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1983 Iron Bowl

1983-12-03
Birmingham, AL (Legion Field)
ALABAMA
Ranked #19
20
VS
AUBURN
Ranked #3
23
WINNER

Game Summary

The 1983 Iron Bowl was the Bo Jackson show. In a game played during a severe thunderstorm at Legion Field that included a tornado warning, #3 Auburn defeated #19 Alabama 23-20 to win the SEC Championship. Jackson was unstoppable. He rushed for 256 yards on 20 carries, an Iron Bowl record. His 69-yard touchdown run, where he seemingly reversed field twice, is legendary. He averaged nearly 13 yards per carry against a stout Alabama defense. The weather was apocalyptical, with torrential rain and wind. Despite the conditions, both teams played at a high level. Auburn's defense made key stops late to preserve the win. The victory propelled Auburn to the Sugar Bowl and a #3 national finish.

Series Snapshot

#48
Meeting of 90
28-19-1
Series after game
2-2-0
Record in the 1980s through this game
#75
Widest-margin rank

Before this meeting, the archive record stood at Alabama 28, Auburn 18, with 1 tie. The 1983 result moved it to Alabama 28, Auburn 19, with 1 tie.

This was the 4th listed Iron Bowl of the 1980s. Through this game, Alabama had 2 wins, Auburn had 2, and the decade included 0 ties.

The teams combined for 43 points, ranking #35 in total scoring among the 90 meetings in the current archive, with 2 games sharing that total. The 3-point margin ranks #75 by size, shared by 5 games.

This archive page combines verified game data with available rivalry context for the modern series record. In the surrounding chronology, the previous listed meeting was 1982 and the next was 1984.

Decisive Moment

Bo Jackson's 256 rushing yards and 69-yard touchdown dominated the game.

Key Players

Bo Jackson (Auburn) ↗
Lionel James (Auburn)
Walter Lewis (Alabama)
Al Del Greco (Auburn)
📜

Historical Deep Dive

The 1983 Iron Bowl was the Bo Jackson show. In a game played during a severe thunderstorm at Legion Field that included a tornado warning, #3 Auburn defeated #19 Alabama 23-20 to win the SEC Championship.

A Rushing Masterclass

Jackson was unstoppable. He rushed for 256 yards on 20 carries, an Iron Bowl record. His 69-yard touchdown run, where he seemingly reversed field twice, is legendary. He averaged nearly 13 yards per carry against a stout Alabama defense.

Weathering the Storm

The weather was apocalyptical, with torrential rain and wind. Despite the conditions, both teams played at a high level. Auburn’s defense made key stops late to preserve the win. The victory propelled Auburn to the Sugar Bowl and a #3 national finish, cementing the 1983 team as one of the best in school history.

← Previous Game
1982
Alabama 22 - Auburn 23
Next Game →
1984
Alabama 17 - Auburn 15
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.