1. The Kick Six (2013)
Final Score: Alabama 28, Auburn 34
This game hurts for so many reasons. Objectively, it was one of the greatest games in college football history. However, it ripped the heart out of Alabama fans.
This season, Alabama appeared to be on a collision course with Jameis Winston and Florida State. Tide fans were begging for their team to be the first to beat them and win the final BCS National Championship. There was also a streak of championships won by SEC teams on the line. The Tide were going for a three-peat, and they were three potential games away from getting there.
In the game, it seemed as if Alabama was trying their best not to lose as opposed to win. Auburn was marching down the field to tie the game in the final minutes, finally scoring with 32 seconds left. Then, Alabama challenged the out-of-bounds call to add one second on the clock. With Alabama’s lack of faith in kickers, many just hoped for a Hail Mary on the final play. However, Alabama trotted on the kicking unit with oversized blockers, and the rest is history.
The worst part of the Kick Six isn’t the fact that Alabama lost to their rival. It isn’t even the fact that Auburn went to the BCS National Championship over Alabama. It’s the fact that Alabama fans have to hear about this play so often. Auburn fans will bring it up despite the fact that they have only beaten the Tide once since that game. It comes up during the coverage of every Iron Bowl. There is no getting away from this game for Alabama fans, no matter how hard they try.
No matter how successful Alabama is, they will live in the shadow of the Kick Six. If they could change the outcome of any game in the Saban era, it would be the 2013 Iron Bowl.