Dont'a Hightower

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. 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.

The 2011 Iron Bowl was a statement game for an Alabama team seeking vengeance and a shot at the national title. After blowing a 24-0 lead the previous year in the "Camback," Alabama returned to Jordan-Hare Stadium and left no doubt, crushing Auburn 42-14. Running back Trent Richardson put on a clinic, rushing for a career-high 203 yards on 27 carries. He was a bowling ball of knives, breaking tackles and dragging defenders at will. His performance controlled the clock and demoralized the Auburn defense. Quarterback AJ McCarron was surgical, throwing three touchdown passes to balance the attack. Auburn's offense, devoid of Cam Newton, had no answers. They managed just 140 total yards against one of the greatest defenses in college football history.