#6 Auburn defeated #11 Alabama 22-14 at Jordan-Hare Stadium to complete an 11-0 season under first-year coach Terry Bowden. Auburn’s NCAA probation kept the game off live television. Alabama instead hosted a closed-circuit viewing at Bryant-Denny Stadium for roughly 48,000 spectators, a distinctive feature of this edition.
One fourth-down pass changes the game
Alabama led 14-5 when Auburn starting quarterback Stan White was injured. On fourth-and-15, backup Patrick Nix entered and, on his first play, completed a 35-yard touchdown pass to Frank Sanders. The conversion attempt failed, leaving Alabama ahead 14-12, but Auburn had reversed the game’s momentum.
Auburn later moved in front, and the decisive insurance score came after Alabama quarterback Jay Barker threw an interception. On Auburn’s first play after the turnover, James Bostic ran 70 yards for a touchdown with a little more than two minutes remaining. The run made the final score 22-14 and secured Auburn’s perfect record.
Auburn was the only major team to finish 1993 unbeaten and untied. NCAA probation kept it out of the SEC title game and a bowl, and it finished #4 in the final AP poll. At least one selector recognized Auburn as a national champion, but the title was not a consensus designation.