#11 Auburn defeated undefeated #2 Alabama 30-20 on December 2, 1989, in the first Iron Bowl played at Jordan-Hare Stadium. More than 85,000 spectators attended, although later official publications disagree slightly on the exact attendance figure. The result gave Auburn a share of the SEC championship and ended Alabama’s national-title opportunity.
Auburn takes control after halftime
Reggie Slack’s 44-yard completion to Alexander Wright helped set up James Joseph’s one-yard touchdown on Auburn’s opening possession. Alabama answered and led 10-7 at halftime on a Philip Doyle field goal and Gary Hollingsworth’s touchdown pass to Marco Battle.
Auburn scored on four consecutive second-half possessions to build a 27-10 lead. Joseph ran for a second touchdown from two yards, Win Lyle made a 22-yard field goal, and Darrell Williams finished an 80-yard drive with a 12-yard touchdown run. Lyle then added a 31-yard field goal. Alabama cut the margin to seven with another Hollingsworth-to-Battle touchdown and a Doyle field goal, but Lyle’s 34-yarder with 33 seconds remaining settled the final score.
Joseph scored twice and Williams once for Auburn.
The venue change had a lasting structural effect on the rivalry. Auburn-hosted editions moved to Jordan-Hare, while Alabama continued using Legion Field for its home games until the series reached Bryant-Denny Stadium in 2000.