The Zeitgeist List · Rivalries

Iron Bowl

Alabama51-32-1Auburn
Blue Blood#1 of 138–Power Program III#25 of 138–
See both programs’ full 91-year Zeitgeist History, side by side →
Next meeting: Sat Nov 28 · time TBA, 24 days away.

1 player crossed straight to the rival since 2021 — the turncoat ledger →

Alabama leads the all-time series 51-32-1. They've met 84 times since 1902. Alabama has won the last 6.

Current season

Vegas win totals and transfer-portal swing right now, plus what fans are actually saying — not history, this year.

Alabama
Win total
9.5
Vegas over/under
Transfer portal
-7
portal net points (weighted) · raw ledger: -23
What fans are saying · player performance
fans argue Josh Ford elevates Alabama's playmaking ability
oh no Josh Ford to me game changer for Alabama doesn't mean with our depth we won't win but Ford has an impact on game ! Roll Tide
Verified verbatim
Auburn
Transfer portal
-4
portal net points (weighted) · raw ledger: -1
What fans are saying · program direction
fans believe Auburn's potential is unmatched when everything aligns, but recent performance has been disappointing
We are Auburn there’s no team like us if everything aligns and has chemistry and no flaws we are the best
Verified verbatim

Stature & the series, 1902–2025

Both programs’ standing over time, each line named at its end, with every meeting beneath — read down to see who was bigger and who won. (Stature is each program’s season-by-season standing on the Zeitgeist List, 1936–present — one score blending on-field performance, program achievement, and roster talent.)

program stature over timeAlabamaAuburnevery meeting (bar height = margin; dark: Alabama won, gray: Auburn won)192019401960198020002020

The identity war

Alabama has been the more pass-heavy program more often than not.

Across 23 seasons of real play-level data (2004–2026), Alabama led 14 and Auburn led 9.

more passmore runAlabamaAuburn2004200620082010201220142016201820202022202420262013Alabama 16.1 ptsAuburn won 34-282010Alabama 12.4 ptsAuburn won 28-272022Alabama 10.2 ptsAlabama won 49-27
Source team_season_stats (CFBD season totals) · pass rate = passAttempts ÷ (passAttempts + rushingAttempts)

Alabama once won 9 in a row. The biggest win was Alabama by 55 in 1948. The biggest crowd, 101,821, was in 2014.

The coaching duels

Bear Bryant vs Ralph Jordan13-5
Nick Saban vs Gus Malzahn4-3
Bear Bryant vs Doug Barfield5-0
Red Drew vs Ralph Jordan3-1
Ray Perkins vs Pat Dye2-2
Gene Stallings vs Terry Bowden2-2

The draft ledger

Every NFL Draft pick either program has produced since the modern era began, decade by decade.

Draft picks
266-166
Alabama leads
1st-rounders
76-23
Since
1967
First CFBD-carried draft class
AlabamaAuburn
1960s5-3
1970s22-13
1980s28-26
1990s30-25
2000s35-36
2010s83-34
2020s63-29

Best picks, either side

2023Bryce Young Quarterback · Carolina PanthersRd 1, pick 1#1 overall
1986Bo Jackson Running Back · Tampa Bay BuccaneersRd 1, pick 1#1 overall
2011Cam Newton Quarterback · Carolina PanthersRd 1, pick 1#1 overall
1987Cornelius Bennett Linebacker · Indianapolis ColtsRd 1, pick 2#2 overall
2014Greg Robinson Offensive Tackle · St. Louis RamsRd 1, pick 2#2 overall
2005Ronnie Brown Running Back · Miami DolphinsRd 1, pick 2#2 overall
2019Quinnen Williams Defensive Tackle · New York JetsRd 1, pick 3#3 overall
2023Will Anderson Jr. Outside Linebacker · Houston TexansRd 1, pick 3#3 overall

Recent meetings

Gate premium

Auburn1.07×its own average home crowd

Auburn already plays close to its own attendance ceiling in non-rivalry home games, so this number understates how much bigger this game draws relative to a program with more room to grow into a crowd.

2025Alabama27-20
2024Alabama28-14
2023Alabama27-24
2022Alabama49-27
2021Alabama24-22
2020Alabama42-13
2019Auburn48-45Alabama — both ranked, decided by 3
2018Alabama52-21
2017Auburn26-14Alabama — both ranked, Alabama routed by 12
2016Alabama30-12
2015Alabama29-13
2014Alabama55-44
2013Auburn34-28Alabama — both ranked
2012Alabama49-0

Every meeting since 2018, play by play

Each line is Alabama’s chance to win through that meeting. Alabama is 2-1 in the meetings since 2018 that were still close in the fourth quarter. The loudest meeting for fans was 2023: firestorm.

2025Alabama 27-20Alabama won 27-20 at Auburn. Chance to win started at 78%, low 56%, high 98%.Roaring
2024Alabama 28-14Alabama won 28-14 vs Auburn. Chance to win started at 73%, low 66%, high better than 99%.Busy
2023Alabama 27-24Alabama won 27-24 at Auburn. Chance to win started at 85%, low 35%, high better than 99%.Firestorm
2022Alabama 49-27Alabama won 49-27 vs Auburn. Chance to win started at 91%, low 85%, high better than 99%.Busy
2020Alabama 42-13Alabama won 42-13 vs Auburn. Chance to win started at 94%, low 90%, high better than 99%.
2019Auburn 48-45Alabama lost 45-48 at Auburn. Chance to win started at 56%, low 13%, high 82%.
2018Alabama 52-21Alabama won 52-21 vs Auburn. Chance to win started at 95%, low 90%, high better than 99%.
“Whatever happens it’s been nice to see auburn actually play through a game”
An Auburn fan
Read a quote from each meeting
  • 2025
    “Bama has a kicker? Pretty sure that's illegal”
    An Auburn fan

Meetings with their own story page

12 meetings in our archive, 2015 to 2013.

Every meeting, game by game in History