Bad things have happened to Alabama football at Jordan-Hare Stadium against Auburn. Since the Iron Bowl moved to home sites from its traditional home at Legion Field after the 1988 season, the plains has been a place of pain for the Crimson Tide.

Even in the years since Nick Saban took over as head coach, Alabama has continued to have a tough time in Auburn. It’s where the Kick Six happened, along with multiple other moments that dashed national title hopes for the Tide, especially when Gus Malzahn was in charge for the Tigers.

Saturday’s edition of the Iron Bowl almost provided another taste of east Alabama misery.

“I guess if you’re in this long enough, sometimes it goes against you in the last play of the game,” Saban said Saturday night after the game. “And sometimes we’re fortunate and it goes for you.”

The 2023 rendition of the Iron Bowl very nearly got away from the Crimson Tide. Alabama was heavily favored entering the game with Auburn coming off a loss to New Mexico State, but didn’t execute throughout the game.

On UA’s final drive, a snap miscommunication deep in Tiger territory had Alabama facing 4th-and-goal from the 31. It seemed the Jordan-Hare demons were going to avoid exorcism for another year.

Then, Jalen Milroe dropped back on a play called “Gravedigger” and found Isaiah Bond in the end zone. Alabama won 27-24.

“So do I need to really say anything?” Saban asked to open his postgame press conference. “It’s an unbelievable game.”

Alabama couldn’t stop the Auburn run game throughout the evening. Will Reichard missed a field goal for the Crimson Tide.

The reason it was on the 31 was because of a bad snap and an illegal forward pass penalty pushing it back from 1st-and-goal at the 8. It was shaping up to be a classic Jordan-Hare dream crusher for the Crimson Tide.

But it wasn’t. UA survived.

“That’s the biggest thing this whole football team has done is grow from tough times,” Milroe said afterward. “And I think that’s what separates us.”

The imagery of one of Alabama’s post painful moments was all around on Saturday. 10 years ago was the Kick Six, and the 2013 Tigers were in the house to be honored.

Earlier in the day, the ball that Chris Davis ran all the way back was displayed under glass outside the stadium. Before and during the game, clips of past Iron Bowls that Alabama lost were played on the video board.

It seemed almost storybook for the Crimson Tide to experience more Jordan-Hare weirdness. But that’s not something Saban believes in.

Alabama’s coach mentioned early in the week that he thinks the team that played best has won every time he’s visited Auburn. After the game, he specifically noted all the opportunities UA had to win the Kick Six game.

“We’ve been on both sides of good fortune and misfortune,” Saban said. “I gotta admit, we had good fortune. But it still comes down to ability to execute. Somebody had to have an opportunity to make a play. Whether it was a punt returner or IB in the end zone, or whoever was guarding him. That’s why you play the game.”

Alabama will be back in action on Saturday against Georgia in the SEC championship game.