Turnovers and missed opportunities for Auburn allows Alabama to escape with an Iron Bowl win

November 29, 2025 – AUBURN – The University of Alabama got its sixth win in a row over Auburn University in the Iron Bowl as Alabama mustered the fourth quarter plays needed to defeat Auburn 27 to 20.

Alabama appeared to be the far better team in the first quarter of play with a 17 to 0 early lead over the Tigers. Junior quarterback Ty Simpson found wide receiver Isaiah Horton on a six yard pass for touchdown in the first quarter and then followed that up with a three yard touchdown pass in the second quarter. Tide kicker Conor Talty added a 45-yard field goal to give the Tide a 17–0 lead early in the second quarter It appeared like the game was going to be a blowout for the Tide; as the Tigers had not even made a first down on their first four possessions; but then the whole script changed. Auburn quarterback Ashton Daniels began making plays with his feet and the short passing game. Auburn got a long drive that resulted in a Alex Mc Alex McPherson field goal. The Auburn defense shut Simpson and the Tide offense down for most of the second quarter and McPherson added a second field goal to make the game 17 to 6 at halftime,

Auburn got the ball to start the second half and they wasted no time as Daniels found Malcolm Simmons for a 64 yard touchdown pass to narrow the score to 17 to 13. Simpson responded by leading the Tide on a drive on their first possession of the second half, but had to settle for a field goal to grow the lead to 20 to 13. Then the Tigers defense took over grinding Alabama's offense to a halt for an extended period of time in the second half.

Daniels found Simmons again on a third and nine play for a 66 yard pass that gave the Tigers the ball on the four yard line. Running Back Jeremiah Cobb then punched it in to the end zone to tie the game 20 to 20 in the fourth quarter. Simmons had three catches for 143 yards to lead all Tigers receivers on the day. The Tide defense stepped up their game after that preventing Auburn from scoring again. Simpson engineered one final drive that got the Tide all the way down to the Auburn six yard line. Instead of kicking the go-ahead field goal on fourth and two Alabama Coach Kalen DeBoer elected to go for it. Simpson found Horton again for a six yard touchdown that gave Alabama a 27 to 20 lead with less than four minutes to play. Horton – a transfer portal redshirt junior from Miami – had five catches on the day for 35 yards and three touchdowns. Auburn was not finished though. Daniels attempted to lead the Tigers down the field to tie the game but it was not to be after the Tigers turned it over.

Daniels, after a very shaky first quarter, had a spectacular day with with 259 passing yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception, along with 108 rushing yards. The interception was due to the receiver batting the ball up into the air instead of catching it.

Alabama safety Bray Edwards was the star of the game making that key interception late in the third quarter and then punching the ball out for a fumble recovery for the Tide late in the fourth quarter.

The 27 to 20 Iron bowl win is DeBoer's second over Auburn. The win improves Alabama's record to 10 and 2 overall (7 and 1 in conference play). It also means that Alabama will play Georgia next week in the SEC Championship game. Alabama has played Georgia five times in SEC Championship games and the Tide has won all five.

If Alabama wins, the Tide will get an automatic berth into the second annual 12 team college football playoffs. A loss would mean that the 10 and 3 Tide would be at the mercy of the college playoff committee

For the Tigers, their season is done. Auburn finished 5 and 7 for the second year in a row and are once again not bowl eligible. Interim head Coach D.J. Durkin finished 1 and 2 overall and 0 and 2 in the SEC in his stint as head coach following the firing of Hugh Freeze after a 4 and 5 (1 and 6 in the SEC) start to the season.

Early on Sunday Auburn officials announced that University of South Florida Coach Alex Golesh as Auburn's next head Coach. Athletics Director John Cohen had targeted Tulane's John Sumrall, but that fell through after Florida reportedly offered their job to Sumrall (previously Troy's head coach) after Ole Miss Coach Lane Kiffin opted to take the LSU job.

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