1982 Iron Bowl

1982-11-27

Birmingham, AL (Legion Field)

ALABAMA

Ranked #7

22

VS

AUBURN

Ranked #8

23

WINNER

Game Summary

The 1982 Iron Bowl is the moment the tide turned. After losing nine consecutive games to Alabama, Auburn finally broke through with a 23-22 victory at Legion Field. The game is immortalized by one soaring leap. Trailing 22-17 late in the fourth quarter, Auburn drove the length of the field. With under two minutes to play, they faced a 4th-and-goal from the 1-yard line. Coach Pat Dye didn't hesitate. He gave the ball to freshman Bo Jackson. Jackson took the handoff and launched himself over the pile—and the Alabama defense—into the end zone. "Bo Over the Top" became the defining image of Auburn football for a generation. The win broke the psychological stranglehold Bear Bryant had on the rivalry.

Decisive Moment

Bo Jackson's "Over the Top" 1-yard touchdown leap on 4th down broke Alabama's 9-game winning streak.

Key Players

Bo Jackson (Auburn) ↗

Randy Campbell (Auburn)

Jeremiah Castille (Alabama)

Bear Bryant (Alabama) ↗

📜

Historical Deep Dive

The 1982 Iron Bowl is the moment the tide turned. After losing nine consecutive games to Alabama, Auburn finally broke through with a 23-22 victory at Legion Field. The game is immortalized by one soaring leap.

The Drive

Trailing 22-17 late in the fourth quarter, Auburn drove the length of the field. With under two minutes to play, they faced a 4th-and-goal from the 1-yard line. Coach Pat Dye didn’t hesitate. He gave the ball to freshman Bo Jackson.

The Leap

Jackson took the handoff and launched himself over the pile—and the Alabama defense—into the end zone. “Bo Over the Top” became the defining image of Auburn football for a generation. The win broke the psychological stranglehold Bear Bryant had on the rivalry and ushered in the Pat Dye era of dominance.