If you’re looking for the short answer to the alabama auburn game who won, here it is: Alabama took it. But man, that barely scratches the surface of what actually went down at Jordan-Hare Stadium. The 90th Iron Bowl wasn't just a game; it was a chaotic, stress-inducing mess that ended with the No. 10 Alabama Crimson Tide edging out the Auburn Tigers 27-20.
Honestly, if you turned the TV off in the second quarter, you'd think Alabama cruised. They were up 17-0. It looked like a blowout was brewing. But this is the Iron Bowl. Nothing is ever that easy when these two programs meet on the Plains.
By the time the fourth quarter rolled around, Auburn had clawed back to tie it up 20-20. The energy in that stadium was basically vibrating. Then, Kalen DeBoer—in only his second year at the helm—made a call that people are going to be talking about at breakfast tables in Tuscaloosa for years.
How the 2025 Iron Bowl Was Won
The decisive moment came with just 3:50 left on the clock. Alabama was staring at a fourth-and-2 from the Auburn 6-yard line. A field goal would have been the "safe" play. It would have put them up by three. But DeBoer didn't want a lead; he wanted the game.
He kept the offense on the field.
🔗 Read more: Saint Benedict's Prep Soccer: Why the Gray Bees Keep Winning Everything
Quarterback Ty Simpson, who hadn't exactly been lighting up the stat sheet all night, dropped back and found Isaiah Horton for a 6-yard touchdown. That was their third touchdown connection of the evening. It was a gutsy, "tenure-defining" gamble that ultimately secured the win and a trip to the SEC Championship game against Georgia.
The Box Score Breakdown
You'd think a winning team would have more yards, right? Nope. Not this time. Auburn actually outgained Alabama 411 to 280. It’s one of those weird football anomalies where the better stats don't equal the better score.
- Alabama's Offense: Ty Simpson went 19-of-35 for 122 yards. That’s a season-low for him, which tells you how much the Auburn defense was hounding him. Isaiah Horton was the MVP here, catching 5 passes for 35 yards—and incredibly, three of those were touchdowns.
- Auburn's Heartbreak: Ashton Daniels was a beast. He threw for 259 yards and ran for another 108. He was basically the entire Auburn offense. Malcolm Simmons was his deep threat, racking up 143 receiving yards, including a massive 64-yard score that gave the Tigers life in the third quarter.
Why Auburn Fans Are Cursing the "What Ifs"
Look, if you’re an Auburn fan, this one hurts because the Tigers had every chance to steal it. After Jeremiah Cobb tied the game at 20-20 with a 2-yard plunge, the momentum was entirely on the orange and blue side.
But then came the mistakes.
💡 You might also like: Ryan Suter: What Most People Get Wrong About the NHL's Ultimate Survivor
The Tigers were driving late in the game, moving the ball toward a potential game-tying or winning score. With only 33 seconds left, star receiver Cam Coleman fumbled the ball at the Alabama 20-yard line. Bray Hubbard pounced on it for the Tide. Game over.
It was a brutal way to end the season for Auburn, who finished 5-7. They played under interim coach D.J. Durkin, and while they showed massive heart, those two critical turnovers and 10 penalties for 84 yards were just too much to overcome.
Defensive Standouts
While the Simpson-to-Horton connection gets the headlines, the Alabama defense stayed remarkably poised under pressure. Deontae Lawson was everywhere, leading the team with seven tackles and a fumble recovery.
Bray Hubbard was arguably the player of the game on the defensive side. He didn't just recover that final fumble; he also had an interception earlier that stalled an Auburn drive and a forced fumble. He was the "eraser" for Alabama's mistakes.
📖 Related: Red Sox vs Yankees: What Most People Get Wrong About Baseball's Biggest Feud
What This Means for Alabama and the SEC
By winning the alabama auburn game who won question, the Tide didn't just get bragging rights. They secured a spot in the SEC Championship in Atlanta.
- SEC Title Hopes: This win set up a massive rematch with Georgia. Remember, Alabama already beat Georgia 24-21 earlier in the season.
- Playoff Picture: At 10-2, Alabama is firmly in the hunt for a College Football Playoff spot. A loss here would have been a disaster for their postseason resume.
- The Streak: This was Alabama’s sixth straight win over Auburn. That’s the second-longest streak in the history of the rivalry.
Moving Forward: Actionable Insights for Fans
If you're following the fallout of this game, here's what you need to keep an eye on:
- Injury Watch: Keep a very close eye on running back Jam Miller. He had 83 yards before leaving the game with an injury in the second half. Alabama's offense looks much different without his physical running style, especially with a rematch against a stout Georgia defense looming.
- Coaching Search: For Auburn fans, the focus shifts immediately to the coaching search. Rumors are flying about Tulane's Jon Sumrall, though nothing is set in stone. The program needs stability to turn these close rivalry losses into wins.
- Ty Simpson's Growth: Watch the tape of that final touchdown drive. Even though Simpson's overall yardage was low, his poise on fourth down was elite. That’s the kind of confidence a quarterback needs going into the postseason.
Alabama moves on to Atlanta with a 10-2 record (7-1 in the SEC), while Auburn heads into a long offseason of "what could have been." In the Iron Bowl, the margin between legendary and "almost" is always a few yards—or one fumbled ball.