Alabama beats Auburn on Jalen Milroe-Isaiah Bond TD pass on fourth down

The Iron Bowl came down to the wire, and Alabama survived another thriller against Auburn.

Kennington Smith III and The Athletic College Football Staff

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Add ‘Gravedigger’ to Iron Bowl lore

Nick Saban remembers the kick-six so vividly that on Saturday night, the 10-year anniversary of the famed play that lifted Auburn over his Crimson Tide in 2013, he recited a play-by-play sequence in the second half that proved costly. He ticked off five plays inside the Auburn 25-yard line that netted zero points.

Alabama has experienced both fortune and misfortune in the Iron Bowl, and most of the misfortune has taken place in Jordan-Hare Stadium. But this time, maybe for the first time, according to Saban, the luck swung Alabama’s way at Auburn in a 27-24 win produced by a fourth-and-31 touchdown pass from quarterback Jalen Milroe to wide receiver Isaiah Bond with 32 seconds remaining.

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Saban on the win

Nick Saban at the postgame podium:

“I mean… do I really need to say anything?”

Arnold seals it for Tide

Terrion Arnold seals the game with an interception after Auburn nearly gave up a safety on the play before. Alabama will win the game 27-24 after possibly the most disastrous two minutes of football I've ever seen.

Jordan-Hare did everything it could to give Auburn the magic it needed. But the Tigers fumbled the bag.

The game winner

Jalen Milroe was standing at the 36-yard line when he fired that pass. That's a 45-yard dime with the game on the line in the Iron Bowl. Absolutely incredible.

Have yourself a day Nehemiah Pritchett

Nehemiah Pritchett has done everything he can do to try and keep Auburn in this football game. His latest effort? Preventing Jalen Milroe from converting on third-and-twenty. It will be fourth down, with maybe a foot to go, for Alabama in the waning moments of the Iron Bowl, due to Pritchett's efforts.

Pritchett is a senior from Jackson, Alabama.

HUGE SWING PLAY

A muffed Auburn punt with 4:48 to play gives Alabama new life -- the Tide are set up deep in Auburn territory down 24-20.

Pro: I said a muffed punt could be a key to a team winning the game

Con: I thought it would be key to AUBURN winning

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Not by the tip of his tippy-tip-toe...

Jermaine Burton was ruled to be juuuuuuuuuuuust out of bounds on a third-and-ten pass, and the official review did not find enough evidence to overturn the ruling on the field. Auburn gets the ball back with a four-point lead and nine minutes to go in the fourth quarter.

Auburn extends its lead

Alabama's defense did a good job of holding off a potential Auburn touchdown and only allowing a field goal for a 24-20 deficit with 10:15 to play. Jalen Milroe spoke throughout the week about Bryce Young's heroics in Jordan-Hare in 2021, he will need a similar moment if Alabama wins tonight.

And Reichard goes wide right!

Auburn maintains their lead 21-20, after a failed field goal by Will Reichard. Penalties hurt Alabama again on that series, with an illegal blindside block negating what would have been a first down run by Jalen Milroe. On third down, Auburn's Nehemiah Pritchett — who is having a quietly excellent day — broke up Milroe's pass, forcing the field goal attempt.

Nick Saban's been emphasizing momentum-killing moments and there was another

Milroe rushes for six yards on a 3rd & 3 but it's negated by penalty, Alabama doesn't convert on the 3rd & long then Will Reichard misses the field goal.

Still 21-20 Auburn with 3:09 in the 3rd.

Strange things are afoot in Jordan-Hare

Auburn is up 21-20 with six-and-a-half minutes left in the third quarter, with the latest improbable offensive drive by the Tigers ending in a 27-yard touchdown pass from Payton Thorne to Ja'Varrius Johnson.

It's Johnson's second touchdown on the day, with his first coming on a 12-yard rush. Don't look now folks, but this one is still interesting.

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Alabama has converted 60 percent of their third down attempts

Alabama's 6-10 on third down tonight after runs by Jalen Milroe and Roydell Williams.

The improvement in that area over the last several weeks has been really impressive and a huge reason why Alabama's offense has turned a corner.

Love for the long ball

I really enjoy watching Jalen Milroe throw the ball deep. He's so accurate on those balls, and he has a cannon for an arm.

Alabama leads Auburn 17-14 at halftime

Statistically, Alabama leads in basically every category but rushing yards, but that and penalties are the difference through one half.

Jalen Milroe silences the crowd

Looked like a miscommunication in the Auburn secondary and Jalen Milroe takes advantage and hits a wide-open Jermaine Burton in stride for a 68-yard touchdown. That's how you answer on the road.

Alabama regains the lead 17-14 with 1:28 to play. A once rowdy crowd is basically silent right now.

Alabama scores quickly to retake the lead

Hey remember when I asked if Auburn left too much time on the clock? The answer is yes.

Jermaine Burton makes his name heard in Jordan-Hare, with a far too-easy 68-yard catch-and-run touchdown. Alabama up, 17-14. Still time left in the half, and strange things are afoot in Jordan-Hare.

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Auburn leads 14-10 late in the second quarter

Auburn's running game might be the only thing working for Hugh Freeze's offense, but goodness it is WORKING. After a 56-yard explosion from runningback Damari Alston, the Tigers follow it up with a quick score on a 12-yard rush to the outside by Ja'Varrius Johnson. Auburn up 14-10, the only question is did they score too quickly?

Alabama with two-and-a-half minutes to respond, but Auburn up 14-10 in the second quarter.

Crazy things happen at Jordan-Hare

Those crazy things-- QB Payton Thorne is 2-6 for 20 yards but 159 yards rushing (sack-adjusted 9.1 yards per carry) and two TDs has Auburn up 14-10 with 2:24 until halftime.. plus those two negated Alabama penalties.

The Iron Bowl

Iron Bowl or Iron Curtain?

Auburn's defense didn't let anything come easy for Alabama on that sequence, forcing another punt after Milroe's pass to Isaiah Bond on third-and-five was broken up by Tigers' cornerback Nehemiah Pritchett. It's a matter of bending without breaking for Auburn, and now we'll see if their offense can give the Tigers a lead heading into the half.

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