Iron Bowl The Iron Bowl is an American college football rivalry game played annually by the football teams of the two largest public universities in the U . S . state of Alabama , the University of Alabama Crimson Tide and the Auburn University Tigers . The series is considered one of the best and most hard - fought rivalries in all of sports . As the rivalry was mainly played in Birmingham , Alabama , for many years , the name of the Iron Bowl comes from Birmingham ' s historic role in the steel industry . Alabama leads the series with an overall record of 42 – 34 – 1 . Since 2000 , the games are played at Jordan – Hare Stadium in Auburn every odd - numbered year , and in Bryant – Denny Stadium at Tuscaloosa every even - numbered year . For much of the 20th century the game was played every year at Legion Field in Birmingham . Alabama has a 32 – 15 record in games played at Legion Field , while Auburn has a 7 – 4 record in games played at Jordan – Hare Stadium and a 7 – 2 record in games played in Tuscaloosa ( 5 – 2 at Bryant – Denny Stadium ) . The game is traditionally played on Thanksgiving Day weekend . In 1993 both schools agreed to move the game up to the week before Thanksgiving to give themselves a bye for a potential SEC Championship Game berth , but in 2007 the conference voted to disallow any team from having a bye before the league championship game , returning the game to its traditional Thanksgiving weekend spot . History . Alabama and Auburn played their first football game in Lakeview Park in Birmingham , Alabama , on February 22 , 1893 . Auburn ( then named the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Alabama ) won 32 – 22 , before an estimated crowd of 5 , 000 . As if a signal of the future , disagreement between the schools began immediately as Alabama considered the game to be the final matchup of the 1892 season and Auburn recorded it as the first of 1893 . Tensions further built when , after both 1906 and 1907 contests , Auburn head coach Mike Donahue threatened to cancel the series if Alabama head coach " Doc " Pollard continued employing his elaborate formations and shifts . The series was indeed suspended after the 1907 game when the schools could not come to agreement over the amount of expenses to be paid players , as well as from where officials for the game should be obtained . In 1947 the Alabama House of Representatives passed a resolution encouraging the schools to " make possible the inauguration of a full athletic program between the two schools " . The schools were disinclined to resume the series despite the passage of the resolution , since it did not have the effect of law . However , the Alabama congress threatened to withhold state funding from the schools unless they did resume the rivalry . With that threat in mind , Ralph B . Draughon , the president of Auburn ( then named the Alabama Polytechnic Institute ) , and Alabama president John Gallalee decided during the winter and spring of 1948 to end the disagreement and renew the series . The games would be played in Birmingham because it had the largest stadium in the state , 44 , 000 - seat Legion Field , and the tickets would be split evenly between the two schools . Alabama won the first game when the series renewed 55 – 0 , the most lopsided victory of the series . By 1980 the series had come to be called the Iron Bowl , due to Birmingham ' s prominence as a center of iron and steel production . The term Iron Bowl was coined by Auburn ' s coach at the time , Shug Jordan . Alabama ' s coach , Bear Bryant , said he preferred calling the game the Brag Bowl , since the winner ' s fans got to brag all year long . Throughout the 1980s , Auburn made additions to Jordan – Hare Stadium , and in 1987 it eclipsed Legion Field in size . Auburn desired to make the Iron Bowl a " home - and - home " series , and the schools reached an agreement where Auburn could play their home games for the Iron Bowl in Auburn starting in 1989 ( except for the 1991 game , which was played at Legion Field ) , and Alabama would have a " home " ticket allocation for games in Legion Field . On December 2 , 1989 , Alabama came to Auburn ' s Jordan – Hare Stadium for the first time in the history of the rivalry . A sellout crowd witnessed Auburn win its first true " home " game of the series , 30 – 20 over an Alabama team that entered the game unbeaten and ranked # 2 in the country . Alabama continued to hold their home game at Legion Field . In 1998 , Alabama expanded Bryant – Denny Stadium to a capacity of 83 , 818 , exceeding Legion Field by a few hundred . Alabama moved their home games in the series to Bryant - Denny Stadium in 2000 . A new attendance record for the Iron Bowl was set in 2006 as the latest expansion to Bryant – Denny Stadium increased its capacity to 92 , 138 . The record was reset again in 2010 , after another expansion to Alabama ' s Bryant – Denny Stadium , when a crowd of 101 , 821 witnessed an Auburn victory with a score of 28 – 27 . In 2009 and 2010 CBS Sports arranged an agreement between the two universities to have the game played in an exclusive time slot on the Friday following Thanksgiving . The 2009 game was the sixth Iron Bowl to be played on a Friday and the first in 21 years . CBS did not attempt to renew the agreement after 2010 due to criticism from within the state from both fan bases , returning the game to its traditional Saturday date . The rivalry has long been reckoned as one of the most heated collegiate rivalries in the country . This is due to a number of factors . For a long time , they were the only Alabama schools in what is now Division I FBS ; it is often said that the entire state of Alabama grinds to a halt to watch the game . Additionally , the two schools have been among the nation ' s elite teams for decades . They account for 30 SEC titles ( 23 by Alabama and seven by Auburn ) and both are among the winningest programs in college football history ( Alabama is seventh , Auburn is 16th ) . Before the SEC adopted a divisional format , the game frequently decided the SEC title , and it frequently decides the SEC West title . The two schools have been fixtures on national television for the better part of the last four decades , and the season - ending clash has been televised for all but one year since the late 1970s ( the lone exception being 1993 , when Auburn was barred from live TV due to NCAA sanctions ) . Foy - ODK Sportsmanship Award . The trophy given to the winner of the game is the Foy - ODK Sportsmanship Award . It is named after James E . Foy , an Alabama graduate and former Auburn dean of students and Omicron Delta Kappa Honor Society – which was established on both campuses during the 1920s . The Foy Trophy is presented at halftime of the Alabama - Auburn basketball game later in the same academic year at the winner ' s home court . At the start of each season the SGA Presidents of both schools agree to bet on the outcome of the Iron Bowl by agreeing that after the trophy presentation , the SGA President of the losing team will sing the winning team ' s fight song . 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 : The 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 . Alabama kicker Van Tiffin made a series - record - tying 52 - yard field goal as time expired , and 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 2009 : The Drive - Auburn led # 2 Alabama 21 - 20 with 8 : 27 left in the game . Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy led a drive starting at the Alabama 21 yard line , completing seven consecutive passes , including a touchdown pass to third - string tailback Roy Upchurch with 1 : 24 remaining . Alabama won the game 26 - 21 en route to an SEC Championship rematch with # 1 ranked Florida . 2010 : The Cam - Back - # 2 Auburn defeated # 11 Alabama 28 - 27 after overcoming a 24 - 0 deficit when Cam Newton rallied his troops to lead Auburn on a 28 point scoring spree , ending with a touchdown pass to Philip Lutzenkirchen late in the 4th quarter . It was the biggest deficit overcome in Iron Bowl history . Game results . Since 1893 , the Crimson Tide and Tigers have played 77 times . Alabama leads the all - time series , with 42 wins to Auburn ' s 34 , with one tie . The game has been played in four cities : Auburn , Birmingham , Montgomery , and Tuscaloosa . Alabama leads the series in Birmingham ( 34 – 18 – 1 ) . Auburn leads the series in Tuscaloosa ( 7 – 2 ) and Auburn ( 7 – 4 ) . The series is tied in Montgomery ( 2 – 2 ) . Alabama leads the series since it was resumed in the modern era in 1948 ( 38 - 27 ) . For the first time in the series history , the previous four winners have all gone on to win the BCS National Championship Game : Alabama in 2009 , Auburn in 2010 , and Alabama again in 2011 and 2012 . It also marks the first time that two different teams from the same state won consecutive BCS National Championships . " Alabama victories are colored ██ crimson . Auburn victories are colored ██ navy blue . Ties are white . " Series record sources : " 2011 Alabama Football Media Guide " , " 2011 Auburn Football Media Guide " , and College Football Data Warehouse .