Editor's Note: This page was previously framed as an oral history. It has been revised as a source-based reconstruction because Iron Bowl History does not have original interview transcripts for the attributed voices that appeared in the older version.
The Stakes
The 2013 Iron Bowl matched No. 1 Alabama against No. 4 Auburn with the SEC West on the line. Alabama was pursuing another national-title run under Nick Saban, while Auburn had surged from a 3-9 season in 2012 into Gus Malzahn's first-year turnaround.
The game was tied 28-28 in the final minute after Auburn quarterback Nick Marshall found Sammie Coates for a late touchdown. Alabama answered by moving into long field-goal range, and a replay review put one second back on the clock.
The Decision
Alabama sent freshman kicker Adam Griffith out for a 57-yard attempt. Auburn placed Chris Davis deep in the end zone, protecting against the possibility that the kick would fall short and become returnable.
That choice is the hinge of the play. A long field goal at the edge of a kicker's range can either end the game or create a live-ball return with unusual spacing, because the coverage unit is made of field-goal personnel rather than kickoff specialists.
The Return
Griffith's kick came up short. Davis caught it near the back of the end zone and returned it down the sideline for a touchdown as time expired. The official scoring line lists the play as a 100-yard missed field-goal return, while Auburn's and popular accounts often describe the full run as 109 yards because Davis fielded the ball deep in the end zone.
The return gave Auburn a 34-28 win, sent the Tigers to the SEC Championship Game, and ended Alabama's bid for a perfect regular season.
Why It Endured
The Kick Six remains the Iron Bowl's clearest example of how the rivalry compresses an entire season into a single decision. Alabama was close enough to win the game with one swing of the leg. Auburn was prepared for the only counterpunch left.
Its legacy is not only the touchdown. It is the combination of stakes, clock, field position, and tactical choice: one second, a tie game, a long field goal, and an Auburn returner waiting where most plays would already be over.
Sources reviewedExpand
Reference notes
MethodologyUpdated May 12, 2026: This article was revised to remove unsourced first-person quote blocks. Factual claims are checked against the sources above; legacy sections are editorial analysis.
Used for the game sequence, final score, and immediate postgame context.
Used to verify Auburn's 2013 results, the Alabama game listing, and postseason path.