1989 Iron Bowl

1989-12-02

Jordan-Hare Stadium, Auburn, AL

ALABAMA

Ranked #2

20

VS

AUBURN

Ranked #11

30

WINNER

Game Summary

The 1989 Iron Bowl was more than a game; it was a cultural shift. For the first time in the rivalry's history, the game was played at Auburn's Jordan-Hare Stadium. The emotional energy propelled #11 Auburn to a 30-20 victory over #2 undefeated Alabama. The atmosphere was unlike anything Alabama had faced. Auburn trailed 10-7 at halftime but fed off the crowd's energy in the second half. They scored on four consecutive possessions to take a commanding 27-10 lead. Quarterback Reggie Slack and running back Stacy Danley led the way, but the MVP was the crowd. Alabama battled back but couldn't overcome the deficit or the environment. The win secured a share of the SEC title for Auburn. More importantly, it shattered the tradition of playing the Iron Bowl solely at Legion Field, changing the dynamics of the rivalry forever.

Series Snapshot

#54

Meeting of 90

30-23-1

Series after game

4-6-0

Record in the 1980s through this game

#46

Widest-margin rank

Before this meeting, the archive record stood at Alabama 30, Auburn 22, with 1 tie. The 1989 result moved it to Alabama 30, Auburn 23, with 1 tie.

This was the 10th listed Iron Bowl of the 1980s. Through this game, Alabama had 4 wins, Auburn had 6, and the decade included 0 ties.

The teams combined for 50 points, ranking #20 in total scoring among the 90 meetings in the current archive, with 2 games sharing that total. The 10-point margin ranks #46 by size, shared by 7 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 1988 and the next was 1990.

Decisive Moment

Auburn's four consecutive scoring drives in the second half, fueled by the first-ever Jordan-Hare Iron Bowl crowd.

Key Players

Reggie Slack (Auburn)

Stacy Danley (Auburn)

Win Lyle (Auburn)

Gary Hollingsworth (Alabama)

📜

Historical Deep Dive

The 1989 Iron Bowl was more than a game; it was a cultural shift. For the first time in the rivalry’s history, the game was played at Auburn’s Jordan-Hare Stadium. The emotional energy propelled #11 Auburn to a 30-20 victory over #2 undefeated Alabama.

A Wall of Sound

The atmosphere was unlike anything Alabama had faced. Auburn trailed 10-7 at halftime but fed off the crowd’s energy in the second half. They scored on four consecutive possessions to take a commanding 27-10 lead. Quarterback Reggie Slack and running back Stacy Danley led the way, but the MVP was the crowd.

A New Era

Alabama battled back but couldn’t overcome the deficit or the environment. The win secured a share of the SEC title for Auburn. More importantly, it shattered the tradition of playing the Iron Bowl solely at Legion Field, changing the dynamics of the rivalry forever. It is widely considered the loudest game in Auburn history.