Auburn History: For most of the last century, the Auburn program has been caught in Alabama’s large shadow. But the Tigers have also produced some very good teams, including national champions in 1957 and 2010 and undefeated seasons under Terry Bowden (1993) and Tommy Tuberville (2004). Long-time head coach Ralph “Shug“ Jordan (1951-75) led Auburn out of the shadows and made it a force on the national scene for the first time, but Pat Dye (1981-92) lifted the program to a higher level and owns more hardware, capturing four SEC championships.
All-Time Record: 718-400-47 (.637)
National Championships: 1957, 2010
Conference Championships: 11
Bowl Appearances: 36
The Series: Alabama leads 40-34-1
The Rivalry: One of the greatest rivalries in all of American sport, Alabama-Auburn divides families across the state of Alabama and dominates the culture for 365 days a year. There’s no other rivalry in college football quite like the Iron Bowl. Alabama owned the game for decades--winning 19 of 25 during the Bryant era--but Auburn has altered the equation in recent years, reeling off six straight victories from 2002-07 to narrow Bama’s overall lead in the series. The two schools began playing each other in 1893 but broke off athletic relations for 41 years because of a dispute over expense money and officiating. The series resumed in 1948, and for the next four decades, the Iron Bowl was played before a neutral crowd at Birmingham’s Legion Field, before eventually evolving to a home-and-home series staged in Tuscaloosa and Auburn.
First Meeting: On Feb. 22, 1893--which Alabama officials considered the final game of their inaugural 1892 season--teams from Auburn and Tuskaloosa (the spelling of the city then in vogue) met at Birmingham’s neutral Lakewood Park. The boys from what was then known as the Agricultural and Mechanical College in Auburn managed several moments of offensive fireworks, claiming a 32-22 victory before an estimated 2,000 spectators. Tickets cost 25 cents.
Last Meeting: In one of the most shocking turnarounds ever seen in Tuscaloosa, Auburn rallied from a 24-0 deficit to stun Alabama, 28-27, on Nov. 26, 2010.
