The Iron
Bowl

Alabama vs. Auburn

The Iron Bowl, one of the most fiercely contested college football rivalries, annually pits the Auburn University Tigers against the University of Alabama Crimson Tide. Both schools are charter members of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) and are located in Alabama. The series began in 1893 and was historically played at Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama. The rivalry’s name, “Iron Bowl,” symbolizes the intense competition and industrial heritage of Birmingham.

Traditionally held on Thanksgiving weekend, the Iron Bowl was moved to the week before Thanksgiving in 1993. In 2007, the game returned to its traditional Thanksgiving weekend slot following an SEC ruling. For much of the 20th century, the game was played in Birmingham, with Alabama winning 34 games and Auburn 18. There were also four games in Montgomery, with each team winning two. Since 1999, the game has alternated between Jordan–Hare Stadium in Auburn (odd-numbered years) and Bryant–Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa (even-numbered years).

Alabama and Auburn have been dominant in college football since the 1950s, accounting for a combined 36 SEC titles (28 by Alabama and 8 by Auburn). Alabama is second in all-time total wins among Division I FBS schools, and Auburn ranks 13th.

The Foy-ODK Trophy, named after James E. Foy and Omicron Delta Kappa, is presented at halftime of the Alabama-Auburn basketball game in the same academic year, with the SGA President of the losing football team traditionally performing the winning team’s fight song.

All of this makes the Iron Bowl one of the most storied and intense rivalries that is steeped in history and tradition. It is a can’t-miss event for college football fans and is sure to continue to be one of the most important and heated rivalries in American sports.