House Divided: The Alabama vs. Auburn Rivalry at Home

In Alabama, there are two seasons... football season and waiting for football season. And nowhere is the state’s most famous rivalry more intense than in households where one partner bleeds Crimson Tide red and the other roars for the Auburn Tigers.

These “House Divided” homes turn autumn Saturdays into a mix of good-natured ribbing, passionate cheering and just a touch of friendly sabotage.

 

 

The Rivalry in a Nutshell
The Iron Bowl... the annual showdown between the University of Alabama and Auburn University... has been played since 1893. It’s one of college football’s fiercest rivalries, with family bragging rights often on the line alongside conference championships and playoff hopes.

Other college rivalries across the country have their fire... Michigan vs. Ohio State, Texas vs. Oklahoma, Florida vs. Georgia... but few match the Iron Bowl’s unique blend of proximity, history and sheer passion.

 

How many other rivalries can you think of that divide a family dinner table?

 

 

Life in a House Divided
Imagine... Crimson “A” pillows on the couch, navy-and-orange blankets draped over the recliner. Sometimes it’s separate TVs, separate snacks and separate corners of the living room until the final whistle.

 

After a loss, one spouse might “accidentally” forget to do the laundry… especially if it’s full of rival colors.

 

Madison resident Kelly A., an Auburn alum married to a lifelong 

Alabama fan, laughs about it...

 

“We have a rule... no trash talk until halftime. After that, it’s fair game.”

 

How about your family? Do you have special “rivalry rules” when Alabama and Auburn play?

 

 

Why Our Rivalry Tops Them All
What makes the Alabama–Auburn rivalry different is how deeply it’s woven into everyday life. We work together, worship together, raise families together... and still, one Saturday in late November, feels like the entire state draws a line right down the middle.

The passion runs so deep that even when the game ends, the conversations (and playful jabs) carry on for months. And for couples in a House Divided, it’s more than just a game... it’s really part of their love story.

 

If you had to choose... would you rather see your team win a national championship or just never lose an Iron Bowl again? 

 

 

 

Looking Ahead to the Next Iron Bowl
This year’s Iron Bowl will be hosted at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn.

 

Whether you’re shouting “Roll Tide!” or “War Eagle!”... or hearing both in the same living room... it’s guaranteed to be a game filled with drama, tradition and bragging rights.

 

Where will you be watching the game this year... on the couch with divided décor, or are you planning on being there live?

 

 

Rivalries may exist in every corner of college football, but here in Alabama, ours doesn’t just happen on the field... it lives in our homes, our communities and our hearts. And that’s why the Iron Bowl will always be the best rivalry in America.