Alabama vs. Auburn final score: Jalen Milroe throws miracle touchdown to finish Tide's Iron Bowl comeback

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Emily Dozier
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isaiah bond
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What. A. Game. 

Alabama completes its 27-24 comeback over rival Auburn on a Hail Mary touchdown. Jalen Milroe found Isaiah Bond on 4th down from the 31-yard line, giving the Tide the lead with 30 seconds left. An interception by Terrion Arnold sealed the deal.

While Alabama led by three at halftime, a touchdown on Auburn's first possession in the second half put it in the lead for much of the game's remainder. The Tigers had the chance to complete the upset, but with five minutes on the clock, the punt receiver dropped the ball, turning it over. Alabama ultimately scored on that drive.

Milroe ended the game with 259 passing yards and two touchdowns. He added 107 rushing yards,. Payton Thorne, Auburn quarterback, finished with 91 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions, along with 57 rushing yards. The Tigers out-rushed their opponent with 244 yards.

It was a game of controversial calls, from a missed facemask in the first quarter to an incomplete pass in the fourth. But in the end, the game was decided by yet another miracle play. This time it comes nearly ten years after the legendary Kick Six.

Nick Saban's team already booked a spot in next week's SEC Championship, but the win keeps their playoff hopes alive; a second loss would have knocked them out of national contention.

As expected, this year's Iron Bowl is one that will never be forgotten, for better or worse.

MORE: Watch Alabama vs. Auburn live with Fubo (free trial)

The Sporting News tracked live scores and highlights through the Iron Bowl game between Alabama and Auburn. Results are below. 

Alabama vs. Auburn score

  Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
Alabama 7 10 3 7 27
Auburn 7 7 7 3 24

Alabama vs. Auburn results, highlights from Iron Bowl 2023

(All times Eastern)

Final: Alabama 27, Auburn 24

7:02 p.m. – A near-pick six for the Tide seals it! With only a few seconds on the clock, Thorne tries for a Hail Mary, but it's intercepted and returned by Terrion Arnold, but it doesn't count. Alabama escapes the Plains to keep its playoff hopes alive.

Alabama 27, Auburn 24

6:57 p.m. – JALEN. MILROE. The QB slings it 31-yards to Isaiah Bond for a leading touchdown. The Tide take the lead with 32 seconds left in the game.

6:52 p.m. – What is going on in Jordan-Hare? Milroe wasn't ready for the snap, and the ball bounces down field. It's an 18-yard loss, resulting in third down.

6:48 p.m. – The toss to Williams is good for three yards and a first down!

6:45 p.m. – Milroe runs it for 19 yards, bringing him to Auburn's 10-yard line. It's 4th and one for Alabama.

6:42 p.m. – It's Alabama ball! The punt reception is turned over by Auburn, and the Tide take it at the Auburn 30 with just under five minutes on the board.

6:30 p.m. – Things got heated on the punt return, but no flag was thrown on either side.

6:25 p.m. – After review, Milroe's pass to Burton stands as incomplete, saying the receiver's foot landed out of bonds. The pass would have advanced Alabama over 10 yards.

Alabama 20, Auburn 24

6:30 p.m. FIELD GOAL – Alex McPherson takes his first field goal attempt from the 22-yard line, and it's good. Auburn leads by four with 10:15 left in the game. 

6:19 p.m. – The 'Bama defense comes up big, stopping the Tigers twice within its own 5. 

6:16 p.m. PENALTY – Alabama is called offsides, giving Auburn a first down. It's a critical call and puts the Tigers at the Tide's 23-yard line.

End of third quarter: Alabama 20, Auburn 21

6:05 p.m. – It's wide right! In Reichard's attempt to become the NCAA's leading scorer, he misses the 42-yard attempt. Alabama still trails with three minutes in the frame.

6:04 p.m. – On Milroe's run, a personal foul is called on Alabama for a blindside block. It replays third down at the Auburn 24, but the Tigers again come up with a huge third-down stop.

Alabama 20, Auburn 21

5:56 p.m. TOUCHDOWN – When they needed it the most, it's Johnson again! A 27-yard pass to the wide-open receiver is enough to help Auburn retake the lead with 6:36 on the clock in the third quarter.

Alabama 20, Auburn 14

3:46 p.m. FIELD GOAL – The Tigers swat Milroe's pass away from its target in the end zone, coming up with a big stop on 3rd and goal. It avoids a Tide touchdown, but Reichard still adds to the score with a 22-yard field goal. 

5:44 p.m. – The Tide are red. Roydell Williams rushes for 11 yards to enter Auburn's red zone at the 8-yard line.

Halftime: Alabama 17, Auburn 14

5:15 p.m. – With one second on the clock, the Tigers go for the touchdown. Thorne's pass reaches the goal line, but it's intercepted. Regardless, it's halftime at the Iron Bowl.

5:13 p.m. – Thorne himself runs in 19 yards to midfield. Auburn calls a timeout with 11 seconds on the clock. It needs just eight yards to reach the field goal target line.

Alabama 17, Auburn 14

5:01 p.m. TOUCHDOWN – Don't count out the Tide! Milroe targets Jermaine Burton for 68 yards, and Alabama answers with its own go-ahead touchdown. Just over a minute is left in the second quarter. Can Auburn respond yet again?

Alabama 10, Auburn 14

4:57 p.m. TOUCHDOWN – The Tigers take the lead! Ja'Varrius Johnson finds 12-yards on his first rushing attempt of the year, bringing it in for a go-ahead touchdown. Auburn leads by four with time for one more Alabama possession in the half.

4:56 p.m. – Alston again! He finds the gap for a 52-yard run to Alabama's 25. Two minutes and 30 seconds remain on the clock in the half.

4:42 p.m. – What a punt for Oscar Chapman! Alabama will take over the ball inside its 1-yard line.

4:33 p.m. – Payton Thorne completes his first pass of the night for 15 yards to Caleb Burton III.

Alabama 10, Auburn 7

4:28 p.m. FIELD GOAL – Need a score? Will Reichard makes a 32-yard field goal attempt without a penalty, adding  to the scoreboard for Alabama, who now lead 10-7 at the beginning of the second quarter. The kicker is three points closer to topping the FBS scoring-leader charts.

4:26 p.m. – Another touchdown for Alabama overturned. Milroe flicks it in front of the line of scrimmage, resulting in an illegal forward pass. Fourth down for the Tide.

End of first quarter: Alabama 7, Auburn 7

Alabama 7, Auburn 7

4:08 p.m. TOUCHDOWN – Damari Alston ties it up! The Tiger reached across the line for Auburn's first touchdown of the night. Five minutes remain in the first quarter.

4:07 p.m. – The Tigers are knocking! Jarquez Hunter takes it to the 15-yard line on a 42 yard run. 

4:03 p.m. – Kendrick Law takes it 40 yards to the end zone, but Alabama is handed a holding penalty. No score for the Tide as they punt it away.

3:56 p.m. – Brian Battie takes the kickoff return for no gain, but no call on a facemask by the Tide results in boos heard around the Plains.

Alabama 7, Auburn 0

3:51 p.m. TOUCHDOWN – Quick work for the Tide results in a touchdown! In two plays, Roydell Williams earns 11 yards and a touchdown to close out Alabama's first drive of the game. It leads Auburn 7-0 after four minutes. 

3:45 p.m. – It's not a great start for the Tigers.They fail to find a first down, ending the series on a false start and illegal forward pass.

3:40 p.m. – The 2023 Iron Bowl has kicked off! Auburn will take the first possession. 

3:17 p.m. – As Alabama visits its neighbor, it'll be reminded of the matchup from ten years ago. On Nov. 30, 2013, Auburn defended home turf in part to the legendary Kick Six from Chris Davis.

2:40 p.m. – Playing in your home stadium is one of the biggest advantages in the Iron Bowl. And while Alabama enters as the heavy favorites, it seems it'll be a tough hill to climb in Jordan-Hare.

2:10 p.m. – It doesn't get much better than the Tiger-Tide rivalry. 

Alabama vs. Auburn start time

  • Date: Saturday, Nov. 25
  • Kickoff: 3:30 p.m. ET

The 2023 Iron Bowl takes place Saturday, Nov. 25. It kicks off at 3:30 p.m. ET from Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala.

What channel is Alabama vs. Auburn on today?

  • TV channel: CBS
  • Live stream: Paramount+, Fubo

Alabama-Auburn will be the last regular-season SEC football game for CBS, which is broadcasting the rivalry matchup with Brad Nessler, Gary Danielson and Jenny Dell on the call. 

Viewers can also stream the game on Paramount+ and Fubo, which offers a free trial.

Author(s)
Emily Dozier Photo
Emily Dozier

Emily Dozier is an editorial intern at The Sporting News

NCAA Football