By Darin 
Introduction
November 30, 1985, gifted college football fans what many consider the greatest, non-fluky finish in the history of the Iron Bowl. This wasn’t just another game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the No. 7 Auburn Tigers; it was an absolute war of attrition that climaxed in an unforgettable final quarter. With four lead changes in the fourth quarter alone, this game boiled down to strategy, determination, and one historic swing of a leg that cemented Alabama’s 25-23 victory and earned its place in football lore as “The Kick.”
A Fourth Quarter for the Ages
Played before a thunderous crowd at Legion Field in Birmingham, the 50th Iron Bowl was a defensive battle until the final fifteen minutes. The fourth quarter exploded into a dizzying exchange of leads. The final sequence began when Auburn took a late, crucial lead. Reggie Ware surged into the end zone from one yard out, putting the Tigers up 23-22 with only 57 seconds left on the clock. Auburn decided to go for a two-point conversion to seal the deal, but the attempt failed, leaving the door slightly ajar for the Crimson Tide.
With the ball at their own 20-yard line and less than a minute remaining, the Tide’s hope rested on quarterback Mike Shula. Shula, displaying ice-cold poise, engineered a rapid-fire, six-play drive. The drive’s defining moment came on a vital fourth-and-6 conversion, where Shula’s execution kept the team alive. The drive stalled at the Auburn 35-yard line, putting the game—and Alabama’s season—in the hands of kicker Van Tiffin.
The Leg That Made History
With the clock melting away, Van Tiffin lined up for a monumental 52-yard field goal. The crowd noise was deafening, the pressure suffocating. Tiffin struck the ball cleanly, splitting the uprights perfectly as time expired. The kick secured a breathtaking 25-23 victory for Alabama, simultaneously crushing Auburn’s hopes and creating an indelible highlight for the Crimson Tide faithful. The raw emotion of the final seconds, fueled by Shula’s clutch drive (including a critical block by the QB himself to spring a runner earlier in the series), remains unmatched.
Article from Dec 1, 1985 The Columbus Ledger (Columbus, Georgia)
Conclusion
The 1985 Iron Bowl, remembered simply as “The Kick,” stands as a masterpiece of rivalry football. It was a game decided not by chance, but by the courage to execute under pressure in the most high-leverage moments. From the four lead changes in the final quarter to Van Tiffin’s 52-yard dagger, this matchup perfectly illustrates the intensity of the Alabama-Auburn rivalry and why the Iron Bowl remains the benchmark for late-game college football drama.
Imagine denying Bo Jackson on his birthday!