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1977 Iron Bowl

1977-11-26
Birmingham, AL (Legion Field)
ALABAMA
Ranked #2
48
WINNER
VS
AUBURN
0
21

Game Summary

Alabama overwhelmed Auburn 48-21 in the 1977 Iron Bowl, extending Bear Bryant's dominant run in the series. The Crimson Tide offense produced one of its strongest rivalry scoring performances of the decade, while Auburn could not keep pace across four quarters.

Decisive Moment

Alabama's offensive surge created separation early and kept Auburn chasing the rest of the afternoon.

Key Players

Jeff Rutledge (Alabama)
Tony Nathan (Alabama)
Ozzie Newsome (Alabama) ↗
Joe Cribbs (Auburn)
📜

Historical Deep Dive

The 1977 Iron Bowl was an offensive explosion for the Crimson Tide. Ranked #2, Alabama decimated Auburn 48-21 at Legion Field in one of the most lopsided scores of the era.

Nathan and Cribbs

The game featured star power on both sides. Auburn’s Joe Cribbs provided an early spark with an 85-yard touchdown run, but Alabama’s Tony Nathan stole the show. Nathan and the Alabama offense racked up yards at will. The 48 points scored by Alabama remains one of their highest totals in the history of the rivalry.

Statement Win

The victory capped a dominant regular season for Alabama (10-1) and sent them to the Sugar Bowl, where they would dismantle Ohio State. It was a clear demonstration of the gap between the two programs in the late 70s.

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1976
Alabama 38 - Auburn 7
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1978
Alabama 34 - Auburn 16

Source and Context Note

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