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1892 Iron Bowl

1893-02-22
Birmingham, AL
ALABAMA
22
VS
AUBURN
32
WINNER

Game Summary

The inaugural Iron Bowl was played on February 22, 1893 (counting as the 1892 season). Auburn won 32-22 at Lakeview Park in Birmingham, igniting the passion that would last for centuries.

Series Snapshot

#1
Meeting of 90
0-1-0
Series after game
0-1-0
Record in the 1890s through this game
#46
Widest-margin rank

Before this meeting, the archive record stood at Alabama 0, Auburn 0, with 0 ties. The 1892 result moved it to Alabama 0, Auburn 1, with 0 ties.

This was the 1st listed Iron Bowl of the 1890s. Through this game, Alabama had 0 wins, Auburn had 1, and the decade included 0 ties.

The teams combined for 54 points, ranking #16 in total scoring among the 90 meetings in the current archive. The 10-point margin ranks #46 by size, shared by 7 games.

Early-era Iron Bowl records can be sparse, so this archive keeps the verified date, location and score separate from later interpretation. In the surrounding chronology, this is the first listed meeting and the next was 1893.

Decisive Moment

The final whistle of the very first game.

📜

Historical Deep Dive

The Birth of a Rivalry

The very first meeting between Alabama and Auburn took place on February 22, 1893, at Lakeview Park in Birmingham. While technically the final game of the 1892 season, it laid the foundation for the most intense rivalry in college sports.

The Game

Auburn won the historical opener 32-22 in front of a crowd of around 5,000. The game was a high-scoring affair for the era, with Auburn jumping out to a lead they would not relinquish.

Key Stats

  • Attendance: ~5,000
  • Auburn Captain: Rufus Dorsey
  • Alabama Captain: E.B. Shoemaker (1892 season)

Significance

This game established the hostility and passion that would define the Iron Bowl. Even in 1893, the state was divided.

Next Game →
1893
Alabama 16 - Auburn 40
Editorial note

Iron Bowl History separates verified game data from editorial interpretation. Scores, dates, and rivalry records are maintained from official records, media guides, game books, and contemporary accounts when available. See our sources and methodology page for correction standards.