Weve had shocking Iron Bowls that were instant classics.

Beautiful endings, we have seen. Stunning things. Brilliant chaos, and violent art. Unbelievable mistakes, too, and unforgivable scores.

This 86th edition of Auburn vs. Alabama was none of those things, but it was unlike all the others, too. Never has this game that makes an entire state stop and watch given us an overtime battle until Saturday at Jordan-Hare Stadium when a most beautiful train wreck finally came to a scratching, grinding, silent stop with Alabama ahead 24-22 after four extra frames.

It was so, so loud, and then it was not.

Then, after it was Bryce Young to John Metchie III in the corner of the end zone for the win, it was Alabama center Chris Owens, a COVID-19 sixth-year super senior, waving good-bye to Auburns fans as they stood stunned and exhausted and spent like jilted lovers at the altar of eternal bliss.

So long, cozy happiness by the raging fire of a burning rivalry. So long love. The long, cold winter is here instead. For Auburn, the chill from this one will linger.

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Alabama needed a Heisman-esque touchdown drive from its California quarterback in the final minutes of regulation just to send the game into overtime. With Young behind center, and given yet again another chance after so many inexplicable errors, the Crimson Tide went 97 yards to save its season. A lot about this game was difficult to watch for fans of competent offenses, but the catch by Alabama freshman receiver JaCorey Brooks with 24 seconds left in the fourth quarter was an all-time Iron Bowl moment.

The poise. The confidence. The glory. Who the heck cares about stats after an ending like that? It will be a noisy week for Alabama, but none of it will matter when the SEC championship game kicks off with No. 1 Georgia. Win and Alabama is in the College Football Playoff. Win and Young will have a strong case for the Heisman. Its all that simple. During Nick Sabans time at Alabama, it has never felt this difficult.

The ending was crazy just because of the adversity we had to go through, Metchie said.

We knew it was going to be a dogfight, said Alabama linebacker Will Anderson Jr. It was a dogfight.

It was Auburns nightmare in the end after blowing a lead for a third loss in a row. The Tigers led Mississippi State 28-3 before giving it all away. They were up on South Carolina 14-0 before blowing it. This time, Auburn led No. 3 Alabama 10-0, but for most of the game it felt more like 50-0.

The good news for Auburn should be obvious. The Iron Bowl can humble fan bases and players and especially the coaches, but this one showed that maybe Auburn isnt too far behind its in-state rival after all.

The bad news is less clear, but an ever-present concern unlike anything weve seen in sports. How is it that Auburns new coach, Bryan Harsin, still isnt saying whether or not he has complied with the federal directive to vaccinate himself during this ongoing pandemic? Its newsworthy because hes Auburns coach, but he might not be for too much longer.

He was asked after the game if he was committed to staying at Auburn amid rumors of opportunities elsewhere, and I heard a lot of things come out of his mouth, but never heard a definitive yes.

I love it here, Harsin said. I love the orange and blue and we have a lot more work to do.

Hopefully he sticks around because next year he might have an even better shot.

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Alabama just had a No.1-ranked recruiting class. Auburn had a backup quarterback from LSU playing for the injured Bo Nix, and by the time the fourth quarter and the four overtimes found TJ Finley behind center he was playing with one good leg, too. Auburns defense gave Finley the chance, and he nearly became one of the most unlikely stars in the history of the Iron Bowl.

Entering the game, Alabama was favored by 20.5 points. Entering halftime, Alabama trailed 10-0 and only had 68 yards of total offense. The Crimson Tide was hot and cold at times this regular season, but never like that.

Alabama quarterback Bryce Young set a single-game passing record last week against Arkansas (559 yards and five touchdowns), but he struggled in his first Iron Bowl due to constant pressure from Auburns defenders. For Alabama, it was the first victory in Jordan-Hare Stadium since 2015. For everyone watching the dynasty of dynasties, it was more proof that this might be Georgias year.

Its what you work for all year, Saban said of the ending, and no one can deny that Alabama surviving death like this is something its counterweight in the SEC East hasnt experienced.

Four Overtimes we will call this one, and put it right there alongside Kick Six, Punt Bama Punt and Wrong Way Bo. Maybe it was never pretty, but it was ugly only for the self-absorbed.

Self-absorbed Alabama fans are what Saban called supporters of the Crimson Tide who have grown fat with winning. Someone asked him a question during his radio show on Wednesday about the margin of victories, and the greatest college football coach of all time rattled his old gobbler with anger on Thanksgiving-eve.

Lean meat is no longer good enough, they say. The sacrifices must be marbled and juicy.

Wrong. One more grizzled victory is all that matters, and its Georgia with all the pressure now. We all know that when it comes to Alabama, the Dawgs have always lacked the power for the final bite.

Joseph Goodman is a columnist for the Alabama Media Group. Hes on Twitter @JoeGoodmanJr. His first book, We Want Bama: A season of hope and the making of Nick Sabans ultimate team is available wherever books are sold.

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Four Overtimes Iron Bowl gave us history, heartbreak - al.com