The 2012 Iron Bowl was a mercifully short execution. En route to their second consecutive national championship, #2 Alabama completely dismantled a reeling Auburn team 49-0 at Bryant-Denny Stadium. It was the first shutout in the rivalry since 2008 and highlighted two programs moving in opposite directions.
Total Domination
The stats were staggering. Alabama outgained Auburn 483 to 163. AJ McCarron threw four touchdown passes in an efficient, effortless performance before resting for the starters. Eddie Lacy and T.J. Yeldon ran through gaping holes in the Auburn defense. By halftime, it was 42-0.
The End of an Era
For Auburn, the 49-point loss was the final nail in the coffin for head coach Gene Chizik, who was fired the following day just two years after winning a national title. For Alabama, it was a tune-up for the SEC Championship against Georgia. The game lacked drama, but it stood as a monument to the ruthlessness of the Nick Saban machine at its peak.