The 2009 Iron Bowl was the hurdle Alabama had to clear to reach perfection. At 11-0, the #2 Crimson Tide entered Jordan-Hare Stadium facing a 7-4 Auburn team that played its best game of the season. The result was a classic that came down to a legendary final possession.
Auburn’s Valid Threat
Auburn head coach Gene Chizik and offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn emptied the playbook. They used trick plays, including a 67-yard touchdown run by Terrell Zachery and a touchdown pass from Chris Todd to Darvin Adams, to build leads of 14-0 and 21-14. Alabama’s Heisman contender, Mark Ingram, was held in check (30 yards) by an inspired Auburn defense.
The Drive
Trailing 21-20 with under eight minutes to play, Alabama took over at their own 21-yard line. What followed was “The Drive.” Quarterback Greg McElroy engineered a methodical, 15-play, 79-yard march that consumed over seven minutes of clock. Facing intense pressure, McElroy made clutch throws, including a key third-down conversion to Julio Jones. With 1:24 remaining, McElroy found Roy Upchurch in the flat for a 4-yard touchdown. The 26-21 victory preserved the perfect season, leading to an SEC Championship win over Florida and Alabama’s first national title under Nick Saban.