Auburn University and the University of Alabama, both located in the state of Alabama, have garnered the undivided affection of football fans due to the absence of NFL teams in the state. The two traditional powerhouses are undoubtedly the most important presences with the broadest fan base and the most enduring history in the state.
Naturally, the two teams meet each year, more than once. Initially, their games were held in Birmingham, Alabama, which for a long time at the turn of the 20th century, was a steel city that could rival Pittsburgh. This is the origin of the name "Iron Bowl."
As of 2016, the two teams have faced each other a total of eighty times, with the Alabama Crimson Tide Storm leading with a record of forty-four wins, thirty-five losses, and one tie.
And now, the eighty-first Iron Bowl is about to unfold.