Former St Kilda player Arryn Siposs was a key member of a sneaky late play that helped his college football team cause a big rivalry upset on Sunday (AEDT).

Siposs, who played 28 games for the Saints between 2011 and 2014, is now the punter for Auburn University, a school located in Alabama - smack bang in the gridiron hotbed of the south.

That’s how Siposs found himself part of the Iron Bowl, a massive rivalry clash between Auburn and in-state rival Alabama - and a component in a late trick play that left Alabama coach Nick Saban fuming.

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With 1:17 left in the game Auburn led 48-45 but was facing a fourth down deep in its own territory, meaning it was going to have to punt the ball back to Alabama, giving them a chance to tie or win the game.

However Auburn coach Gus Malzahn sent out Siposs, the punter, along with regular offensive players - players who wouldn’t usually be out there on a fourth down punting with him. He ran out onto the left side of the field, positioned legally as a wide receiver.

This confused Alabama so much that they couldn’t tell whether to send out their punt return team or their defensive team. In the end they were left with 12 men on the field - one more than is allowed - and were called for a penalty.

Auburn's late play involving punter Arryn Siposs that confused the Alabama defence. Graphic via Banner Society Source: Supplied

“Nick Saban’s staff was not cool with Auburn punting to no returner, nor with Auburn running an offensive play against the punt return unit,” Alex Kirshner wrote for college football website Banner Society.

“The Tide tried to avoid both. Then the flags flew, and it was game over.”

That penalty gave Auburn a fresh first down, and allowed them to run out the clock and win the game. In the process they ended any hope Alabama had of qualifying for the four-team College Football Playoff.

“I really feel that it was a pretty unfair play at the end of the game,” multiple-time championship coach Saban said.

Alabama coach Nick Saban complains to a linesman. Photo: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images/AFP Source: AFP

“They substituted the punter as a wide receiver, so we put the punt team in. And then when the quarterback was still in there we tried to put the defence back in.

“I thought they should have given us a little more time to substitute and get (Jaylen) Waddle out as a returner. We get called for 12 guys on the field. So that was very disappointing.

“We’re responsible for that as coaches, but it was a very unusual circumstance to say the least. And I think that sometimes when you have those, it should be viewed that way.”

In a high-scoring encounter where both teams struggled to stop the other side’s offence, Siposs punted just twice for an average of 49 yards.

But just him standing on the field has etched his name into Iron Bowl history.