Iron Bowl 2025: Bama Survives Jordan-Hare, Auburn’s Season Ends in Heartbreak
It ended the only way an Iron Bowl can: with chaos, controversy, and a gut-punch finish. Auburn gave Alabama all it could handle and then some, but it wasn’t enough. The Tigers lost 27–20 on a cold Saturday night in Jordan-Hare Stadium, a game that slipped away not with a blowout, but with flags, fumbles, and frustration.
The loss ends Auburn’s season at 5–7, one game short of bowl eligibility. For Alabama, the win keeps their playoff hopes alive—barely—but they’ll have to live with the reality that they were almost eliminated by a team playing with a backup play-caller and a backup quarterback.
It started ugly. Alabama came out swinging, moving with the kind of early efficiency that silenced a packed stadium. The Tide struck first with a field goal and then found the end zone twice before the first half was over. Ty Simpson hit Isaiah Horton twice for touchdowns, and just like that, Auburn was in a 17–0 hole. It looked like the kind of start that breaks teams.
But Auburn didn’t fold.
Ashton Daniels, back under center after missing time, threw a beautiful deep ball to Malcolm Simmons on the opening play of the third quarter—a 64-yard bomb that sent Jordan-Hare into a frenzy. Auburn’s defense responded with stops, and the offense came alive. Another deep shot to Simmons, this time for 66 yards, set up a Jeremiah Cobb touchdown run that tied the game at 20 with over eleven minutes to play.
The Iron Bowl was back on the edge. Momentum had swung. Jordan-Hare was electric.
And then came the flags.
Alabama’s next drive looked like a stop in progress—twice. On third-and-four near midfield, Simpson’s pass fell incomplete. But a late flag for pass interference on Auburn’s Sylvester Smith moved the chains. A few plays later, facing third-and-seven inside the 30, Simpson missed again—another flag. This time for roughing the passer on linebacker Xavier Atkins, a call that left fans and analysts stunned. Contact looked minimal, and it came as Atkins was being pushed by a lineman. ESPN’s broadcast team questioned both penalties. Didn’t matter. Alabama had life.
Those two penalties gave the Tide new downs. They drained nearly eight minutes off the clock, grinding their way toward the Auburn goal line. Then came the final blow.
Fourth-and-two from the Auburn 6. Kalen DeBoer didn’t blink. Alabama went for it. Simpson found Horton for the third time, and the Tide had a 27–20 lead with 3:50 remaining.
Auburn wasn’t done yet, though. Daniels moved the ball. The crowd roared. And then Cam Coleman, Auburn’s star freshman wide receiver, caught a pass and turned upfield—only to fumble. Alabama recovered. Game over.
No miracle. No kick-six. No redemption. Just a brutal ending to a brutal season.
Statistically, Auburn had every reason to feel it should have won. The Tigers outgained Alabama by 131 yards, racked up 411 yards of total offense, and held Simpson to just 122 passing yards—his worst game of the year. Daniels threw for 259 yards. Cobb rushed for 76 and a score. Simmons exploded for over 130 yards receiving.
But turnovers killed Auburn. Two giveaways—one in each half—proved fatal. And Alabama? No turnovers. None. That, plus two critical flags, defined the difference.
And it wasn’t just the game—it was the season. Auburn came into the Iron Bowl at 5–6, needing a win to reach bowl eligibility. That win would’ve made everything feel different. It would’ve salvaged a season overshadowed by Hugh Freeze’s dismissal, given interim staff a moment of triumph, and injected energy into the ongoing coaching search.
Instead, it’s another offseason starting early. No bowl trip. No warm weather practice week. Just cold reality—and questions.
For Alabama, it wasn’t pretty. But it was enough. They’re 10–2, alive in the SEC title hunt, and still holding onto playoff hopes.
For Auburn, it’s heartbreak.
Again.