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SEC Football: 76th year of the Iron Bowl

By Matt Green

Nov 26, 2016; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Jalen Hurts (2) runs to the goal line as he is pursued by Auburn Tigers defensive back Tray Matthews (28) and defensive lineman Carl Lawson (55) at Bryant-Denny Stadium. The Tide defeats the Tigers 30-12. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 26, 2016; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Jalen Hurts (2) runs to the goal line as he is pursued by Auburn Tigers defensive back Tray Matthews (28) and defensive lineman Carl Lawson (55) at Bryant-Denny Stadium. The Tide defeats the Tigers 30-12. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports /
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There are 76 days till college football season, and on today’s countdown we are going to focus on one of the best rivalries in college football.

The Iron Bowl. SEC football is filled with some of the most passionate, storied rivalries in college football, but the annual matchup between Alabama and Auburn tops them all.

And that leads us to no. 76 in the Southbound and Down College Football Countdown.

2017 will be the 76th matchup of the Iron Bowl between Alabama and Auburn

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The Iron Bowl has a strong tradition going back for decades. But in recent history, this game has been even more pivotal. In this past eight seasons, the winner of this game has played for the national championship seven times. Of course, it was the Crimson Tide five of those seven times, but impressive nonetheless. LSU in 2011 is the only team outside of Alabama and Auburn to win the SEC West since 2008.

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Earlier this week, we posted a story about the sports information directors making their preseason SEC football predictions, and sure enough no. 1 and no. 2 were Alabama and Auburn.

Alabama leads the all -time series 44-30-1 according to sports-reference.com. And while Alabama has dominated in recent history, winning seven of the last nine matchups, Auburn actually leads the series 18-17 over the last 35 years.

The Iron Bowl is what rivalries are supposed to be about. It’s not a rivalry during college football season, it’s a rivalry 365 days a year.

You cant’t live in the state of Alabama without having an allegiance to Alabama or Auburn. These two schools and fanbases hate each other so much, they didn’t even play from 1908 to 1947.

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Alabama is currently on a three-game winning streak in the series, but the 2017 game will be in Jordan-Hare Stadium, and we’ve all seen what’s possible at Jordan Hare.

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