With a 28-14 win over the Auburn Tigers on Saturday at Bryant-Denny Stadium, Alabama Crimson Tide coach Kalen DeBoer joined some pretty rare company in the rich history of Alabama football.
DeBoer won “The Big One” in Year 1, beating Auburn behind a much-improved performance from Jalen Milroe, who completed 18-of-24 passes for 256 yards and ran for 104 yards and three touchdowns on 17 carries. Alabama won its fifth straight over Auburn.
In doing so, DeBoer became just the third Alabama coach since 1948 — the year the rivalry resumed following a 41-yard absence — to win his first Iron Bowl showdown. He joined Dennis Franchione (2001) and Alabama coaching great Gene Stallings (1990).
From Nick Saban back in 2007 to Bear Bryant over 65 years ago, here’s a look at how past Alabama football coaches have fared in their first meeting vs. Auburn, as well as their all-time records against the Tigers and their biggest margin of victory in the series.
Nick Saban (Alabama coach, 2007-2023)
First Iron Bowl Game: Nov. 24, 2007
Final Score: Auburn 17, Alabama 10
Overall Record vs. Auburn: 12-5
Largest Margin of Victory in Series: 49 points — Alabama 49, Auburn 0, Nov. 24, 2012
Saban will be the first to tell you he experienced a rollercoaster of highs and lows in the Iron Bowl rivalry, mostly at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Four of the Alabama football legend’s five losses in the rivalry came on the Plains, including his first Iron Bowl in 2007.
Mike Shula (Alabama coach, 2003-2006)
First Iron Bowl Game: Nov. 22, 2003
Final Score: Auburn 28, Alabama 23
Overall Record vs. Auburn: 0-4
Fans who remembered Shula’s time as the Crimson Tide’s quarterback from 1984-86, a period that included two Iron Bowl wins, wanted Shula to succeed. But as head coach, Shula took over at the lowest point in the program’s history. Unprecedented sanctions levied by the NCAA severely crippled Alabama in recruiting — at a time when Auburn was becoming a glorified NFL factory.
Dennis Franchione (Alabama coach, 2001-02)
First Iron Bowl Game: Nov. 17, 2001
Final Score: Alabama 31, Auburn 7
Overall Record vs. Auburn: 1-1
Largest Margin of Victory in Series: 24 points (2001)
“Coach Fraud” won his first Iron Bowl with a surprising 31-7 rout of Auburn behind quarterback Andrew Zow at Jordan-Hare. Perhaps his biggest crime wasn’t so much bed-hopping from Tuscaloosa to College Station at the end of 2002, but that he lost to Auburn just before his Lady of the Night act. Many Alabama fans still believe he had one foot out the door heading into the 2002 Iron Bowl, a game the Crimson Tide were a double-digit favorite to win.
Mike DuBose (Alabama coach, 1997-2000)
First Iron Bowl Game: Nov. 22, 1997
Final Score: Auburn 18, Alabama 17
Overall Record vs. Auburn: 2-2
Largest Margin of Victory in Series: 14 points — Alabama 31, Auburn 17, Nov. 21, 1998
DuBose’s first Iron Bowl as head coach was almost a successful one. But “almost” doesn’t count in a rivalry like Alabama-Auburn, and a late fumble deep in Alabama territory by Ed Scissum with less than a minute left led Auburn to a game-winning field goal — and helped cement Bruce Arians’ firing as Alabama’s offensive coordinator.
Gene Stallings (Alabama coach, 1990-1996)
First Iron Bowl Game: Dec. 1, 1990
Final Score: Alabama 16, Auburn 7
Overall Record vs. Auburn: 5-2
Largest Margin of Victory in Series: 17 points — Alabama 17, Auburn 0, Nov. 26, 1992
Alabama had lost four straight to Auburn entering the 1990 edition of the Iron Bowl, a cardinal sin that led to the previous Crimson Tide coach leaving. The Tide’s defense was outstanding on this December day at Birmingham’s Legion Field, and Philip Doyle kicked three field goals to start a three-game win streak over the Tigers.
Bill Curry (Alabama coach, 1987-1989)
First Iron Bowl Game: Nov. 27, 1987
Final Score: Auburn 10, Alabama 0
Overall Record vs. Auburn: 0-3
Curry recruited at a good level during his three seasons at Alabama, and his recruiting fingerprints can be found all over the 1992 national championship team. But when you don’t win this game, you don’t stay long at either school. After a 30-20 loss in the 1989 Iron Bowl (the first to be played at Jordan-Hare Stadium), Curry left Tuscaloosa for the Bluegrass State and the Kentucky Wildcats.
Ray Perkins (Alabama coach, 1983-1986)
First Iron Bowl Game: Dec. 3, 1983
Final Score: Auburn 23, Alabama 20
Overall Record vs. Auburn: 2-2
Largest Margin of Victory in Series: two points (1984, 1985)
Perkins had the unenviable task of following in Bear Bryant’s footsteps after Bryant’s retirement and, a month later, his sudden passing in January 1983. A former Bryant player, Perkins was 2-2 against Auburn. His two wins as head coach are classics: 1984’s “Wrong Way Bo” that ended with a 17-15 upset of Pat Dye’s 11th-ranked Tigers and a year later, Van Tiffin’s game-winning 52-yard field goal (“The Kick”) as time expired for a 25-23 win.
Bear Bryant (Alabama coach, 1958-1982)
First Iron Bowl Game: Nov. 29, 1958
Final Score: Auburn 14, Alabama 8
Overall Record vs. Auburn: 19-6
Largest Margin of Victory in Series: 38 points — Alabama 38, Auburn 0, Dec. 1, 1962
Yes, the two greatest coaches in Alabama football history, if not college football history, both lost to Auburn in their first seasons. Bryant would compile a 19-6 record against “that cow college.”
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