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Alabama Stuns Auburn In Last-Minute Iron Bowl Thriller

For the second time in three years, the Crimson Tide completed a miraculous comeback in Jordan-Hare Stadium.
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AUBURN, Ala. — The unbelievable happened in Jordan-Hare Stadium, again.

Once again, Alabama struggled with an inferior Auburn team, and once again, the Crimson Tide pulled off a miraculous victory.

After trailing 24-20 for much of the fourth quarter, Auburn muffed a punt to give Alabama the ball back. Alabama moved the ball down to 1st-and-GOAL, but a bad snap put the Crimson Tide way behind the chains.

Then, on fourth down from the 31-yard-line, quarterback Jalen Milroe connected with Isaiah Bond for the Alabama touchdown, giving the Crimson Tide the win.

Milroe completed 16-of-24 passes for 259 yards and two touchdowns in the game.

Alabama's season stays alive, and the Crimson Tide will face No. 1 Georgia next week in the SEC Championship Game.

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Fourth Quarter

  • Milroe throws a touchdown on 4th and 31 to Isaiah Bond to put Alabama ahead. Unbelievable. Alabama leads 27-24.
  • A bad snap backs Alabama way up to the 26.
  • Roydell Williams picks up a 1st on fourth down.
  • On 3rd-and-20, Milroe scrambles and almost gets a first down.
  • Alabama gets stopped on its drive, but Auburn muffs the punt and Alabama takes over
  • Alabama needed a stop, and it gets one. Thorne gets sacked on third down and Alabama gets the ball back down by 4.
  • Jermaine Burton makes an incredible catch on 3rd-and-long, but it's ruled incomplete. After review, the play stands as called.
  • The Alabama defense comes up with a huge stop to force a Auburn field goal. The Tigers extend the lead to 24-20 with just over 10 minutes left in the game.
  • Alabama makes a big defensive lay to bring up 2nd-and-17, but Thorne takes a QB draw down inside the Alabama 10.
  • Alabama brings Auburn to fourth down, but jumps offsides and gives the Tigers' drive new life.

Third Quarter

  • Alabama needs a stop here, and badly. Auburn has moved into Alabama territory once again.
  • Alabama stalls in Auburn territory after a blindside block penalty, and Reichard misses the potential record-setting kick. The score remains 21-20, Auburn's way.
  • Milroe does it again with his legs, scrambling into Auburn territory on the first play of the drive.
  • Auburn scores a touchdown from Thorne off what looked like a busted coverage, and the Tigers have taken a 21-20 lead in this one.
  • Auburn is back in Alabama territory after a 37-yard completion from Thorne.
  • Will Reichard is now at 529 career points after that field goal. He needs 1 point to tie the all-time scoring record.
  • Alabama stalls in the red zone. Reichard nails a field goal, extending the Alabama lead to 20-14.
  • McClellan is running strong this drive, bringing Alabama into the red zone. He's averaging 5 yards per carry for the game.
  • Alabama is marching to begin the second half. The Crimson Tide has already crossed into Auburn territory. 

HALFTIME: Alabama 17, Auburn 14

Iron Bowl halftime stats

Halftime stats

Second Quarter

  • Saban takes a rare first half timeout. Alabama will get the ball back without about a minute to go until halftime.
  • Alabama answers. 68 yards from Milroe to Burton and Alabama regains the lead. The Crimson Tide leads 17-14 with about 90 seconds to go until the break.
  • 159 of Auburn's 179 first half yards have come on the ground. 98 of those have come on two plays.
  • Auburn capitalizes and takes the next play for a touchdown. The Tigers lead 14-10 with 2:24 to go in the half.
  • Auburn's Alston bursts through the middle of the line for a second run of over 40 yards today. Auburn is down inside the Alabama 20.
  • Alabama's drive stalls at its own 30. Auburn will get the ball with 3:41 to go in the half.
  • Milroe's legs were just put on full display with an athletic scramble for a first down to keep the drive alive.
  • An excellent punt from Auburn downs Alabama at the 1 yard line. Long way to go for Milroe with a one-score lead.
  • Justin Eboigbe brings down Thorne for Alabama's first sack of the game. Auburn goes conservative on third-and-long and will punt.
  • Auburn has moved the ball into Alabama territory as Thorne's first two completions of the game have come on this drive.
  • Will Reichard nails a 32-yard field goal to give Alabama a 10-7 lead. Reichard is now six points away from breaking the all-time scoring record.
  • Yet another Alabama touchdown has been wiped off the board, as Milroe was past the line of scrimmage on a touchdown to Niblack. Alabama has to settle for a field goal. 

First Quarter

  • The first quarter ends with a 7-7 tie. Alabama outgained Auburn 155-74 in the period.
  • The margins in football can be so slim. Alabama went from a 14-0 lead to now a 7-7 tie, all thanks to a holding penalty.
  • Hunter's long run sets up an Auburn touchdown to tie the game at seven apiece.
  • A huge run by Auburn's Jarquez Hunter moves the Tigers into the red zone.
  • Rees draws up a beautiful play on 4th-and-1 for a touchdown, but it's called back for a hold. Alabama will punt.
  • Another three-and-out for Auburn. The Alabama defense is flying around right now.
  • Alabama moves straight down the field on its opening possession and punches it in with a Roydell Williams touchdown to take a 7-0 lead.
  • Jalen Milroe comes up big on 3rd-and-17, completing a 33 yard pass to Malik Benson to move the chains.
  • Pretty disastrous opening series for Auburn. The Tigers go three-and-out and gain 0 yards. Caleb Downs remains at punt returner for the Crimson Tide.
  • Auburn will receive the opening kickoff. 

Pregame

  • Naturally, Chris Davis is leading the Auburn pep rally at midfield.
  • Kool-Aid McKinstry was the one to take the punt before the team went into the locker room. 
  • Nick Saban confirmed on the CTSN pregame show that Deontae Lawson and Jaylen Key will be back from injury.
  • Alabama's captains for the game are Dallas Turner, Tyler Booker and Jase McClellan.
  • The Alabama specialists have taken the field in full uniform. Alabama will be wearing the road white jerseys with white pants.
  • Jalen Milroe was the last Alabama player on the field warming up before getting pads on for the game.
  • Crimson Tide players have started taking the field to get loose.
  • Alabama has arrived at Jordan-Hare Stadium, and Nick Saban has taken his pregame walk around the field. 
  • Jason Autrey's officiating crew is working the game.

How to Watch Alabama vs. Auburn

Who: Alabama (10-1, 7-0 SEC) at Auburn (6-5, 3-4 SEC)

When: 2:30 p.m. CT, Saturday

Where: Jordan-Hare Stadium

TV: CBS

Live Stream: fuboTV (Start your free trial)

Radio: Crimson Tide Sports Network. Play-By-Play Eli Gold. Analyst Tyler Watts. Sideline: Christian Miller. Host: Roger Hoover

Series: Alabama leads 49-37-1

Last meeting: Robbie Ashford and Jarquez Hunter with Tank Bigsby rushed for over 300 yards on the Crimson Tide but Bryce Young's 343 yards and 3 TD effort through the air allowed Alabama to cruise to a 49-27 victory at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

Last time out, Alabama: Alabama jumped all over the UT-Chattanooga Mocs by beating the FCS playoff team 66-10. The Tide ran for over 300 yards and converted six-of-nine on third down to control the game from start to finish. 

Last time out, Auburn: The Tigers lost their "buy" game to New Mexico State 31-10 at home. Auburn was just two-of-10 on third down and only gained 213 total yards. Their offense struggled to run the football and the Aggies controlled the tempo throughout the game.