Auburn Football’s Unforgettable Presence Among the Top 25 Games of the Century
Originally featured on Auburn Tigers on SI | By Terrance Biggs | Updated May 25, 2025
Though Auburn football has recently endured tough times—some moments so disheartening they’ve left fans questioning the team’s direction—the broader view of the past century tells a more inspiring story. Despite current challenges, Auburn has remained a prominent figure in college football, giving its fans unforgettable moments to cherish. As another class of senior players leaves Jordan-Hare Stadium, a fresh generation of Tigers prepares to make its mark. They inherit not only a rich legacy but also the weight of expectations born from Auburn’s storied past.
For most of the 21st century—roughly 80 percent, by some estimates—the Tigers consistently held their place among the elite programs in college football. However, the last decade has seen dark times for the team. Seasons without bowl appearances and losses that left fans in disbelief have cast a shadow over the program. Yet, even in those disappointing stretches, Auburn football has managed to leave an indelible impact on the sport. The program has a tradition of producing unforgettable moments that will forever be etched in college football lore.
In recognition of the most iconic and thrilling college football games of the 2000s, The Athletic’s David Ubben curated a list of the Top 25 matchups of the century. Auburn not only made the list, but did so in commanding fashion, with three games earning spots in the top ten—an impressive feat that underscores the dramatic highs the Tigers have reached.
No. 9 – The CamBack (2010 Iron Bowl)
The 2010 Iron Bowl matchup between Auburn and Alabama is remembered as one of the greatest comebacks in college football history. At one point, it looked as if Alabama would walk away with an easy win after kicker Jeremy Shelley nailed a 20-yard field goal, extending the Crimson Tide’s lead. The home crowd was ecstatic, sensing an impending Auburn collapse. But one man had different plans—Cam Newton.
Newton, Auburn’s star quarterback, seized control of the game in dramatic fashion. What followed was a stunning rally, as Newton led the Tigers back from a 24-point deficit to claim victory. The comeback was punctuated by a crucial seven-yard touchdown pass to tight end Philip Lutzenkirchen. That throw completed one of the most unlikely reversals in Iron Bowl history and secured Newton’s place as a college football legend.
David Ubben noted, “The CamBack was the crown jewel of one of the greatest individual seasons in college football history.” Newton’s performance that year, capped by the Iron Bowl win, led him to the Heisman Trophy, an SEC Championship, and ultimately a national title. The game remains a powerful reminder of Newton’s unmatched dominance that season and Auburn’s resilience under pressure.
No. 8 – The One That Got Away (2013 BCS National Championship)
In another unforgettable game, Auburn found itself heartbreakingly close to winning its second national championship in under five years. With just 78 seconds remaining in the 2013 BCS title game, the Tigers held a slim lead over Florida State. Victory was within grasp—until a former Auburn recruiting target orchestrated one of the most memorable drives in championship history.
Jameis Winston, the eventual Heisman Trophy winner and a native of Bessemer, Alabama, led the Seminoles down the field with remarkable poise. Winston, who was once recruited by Auburn but never enrolled due to an NCAA violation related to a visit, had the final say. Starting from his own 20-yard line, he methodically moved the ball, taking advantage of an Auburn defense that had already allowed a 21-3 lead to evaporate earlier in the game.
The defining play came on second-and-two from the Florida State 28-yard line, when Winston found receiver Rashad Greene wide open for a 49-yard gain. The play broke Auburn’s momentum and set up the Seminoles for the win. Moments later, Winston delivered a pinpoint pass to Kelvin Benjamin for a two-yard touchdown that sealed Florida State’s 34-31 victory. The game left Auburn fans heartbroken, not just because of the loss, but because of how close they came to immortality.
No. 3 – The Kick-Six (2013 Iron Bowl)
Few moments in the entire history of college football can rival the sheer drama and jaw-dropping execution of the 2013 Iron Bowl, known simply as the “Kick-Six.” With the score tied at 28 and time expiring, Alabama head coach Nick Saban opted for a long-shot 57-yard field goal attempt by freshman kicker Adam Griffith. The decision would go down as one of the most costly in Crimson Tide history.
The kick fell short, landing in the hands of Auburn’s Chris Davis, who stood deep in the end zone. What followed was pure magic. Davis weaved his way through Alabama’s special teams unit, aided by key blocks and flawless execution. The home crowd exploded as Davis streaked down the sideline, completing an astonishing 109-yard return for a touchdown.
The moment sent shockwaves across the college football world. Auburn had snatched victory from the jaws of overtime, and Alabama, the defending national champion, had fallen in unimaginable fashion. Commentators’ voices cracked with excitement, and the footage of the play has since become one of the most replayed and revered clips in sports history. The Kick-Six remains a symbol of everything Auburn football can be: unpredictable, thrilling, and unforgettable.
A Legacy Built on Drama and Emotion
Auburn football, for all its ups and downs, has crafted a legacy full of emotional highs and gut-wrenching lows. The program has proven time and again that when it wins, it does so with flair and electricity that few teams can match. Conversely, when it loses, the heartbreak often lingers. But this emotional rollercoaster is exactly what defines the Auburn experience.
To be an Auburn fan is to ride a wave of triumph and despair, often within the same season—or even the same game. The program’s identity is rooted in the extraordinary. As new players take the field, they do so with the weight of history on their shoulders and the opportunity to create new unforgettable moments.
Welcome to Auburn football—where the past makes you cheer, weep, laugh, and rage all in one breath. And through it all, the legend grows.
