Bama’s fourth-and-goal wonder saves CFP hopes

• Chris Low, ESPN Elder WriterNov 25, 2023, 07:52 PM ET

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  • College football press reporter
  • Signed up with ESPN.com in 2007
  • Graduate of the University of Tennessee

AUBURN, Ala.– Only the Iron Bowl could produce 2 such wonders 10 years apart.A decade back, it was the Kick 6 that destroyed Alabama’s national championship hopes, and to this day, haunts Crimson Tide fans.But on Saturday, on the exact same Jordan-Hare Arena turf where Auburn’s Chris Davis raced 100 lawns for the winning points after an Alabama missed out on field goal attempt, the Tide delivered their own version of the Kick 6 with a miraculous 31-yard touchdown pass on fourth-and-goal in the final seconds.Jalen Milroe gotten in touch with Isaiah Bond in the corner of the end zone for a 27-24 win that will go down as one of the most renowned plays in an Iron Bowl rivalry filled with them.Editor’s Picks 2 Related What’s more, it

‘s a play that kept alive Alabama’s championship game hopes. The Tide (11-1, 8-0 in the SEC)have won 10 straight games and face No. 1 Georgia next Saturday in the SEC national championship. “We have actually been on both sides of the good luck and the misfortune, and I’ve got to confess, we had good fortune,”Alabama coach Nick Saban said.”But it still comes down to ability to carry out. Somebody had a chance to make a play, whether it was their punt returner or IB [Bond] in the end zone and whoever was guarding him. “That’s why you play the game.”Auburn, coming off a miserable 31-10 loss at home to New Mexico State a week back

, outplayed Alabama for much of the game and appeared to be in control. The Tide, tracking 24-20 with just under five minutes to play, were required to punt. Auburn’s Koy Moore was unable to field it, and Alabama’s Jihaad Campbell recuperated for Alabama at the Auburn 30.”We’ve remained in those positions all year,”Bond said.” Different individuals have stepped up all year and made plays, offense, defense, special groups. It does not matter. We’re never ever out of it.”It sure looked that way, though, even after Alabama converted on fourth-and-1 to transfer to the Auburn

7. The next couple of plays were a disaster. The Tide lost 18 yards on 2nd down after an errant shotgun snap, and after that Milroe was penalized for a prohibited forward pass on 3rd down. The loss of down on the charge left Alabama with one play and 31 yards to go.”It simply boiled down to trust and never quiting. … We still had time on the clock, “said Milroe, who passed for 259 yards and two

goals and also hurried for 107 yards.Auburn chose to hurry simply 2 protectors, and Milroe had plenty of time. He saw Bond get beneficial position on Auburn protective back D.J. James, and Milroe’s pass couldn’t have actually been put any much better. “I saw IB individually, and I stated, ‘We’re going to score,’ “stated Milroe, who calmly eliminated his mouthpiece and signaled touchdown as he viewed Bond come down inbounds with the pass.As the ball sailed towards him, Bond had comparable ideas.”It’s mine. That’s what I was believing,” he said.”I resembled,’It’s a 50-50 possibility, and I’m going to get it.’ And I went and got it.” In numerous ways, the game was a microcosm of Alabama’s season. The Crimson Tide haven’t constantly been best, even flawed sometimes, however they’ve reacted over and over again after being left for dead in Week 2 after the home loss to Texas.”

I believe that’s the most significant thing this whole football group has done, is to grow from bumpy rides, and I think that’s what separates us from a great deal of people, is never giving up and the love we have for each other,” Milroe said.Alabama has trailed in the 2nd half in wins over Ole Miss, Texas A&M, Tennessee, LSU and Auburn. And in the ugly 17-3 win over South Florida the week after the Texas loss, the score was connected at 3-3 late in the 3rd quarter.”That’s what this team has done over the year, come from behind many times, made plays when we had to make them, whether it was the LSU game in the second half, whether it was the Tennessee game in the 2nd half, whether it was the Ole Miss game in the second half,”said Saban, who has assisted Alabama to 13 straight 11-win seasons.”This game today speaks volumes for the competitive character of these guys and the resiliency they have to keep combating in the game. It should be a lesson for everybody in life.”Bond said there was no panic on the Alabama sideline before that fourth-down play. He stated it was the very same method the huddle when Milroe simply looked at everybody and said,”Let’s go make a play.”Bond stated the name of the play was”gravedigger.” Thanks to some pricey charges and an Auburn running game that cranked out 244 yards, Alabama almost dug its own

grave and entered into the 4th quarter tracking 21-20.”But that’s us, we’re going to end up the game all the method to the game’s over with,” Bond said. “That’s who we are, and y’ all saw that today.”

For Auburn coach Hugh Freeze and his team, it was a nauseating way to end his very first season on the Plains. The Tigers (6-6, 3-5 in the SEC )are still bowl qualified, but many of their fans sat in the mean numerous minutes almost

in shock after the game ended.” It truly pertained to those few plays in a game like this,” Freeze said.”But male, there’s a great deal of hurt in that locker room, and it stinks.”Saban, constantly the perfectionist, stated his group needs to clean up some things and have fun with more consistency if Alabama is going to make a postseason push– which starts with Georgia in the SEC championship game.”I can’t tell you how happy I am of the guys and

how good I feel about winning the game,” Saban said. “But as a coach, you constantly look at things like,’How did you play

?’due to the fact that we’re going to need to dip into a greater level on a more constant basis if we’re going to have success in the future. And that’s what you constantly examine.” That’s the reality check that we all need to make.”The truth for Milroe

as he left of the locker room and offered his father, Quentin, a bear hug before boarding the team buses is that he will forever be a part of Alabama lore. And that tradition might only grow larger and more famous from here.Saban said Milroe’s development has”changed our group and our offense.”Milroe stated he would soak up the minute, a minimum of for the time being

.”I’ll always remember this game … ever,”said Milroe, his huge smile matching the magnitude of a play they will not forget anytime quickly in Tuscaloosa.