The 1993 Iron Bowl was the crowning achievement of Terry Bowden’s first season at Auburn. Despite being on NCAA probation and banned from TV (the game was shown only on closed-circuit screens at Bryant-Denny Stadium), #6 Auburn completed a perfect 11-0 season by defeating #11 Alabama 22-14.
Nix Off the Bench
The game’s turning point came when Auburn quarterback Stan White was injured. Backup Patrick Nix entered the cauldron and immediately delivered, throwing a crucial 35-yard touchdown pass to Frank Sanders on a 4th-and-15 play. The audacious call and execution stunned the Alabama defense.
Bostic Closes the Door
Late in the game, running back James Bostic sealed the perfection. He broke loose for a 70-yard touchdown run that sent the Auburn sideline into delirium. Alabama’s offense, hampered by injuries, couldn’t keep pace. The win gave Auburn a claim to the national title (via the National Championship Foundation) and re-established the Tigers as a national power.