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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Michelle R. Martinelli

Jalen Milroe’s miracle Alabama TD capped off chaotic final minutes of Iron Bowl in win vs. Auburn

Alabama (Organization) Jalen Milroe Auburn Bama Iron Bowl CBS Sports Football Isaiah Bond Payton Thorne the Crimson Tide

On the 10th anniversary weekend of Kick Six, the 2023 Iron Bowl between No. 8 Alabama and Auburn on Saturday at Jordan-Hare Stadium delivered an absolutely wild ending. It left college football fans in total awe as Alabama pulled off a 27-24 win.

The fourth quarter of this game had a little bit of everything, but the real chaos hit with just shy of five minutes left. After the Crimson Tide had a three-and-out drive as they tried to take the lead from Auburn, they punted.

But Auburn cornerback Keionte Scott muffed the punt at the Tigers’ 30-yard line, and it was miraculously recovered by Alabama linebacker Jihaad Campbell, kicking off a new drive. The Crimson Tide made it to a first-and-goal situation at the seven-yard line.

But on second down, Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe and the offense weren’t on the same page when the ball was snapped, and it flew back behind the line of scrimmage for an 18-yard loss, setting up third-and-goal from the 26-yard line.

Yikes.

Things got a little worse for the Crimson Tide — who need to win out to keep their College Football Playoff hopes alive — when Milroe took the third-down snap but crossed the line of scrimmage before throwing. Alabama was dealt a penalty for the illegal forward pass, moving back to Auburn’s 31 and losing a down.

With the game on the line and 43 seconds on the clock, Milroe pulled off an incredible fourth-down pass to receiver Isaiah Bond for a 31-yard touchdown and a 27-24 lead with the extra point.

But the game’s chaos didn’t end there.

Auburn’s subsequent kick return got a little more violent than usual and ignited a small scuffle among players — though no penalties were dealt.

And as the Tigers tried to rally for one last drive with just 26 seconds left in the fourth quarter, Auburn quarterback Payton Thorne was sacked for a 14-yard loss to their own one-yard line. Although Auburn managed to avoid a safety in a dangerous goal-line situation, it didn’t matter.

As the clock hit zero, Thorne’s pass was intercepted by Alabama defensive back Terrion Arnold.

GAME OVER.

PHEW.

Somehow, that all happened in the final five minutes, and college football fans couldn’t believe what they saw.

What a wild Iron Bowl ending! College football Twitter definitely thought so:

More NCAAF

James Madison and Jacksonville State earn bowl berths after all, despite NCAA eligibility rules

The Pac-12's self-obituary on its final day of regular-season football gave fans all the feels

10 hysterical snowy moments from the Kansas State-Iowa State game, including ‘snow fans’

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