Alabama football delivered another unforgettable chapter in college football’s most intense rivalry on Saturday night, escaping Auburn 27–20 in a dramatic Iron Bowl at Jordan-Hare Stadium. The Crimson Tide’s narrow victory not only extended their dominance over the Tigers but officially clinched a place in the 2025 SEC Championship Game.
Alabama, now 10–2 and 7–1 in SEC play, will meet Georgia in a high-stakes rematch that carries major College Football Playoff implications. Auburn, meanwhile, fell to 5–7, ending its season and shifting focus to a crucial head-coaching search.
Key Takeaways From Alabama Football’s Iron Bowl Victory and SEC Title Berth
1. Alabama Football Clinches SEC Championship Spot After Surviving Late Auburn Surge
Alabama’s narrow win secured its place opposite Georgia in the 2025 SEC Championship Game, setting up a rematch after the Crimson Tide handed the Bulldogs their only loss of the season.
2. Alabama’s Offense Leaned on Isaiah Horton’s Three Touchdowns to Seal the Result
Horton’s standout performance — including the game-winning fourth-quarter touchdown — delivered the margin Alabama needed in a tense rivalry clash.
3. Auburn’s Explosive Plays Kept the Iron Bowl Alive, But Critical Turnovers Proved Costly
Malcom Simmons recorded 64- and 66-yard receptions that fueled Auburn’s comeback attempt until late mistakes halted momentum.
4. Alabama Football Now Heads to Atlanta With CFP Hopes Still Alive
A win over Georgia could push the Crimson Tide into playoff position, while a loss may complicate their postseason path given other national contenders.
A Turbulent First Half That Set the Stage at Jordan-Hare Stadium
Alabama exploded early, jumping to a 17–0 lead while Auburn struggled to generate rhythm offensively. The Tigers punted on four of their first five drives and failed to convert a fourth-down attempt on the opening play of the second quarter. Auburn quarterback Ashton Daniels completed only 33% of his passes before halftime, hindered by multiple dropped balls — five in total — that derailed drives.
Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson connected twice with Isaiah Horton for touchdowns in the first half, while Auburn’s defense fought to keep the game within reach, producing five quarterback hurries and two sacks. Meanwhile, Alabama’s running game surged efficiently, averaging 5.2 yards per carry and surpassing 100 rushing yards against an SEC opponent for the first time since facing Tennessee.
A major turning point occurred with 5:54 remaining in the second quarter, when Alabama defensive back Cam Calhoun was ejected for targeting after a hit on Daniels. Alabama absorbed the five-yard penalty, and Calhoun missed the remainder of the contest, though he will be eligible to return for the SEC title game.
Auburn’s Second-Half Spark: Big Plays, Key Mistakes, and a Narrow Miss
The Tigers began the third quarter with urgency. On their fourth play of the half, Daniels connected with Malcom Simmons on a 64-yard touchdown, instantly shifting the momentum and the atmosphere inside Jordan-Hare Stadium.
After Alabama managed only a field goal in the quarter, Auburn mounted a sustained 4:40 drive poised to tie the game — until disaster struck. A pass intended for Omar Mabson II was tipped and intercepted by Alabama safety Bray Hubbard, marking Hubbard’s fourth interception of the season and thwarting Auburn’s best scoring opportunity of the quarter.
Auburn wasn’t done. Early in the fourth quarter, Simmons hauled in a 66-yard reception, setting up Jeremiah Cob’s 2-yard touchdown run that tied the game at 20–20. It felt like the rivalry had delivered another defining moment — until Alabama responded with one of its most composed drives of the season.
Alabama Football’s Game-Defining Drive: Precision, Patience, and the Deciding Touchdown
With the Iron Bowl hanging in the balance, Alabama mounted a 15-play, 75-yard march that drained 7:53 from the clock. The drive demonstrated a mix of patience, discipline, and timely execution — characteristics that have defined Alabama’s resurgence this season. Simpson capped the drive by finding Isaiah Horton for his third touchdown of the night, creating the 27–20 lead Alabama would not relinquish.
Auburn then moved into scoring territory again, but another heartbreak followed. Cam Coleman fumbled at Alabama’s 20-yard line with 37 seconds left, ending Auburn’s final realistic chance. A last-ditch play with 10 seconds remaining failed to produce a miracle.
How the Iron Bowl Shapes the SEC Championship Race
Alabama’s win officially locked the program into next week’s SEC Championship Game in Atlanta. They will face Georgia, which secured its spot after Texas A&M fell to Texas in the regular-season finale. Georgia, the defending SEC champion, now seeks revenge for its lone loss of the year — a defeat handed to them earlier this season by Alabama in Athens.
The SEC Championship Game is scheduled for Saturday, December 6, 2025, with kickoff at 4 p.m. ET on ABC at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. With the expanding College Football Playoff field, the winner of the SEC title is widely expected to secure a top seed and potentially a first-round bye.
Broadcast Information: How Fans Followed the Iron Bowl
Fans accessed Alabama vs. Auburn through several platforms:
- TV Broadcast: ABC
- Streaming: DIRECTV (free trial), Fubo (free trial)
- SiriusXM Radio: Alabama feed on Mad Dog Sports Radio (Ch. 82), Auburn feed on SiriusXM College Sports Radio (Ch. 84), national broadcast on Channel 381
SiriusXM also continued broad college football coverage, offering games across major conferences and independent programs including Army, Navy, and multiple HBCUs.
Contextual Depth: Iron Bowl History and the Tradition of Chaos at Jordan-Hare
Jordan-Hare Stadium has hosted some of the rivalry’s most iconic moments:
| Year | Game | Result | Notable Moment |
| 2013 | Kick Six | Auburn 34–28 | Chris Davis returned missed FG 109 yards |
| 2017 | Top-10 Upset | Auburn 26–14 | Tigers defeated No.1 Alabama |
| 2021 | 4OT Thriller | Alabama 24–22 | First Iron Bowl to require overtime |
| 2023 | Fourth-and-31 | Alabama 27–24 | Jalen Milroe’s late miracle to Isaiah Bond |
These reminders underscored why no lead is safe and no prediction reliable inside this rivalry.
What the Iron Bowl Reveals About Alabama Football Moving Forward
Alabama’s path hasn’t been perfect. The Crimson Tide absorbed a season-opening loss to Florida State and a costly defeat to Oklahoma that challenged their playoff positioning. Penalties, turnovers — including Simpson’s ongoing turnover streak — and special-teams lapses have also been recurring issues.
Yet Alabama’s resilience remains unmistakable. They secured a dominant win over Eastern Illinois, made key offensive line adjustments (including shifts involving Wilkin Formby and freshman Michael Carroll), and continued to sharpen execution. Against Auburn, they managed adversity again — including Calhoun’s ejection — and showed late-game maturity that championship teams require.
Alabama Football’s Road Ahead: The Game That Decides Everything
The Crimson Tide now march into a defining SEC Championship showdown with Georgia. The matchup carries historical weight: Alabama holds a 4–0 record against Georgia in SEC title games, and their 2023 victory was the final championship under legendary coach Nick Saban. Now, Kalen DeBoer aims to secure his first SEC crown after leading Washington to a Pac-12 Championship in 2023.
A win next week likely puts Alabama in the College Football Playoff. A loss, especially amid competition from three-loss teams like Texas, could leave the Tide outside the field.
The Road to Atlanta: What This Iron Bowl Means for Alabama’s Season
Alabama’s Iron Bowl victory was not only a rivalry triumph — it was a season-defining survival test that reinforced the Crimson Tide’s identity. With a berth in the SEC Championship secured, Alabama now prepares for its most consequential matchup of the season against Georgia. The Iron Bowl exposed flaws, highlighted strengths, and demonstrated that Alabama can withstand late pressure in hostile environments.
As the Tide head to Atlanta with playoff hopes intact, their performance against Auburn serves as both a warning and a statement: Alabama is not perfect, but it is unquestionably still in the championship fight.
FAQs on Alabama Football Iron Bowl 2025
1. What was the final score of the 2025 Iron Bowl between Alabama and Auburn?
Alabama defeated Auburn 27–20 at Jordan-Hare Stadium, securing its SEC Championship berth after a tense fourth-quarter battle.
2. How did Alabama clinch a spot in the 2025 SEC Championship Game?
Alabama secured its SEC title berth by beating Auburn in the Iron Bowl and finishing 10–2 overall, 7–1 in SEC play.
3. Who were the key performers for Alabama in the Iron Bowl?
Ty Simpson led Alabama’s offense, while Isaiah Horton scored three touchdowns, including the game-winning fourth-quarter catch.
4. Why was Alabama DB Cam Calhoun ejected during the game?
Cam Calhoun was ejected for targeting after a second-quarter hit on Auburn quarterback Ashton Daniels. He will return for Alabama’s next game.
5. When and where will Alabama play Georgia in the 2025 SEC Championship?
Alabama faces Georgia on December 6, 2025, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, with kickoff at 4 p.m. Eastern on ABC.
