It was cold. That biting, East Alabama late-November chill that settles into your bones while you're standing in Jordan-Hare Stadium, screaming until your throat feels like it’s been rubbed with sandpaper. Most fans came into the 90th Iron Bowl expecting a blowout, but what they got was a heart-stopper that didn't resolve until the final 30 seconds.
If you are looking for the Auburn football score final, here is the reality: Alabama 27, Auburn 20.
The Tigers finished the 2025 season with a 5-7 record. No bowl game. No postseason trip. Just a lot of "what ifs" and a locker room full of guys wondering how a 17-point comeback fell just a few yards short of the greatest upset in the program's recent history.
How the 2025 Iron Bowl Slipped Away
Honestly, the first half was a nightmare. Auburn’s offense looked stagnant, managing zero touchdowns and watching Alabama’s Ty Simpson slice through the secondary. By the time the halftime whistle blew, the scoreboard read 17-6 in favor of the Crimson Tide. It felt over.
But then the third quarter happened.
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Ashton Daniels, who has been through the ringer this year, scrambled right and launched a prayer. Malcolm Simmons caught it mid-stride for a 64-yard touchdown. Suddenly, the stadium wasn't just loud; it was vibrating.
The Scoring Breakdown
- First Quarter: Alabama jumped out early with a 45-yard field goal and a 6-yard touchdown pass to Isaiah Horton. Auburn's offense went three-and-out three times.
- Second Quarter: Another Simpson-to-Horton connection put Bama up 17-0. Alex McPherson kept the Tigers alive with two clutch field goals.
- Third Quarter: The Simmons 64-yard TD changed everything. Alabama answered with a field goal to make it 20-13, but the momentum had shifted.
- Fourth Quarter: Jeremiah Cobb punched in a 2-yard run to tie the game at 20-20 with about 11 minutes left.
The game-winning drive by Alabama was a clinic in frustration for Auburn fans. It was a 15-play, 75-yard march that featured two critical third-down penalties against the Tigers' defense. On fourth-and-2 from the 6-yard line, Ty Simpson found Horton for the third time. 27-20.
The Final Drive and the Fumble
Auburn had 3:50 to save their season.
They moved the ball. Daniels was playing out of his mind, eventually rushing for 108 yards on the night and throwing for another 259. They reached the Alabama 20-yard line with less than a minute to go. The crowd was ready for the "miracle at Jordan-Hare" part two.
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Then, disaster. Cam Coleman, the standout freshman who had been a bright spot all year, fumbled with 33 seconds remaining. Alabama recovered. Game over. Season over.
It was a brutal way to end it. Interim coach DJ Durkin noted after the game that "critical mistakes—turnovers and penalties—cost us." He wasn't wrong. Auburn actually outgained Alabama 411 to 280 in total yardage, but you don't win trophies for "almost."
Why the Score Final Means No Bowl Game
Because the Tigers finished 5-7 overall (and a painful 1-7 in SEC play), they weren't automatically bowl-eligible. There was some chatter about Auburn potentially taking a bowl bid based on their Academic Progress Rate (APR) scores if there weren't enough 6-win teams.
Reports surfaced that the program actually declined a potential bid to the Birmingham Bowl.
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Basically, the school decided it was time to turn the page. With the coaching search in full swing and the roster heading for a massive overhaul through the transfer portal, the "score final" against Alabama acted as the definitive end to the 2025 era.
2025 Auburn Season Results at a Glance
| Opponent | Result | Final Score |
|---|---|---|
| at Baylor | Win | 38-24 |
| Ball State | Win | 42-3 |
| South Alabama | Win | 31-15 |
| at Oklahoma | Loss | 17-24 |
| at Texas A&M | Loss | 10-16 |
| Georgia | Loss | 10-20 |
| Missouri | Loss | 17-23 (2OT) |
| at Arkansas | Win | 33-24 |
| Kentucky | Loss | 3-10 |
| at Vanderbilt | Loss | 38-45 (OT) |
| Mercer | Win | 62-17 |
| Alabama | Loss | 20-27 |
What's Next for the Tigers?
If you're an Auburn fan, you're looking at the portal. The 2025 season showed flashes of what could be—especially with young guys like Malcolm Simmons and Jeremiah Cobb—but the lack of consistency at quarterback and the defensive lapses in high-pressure moments were too much to overcome.
Expect a heavy focus on offensive line recruitment. The Tigers struggled to protect the pocket in nearly every SEC loss this year.
The immediate next step is watching the early signing period. If the staff can hold onto the current recruiting class despite the 5-7 finish, the 2026 season could look a lot different. For now, the 27-20 loss to Alabama remains the final word on a year that started with high hopes and ended in the cold.
If you want to track the latest roster moves, keep an eye on the 247Sports Transfer Portal tracker or the official Auburn Tigers athletics site for updates on the new coaching staff hires.