Alabama Crimson Tide vs Auburn Tigers

The Iron Bowl is not the best rivalry in college football but it s a terribly close second. There was a long gap, from 1908-1947 where they did not meet, so only 79 games have been played Alabama leads the series 43-35-1. Nevertheless, the Tigers and Tide have played some of the most memorable college football games of all time. But what makes this SEC showdown so special is the fact that whenever one of the two teams is in contention for a national title, their Iron Bowl opponent raises their game to a new level. In 2010, it was the Tide jumping out to a 24-0 lead (only to see Cam Newton dominate in the second half) when Auburn was undefeated and ranked second. A year earlier, the roles were reversed, with 7-4 Auburn holding a lead over undefeated and second-ranked Alabama until the final 90 seconds. In 1983 the Bear Bryant-less Tide came within three points of ruining the Tigers bid for a Sugar Bowl berth. A decade earlier, in the Punt Bama, Punt moment, Auburn spoiled the Tide s undefeated season. No matter what their team s record is, both Alabama and Auburn seem to always play their best football in that post-Thanksgiving Day game at Legion Field or Bryant-Denny Stadium, or Jordan-Hare Field Stadium.