The 2013 Iron Bowl remains the most chaotic, culturally seismic finish in the history of college football. Played on November 30, 2013, at Jordan-Hare Stadium, No. 4 Auburn and No. 1 Alabama collided with a spot in the SEC Championship Game and national title hopes hanging in the balance. Tied 28-28 with one second left on the clock, Alabama head coach Nick Saban opted for a 57-yard field goal rather than playing for overtime. What followed was a 109-yard return that shattered a dynasty's momentum and cemented a permanent place in sports lore.
Understanding why the game resonates a decade later requires looking past the final miraculous play. The matchup featured high stakes, tactical chess matches, bizarre special teams miscues, and a fierce divisional hatred that amplified every single yard.
The Collision of Two Titans
Entering the final week of the regular season, the SEC West rivalry carried colossal weight. Alabama arrived in Auburn as the reigning back-to-back national champions, sporting an 11-0 record, a top-ranked defense, and quarterback AJ McCarron orchestrating a clinical offense. They were heavy favorites to march through Atlanta and secure a third straight crystal ball.
Across the field, Auburn was in the middle of one of the wildest single-season turnarounds in sport. Under first-year head coach Gus Malzahn, the Tigers had bounced back from a dismal 3-9 campaign in 2012. Powered by a relentless read-option ground game led by running back Tre Mason and quarterback Nick Marshall, Auburn scraped together wins through sheer grit and improbable luck—including the "Prayer at Jordan-Hare" deflection win over Georgia just weeks prior.
The atmosphere in Auburn was electric, fueled by a fanbase that sensed an opportunity to derail their rival's empire.
A Game of Momentum Swings
Before the final second ticked away, the 78th Iron Bowl was a heavyweight prize fight featuring multiple lead changes and glaring special teams errors by Alabama. Crimson Tide kicker Adam Griffith struggled throughout the afternoon, missing three field goal attempts, which kept Auburn within striking distance.
Auburn stayed true to its rushing identity, chewing up yardage on the ground while Malzahn mixed in tempo to tire out Alabama's front seven. Trailing in the fourth quarter, Alabama struck back with a stunning 99-yard touchdown pass from McCarron to star wide receiver Amari Cooper, reclaiming the lead at 28-21.
Auburn responded with an 81-yard drive capped by a short Tre Mason touchdown run to tie the game at 28-28 with 32 seconds remaining. The stage was set for a frantic finish.
The Final Second and the Play That Shocked the World
With 0:32 left, Alabama drove into field goal range. A completion to T.J. Yeldon pushed the ball downfield, and Yeldon stepped out of bounds. Officials huddled under the replay hood, reviewing the spot and the clock.
To the disbelief of the stadium, replay officials put one single second back on the clock.
Nick Saban chose to attempt a 57-yard field goal rather than take his chances in overtime. Because the kick needed immense leg strength, Saban deployed backup freshman kicker Adam Griffith instead of Cody Mandell, hoping to clear the crossbar.
Knowing a short kick could be run out of the end zone, Auburn defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson placed cornerback Chris Davis deep in the back of the end zone, flanked by wall blockers.
- The Snap: The snap was clean, and Griffith drove his foot into the ball.
- The Miss: The kick lacked the necessary distance, falling short into the waiting arms of Chris Davis nine yards deep in the end zone.
- The Seam: Davis fielded the ball cleanly and started up the left sideline. Alabama's heavy personnel group—designed to block a rush, not tackle in space—struggled to adjust to the open-field speed.
- The Pivot: Davis slipped a tackle near the numbers, cut back toward the center of the field, and found a convoy of purple and white jerseys providing blocks.
- The Touchdown: With nothing ahead of him except open green turf, Davis sprinted down the right sideline untouched, completing a 109-yard return as time expired.
Jordan-Hare Stadium erupted into pure chaos. Fans flooded the turf before the play was even officially over, resulting in a brief delay while officials cleared the field to run out the final untimed zero.
The Aftermath and Historical Legacy
The reverberations of the Kick Six shifted the landscape of college football.
- The SEC Championship: The victory propelled Auburn to the SEC Championship Game, where they defeated Missouri before advancing to the final BCS National Championship Game against Florida State.
- The Dynasty dented: While Alabama bounced back to win national titles in subsequent years, the loss denied them a shot at a historic three-peat and created an enduring psychological scar in the rivalry.
- Rule Changes: The play prompted deeper conversations regarding college football's end-zone field goal return rules, though the 105-yard (later 109-yard) missed field goal return remains an extreme statistical anomaly.
Ultimately, the 2013 Iron Bowl transcended sports television. It remains a cultural touchstone because it combined high stakes, tactical volatility, and human improbability into a single, flawless moment of athletic theater.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Alabama attempt a 57-yard field goal instead of playing for overtime?
Nick Saban trusted his special teams unit and wanted to avoid handing the ball back to an explosive Auburn offense in overtime. A successful kick would have won the game outright with zero time remaining.
Was the missed field goal return really 109 yards?
Yes. Because the kick was attempted from the Auburn 46-yard line, the line of scrimmage plus the distance into the end zone meant Chris Davis caught the ball nine yards deep. Combined with the length of the field, it officially registered as a 109-yard return.
What happened to Chris Davis after the 2013 Iron Bowl?
Chris Davis earned consensus All-American honors for his performance in 2013. He spent time in the NFL with the San Diego Chargers and San Francisco 49ers before playing in the Canadian Football League.
Did Auburn win the national championship that season?
No. After winning the SEC Championship, Auburn advanced to the 2014 BCS National Championship Game, where they lost a thriller to the Florida State Seminoles 34-31.
