Auburn fans blanketed the field from end zone to end zone, just like the last time they got to celebrate a stirring Iron Bowl win. This time, Jarrett Stidham, Kerryon Johnson, and No. 6 Auburn didn’t need a miraculous final play to unleash the celebration. It was a build-up to the final as the Tigers beat top-ranked Alabama in a dominating 26-14 win Saturday. Auburn earned a berth in next week’s Southeastern Conference title game against No. 7 Georgia.
The Tigers, an afterthought earlier this season, now have their sights set on one of the four playoff spots. And Auburn’s coach Gus Malzahn made it clear his two-loss squad deserves a shot. One of his team’s two defeats was to defending national champion Clemson, No. 3 at the time.
Auburn fans covered the field in orange and blue after the final play, creating a scene similar to 2013 when the fourth-ranked Tigers beat No. 1 Alabama on a last-play, 109-yard return of a missed field goal. 
Auburn mostly shut down the league’s top scoring offense for their second win in three weeks over the top team in the playoff rankings. They won the Western Division two weeks after dispatching the Bulldogs with similar precision. The Crimson Tide made a rare assortment of mistakes for a team that had appeared to be headed toward a shot at a fourth consecutive SEC title and a playoff berth. Alabama coach Nick Saban said his team still deserves a playoff shot after playing for the national title the past two years and scarcely getting challenged this season.
Auburn’s Johnson delivered a jump pass for a touchdown and ran 30 times for 104 yards before leaving in the fourth quarter with a right shoulder injury. Malzahn said after the game that Johnson has “a shoulder issue,” but didn’t elaborate on his status for the rematch with Georgia in Atlanta. Johnson had earlier appeared hurt on a run toward the pylon, but stayed in for a 1-yard touchdown run on the next play.
The SEC’s leading rusher crumpled to the ground after a carry and walked off the field holding his right arm close to his body with a towel draped over his head. Fans chanted, “Kerryon!” “Kerryon!” With No. 2 Miami losing Friday night to Pittsburgh, it’s the first time the top two teams in the AP poll have fallen on the same regular-season weekend since November 17, 2012. On that day, No. 1 Oregon lost to No. 14 Stanford and No. 2 Kansas State went down to Baylor.
Stidham completed 21 of 28 passes and ran for 50 yards, including a 16-yard touchdown scamper early in the fourth quarter. Ryan Davis caught 11 passes for 139 yards. Alabama’s Jalen Hurts passed for 177 
Alabama had a devastating sequence after Auburn took the lead late in the third on Johnson’s 1-yard run. Trevon Diggs’ 55-yard return set the Tide up for a potential go-ahead score, and a pass interference against Auburn helped as well. Hale Hentges nearly caught a tipped pass in the end zone but replay overturned the touchdown call. Then. to make things worse, the Tide botched a field goal attempt with a bad snap. Alabama had two straight botched snaps on a promising drive in the fourth quarter, failing to make good on a do-over after an Auburn penalty on the second.
The Tigers were able to hold on for the improbable upset and make their case for the College Football Playoffs even more intense. The Crimson Tide will now have to wait to see if the CFP committee decides to throw them in the top 4 for a spot in the playoffs.