The 2018 Iron Bowl was a reminder of the gap between a good team and a legendary one. Top-ranked Alabama welcomed Auburn to Bryant-Denny Stadium and proceeded to deliver a 52-21 beatdown that wasn’t even as close as the score indicated. The story of the day was Tua Tagovailoa.
Quarterback Perfection
Tagovailoa, in the midst of one of the most efficient seasons in college football history, put on a clinic. He completed 25 of 32 passes for 324 yards and five touchdowns, adding a sixth score on the ground. Whether dropping dimes to Jerry Jeudy (77 yards, 1 TD) or finding Henry Ruggs III (2 TDs), Tua operated with a level of precision Auburn had no answer for.
A Complete Rout
After a somewhat competitive first half (Alabama led 17-14), the Tide exploded in the third quarter. They scored on seven consecutive possessions, turning a tight game into a laugher. Auburn’s offense, led by Jarrett Stidham, mustered only 281 total yards and struggled to sustain drives against a ferocious Alabama front. The victory completed an undefeated regular season for Alabama and reaffirmed their status as the kings of the SEC West.