff – a run unprecedented for a single state.
Alabama and Auburn combine for a total of 18 national titles, 33 SEC titles, 5 Heisman Trophies, and countless NFL draft picks. The all time series between the two teams is fairly even at 44-35-1 in favor of the Crimson Tide, currently on a two-game winning streak.
As with any series, some games are more memorable than others. But the Iron Bowl seems to give viewers across the country a good game more often than not, even when the rankings indicate it should not be. For all these reasons, the sports analysis website SB Nation dubbed the game “College Football’s Perfect Rivalry.”
In the interest in preventing anymore division, this top ten list is broken up into two separate top fives: a list of the five best Crimson Tide victories and a list of the Tigers’ best five wins.
Alabama Crimson Tide
1. 1985: Alabama 25 – Auburn 23, “The Kick”
Ray Perkins’ unranked Tide upset Pat Dye’s #7 Tigers at Legion Field in the 50th edition of the Iron Bowl. Earlier in the game, Alabama kicker Van Tiffin missed a 52 yard field goal, but he redeemed himself by nailing the game-winner from the same distance as time expired.
2. 2014: Alabama 55 – Auburn 44, “The Revenge Game”
With a trip to the first-ever College Football Playoff on the line, #1 Alabama first needed to defeat #15 Auburn a year after the painful ‘Kick-Six’ kept the team out of the BCS Title Game. In the highest scoring Iron Bowl ever, Tide quarterback Blake Sims and wide-receiver Amari Cooper helped the team overcome a 33-21 mid third-quarter deficit to avenge 2013’s loss on the plains.
3. 2009: Alabama 26 – Auburn 21, “The Drive”
#2 Alabama went to Jordan-Hare hoping to keep its undefeated season alive and got all it could handle from unranked Auburn. Down a point halfway through the fourth quarter, Tide quarterback Greg McElroy led his team on a game-winning 15-play, 79 yard touchdown drive en route to a BCS National Championship Title.
4. 1967: Alabama 7 – Auburn 3, “The Run in the Mud”
Heavy thunderstorms made the first night game in the series a nasty, low-scoring affair that was frequently stopped by officials to clear debris flying from the stands onto the field. Late in the game, Alabama quarterback Ken “The Snake” Stabler scrambled 47 yards through the mud for the contest’s sole touchdown.
5. 1984: Alabama 17 – Auburn 15, “Wrong Way, Bo”
Down just two points in the fourth quarter, Auburn head coach Pat Dye opted to go for it on fourth down from Alabama’s one yard line. The Tigers’ play was a designed pitch to running back Brent Fullwood, but Heisman Trophy winner Bo Jackson ran to the wrong end of the formation, allowing the Tide to easily make the tackle and seal the victory.
Auburn Tigers
1. 2013: Auburn 34 – Alabama 28, “The Kick-Six”
In the highest combined team ranking Iron Bowl of all time, the #1 Alabama Crimson Tide visited the #4 Auburn Tigers looking to lock-up a third-straight trip to the BCS Title Game. The Tigers had other plans, playing the Tide to a draw with one second left. Alabama Coach Nick Saban opted to go for the 57 yard field goal as time expired, but Adam Griffith’s kick was returned 109 yards for the game-winning touchdown by Auburn’s Chris Davis in one of the most improbable moments in sports’ history.
2. 2010: Auburn 28 – Alabama 27, “The Camback”
With the undefeated #2 Tigers coming to town, the two-loss Tide played like they had nothing to lose. In front of a raucous Bryant-Denny Stadium crowd, Alabama built a solid 24-0 halftime lead. But the second half belonged to Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton, who led Auburn on a 28-3 run en route to Auburn’s second national championship.
3. 1972: Auburn 17 – Alabama 16, “Punt, Bama, Punt”
Down 16-3 in the fourth quarter, things looked pretty bleak for the anemic Auburn Tigers. But things quickly turned around for the underdogs, as the Tigers’ special teams blocked not one, but two Tide punts and returned them both for touchdowns. The scores completed #9 Auburn’s upset over Coach Bryant’s #2 Alabama team, who was favored by 14 points.
4. 1982: Auburn 23 – Alabama 22, “Bo Over the Top”
In Paul “Bear” Bryant’s last Iron Bowl, the legendary coach looked to defend a nine-game winning streak over his in-state rival. Up six with two minutes left, the streak looked secure, but the Tigers methodically drove the length of the field. Auburn capped the drive with victory touchdown scored by running back Bo Jackson, who scaled the Alabama defensive line with a herculean leap.
5. 2005: Auburn 28 – Alabama 18, “Honk If You Sacked Brodie”
Auburn may have scored 28 points, but it was the Tiger defense that stole the show. AU set a school record by sacking Alabama quarterback Brodie Croyle 11 times, with seven different Tigers recording at least one half-sack.
The 2016 edition of the Iron Bowl will be played in Bryant Denny Stadium and broadcasted by CBS at 2:30 p.m. local time.
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