The 2002 Iron Bowl produced one of the most unlikely heroes in the rivalry’s history. With starters Carnell Williams and Ronnie Brown banged up, Auburn turned to backup running back Tre Smith. The freshman responded with the game of his life, leading unranked Auburn to a stunning 17-7 upset over #9 Alabama at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
The Upset Formula
Auburn dominated the first half, jumping out to a 17-0 lead that silenced the home crowd. Smith was the workhorse, carrying the ball 25 times for 126 yards. His ability to grind out tough yards kept the powerful Alabama offense off the field. Quarterback Jason Campbell was efficient, throwing two touchdown passes to Robert Johnson.
Defense Stands Tall
On the other side of the ball, Auburn’s defense was spectacular. They held Alabama to just 50 yards rushing and forced turnovers that crippled the Tide’s comeback attempts. Alabama finally scored in the fourth quarter, but it was too little, too late. The win was sweet for Auburn, who extended their winning streak in Tuscaloosa to four games (winning every Iron Bowl played there since the site moved from Birmingham).