Bama’s fourth-and-goal miracle saves CFP hopes
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Chris Low, ESPN Senior Writer
AUBURN, Ala. — Only the Iron Bowl could produce two such miracles 10 years apart.
A decade ago, it was the Kick Six that ruined Alabama‘s national championship hopes, and to this day, haunts Crimson Tide fans.
But on Saturday, on the same Jordan-Hare Stadium turf where Auburn‘s Chris Davis raced 100 yards for the winning points after an Alabama missed field goal attempt, the Tide delivered their own version of the Kick Six with a miraculous 31-yard touchdown pass on fourth-and-goal in the final seconds.
Jalen Milroe connected with Isaiah Bond in the corner of the end zone for a 27-24 win that will go down as one of the most iconic plays in an Iron Bowl rivalry filled with them.
What’s more, it’s a play that kept alive Alabama’s national championship 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 championship game.
“We’ve been on both sides of the good fortune and the misfortune, and I’ve got to admit, we had good fortune,” Alabama coach Nick Saban said. “But it still comes down to ability to execute. Somebody had an opportunity 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 dismal 31-10 loss at home to New Mexico State a week ago, outplayed Alabama for much of the game and appeared to be in control. The Tide, trailing 24-20 with just under five minutes to play, were forced to punt. Auburn’s Koy Moore was unable to field it, and Alabama’s Jihaad Campbell recovered for Alabama at the Auburn 30.
“We’ve been in those positions all year,” Bond said. “Different people have stepped up all year and made plays, offense, defense, special teams. It doesn’t matter. We’re never out of it.”
It sure looked that way, though, even after Alabama converted on fourth-and-1 to move to the Auburn 7. The next few plays were a disaster. The Tide lost 18 yards on second down after an errant shotgun snap, and then Milroe was penalized for an illegal forward pass on third down. The loss of down on the penalty left Alabama with one play and 31 yards to go.
“It just came down to trust and never giving up. … We still had time on the clock,” said Milroe, who passed for 259 yards and two touchdowns and also rushed for 107 yards.
Auburn chose to rush just two defenders, and Milroe had plenty of time. He saw Bond get favorable position on Auburn defensive back D.J. James, and Milroe’s pass couldn’t have been placed any better.
“I saw IB one-on-one, and I said, ‘We’re going to score,'” said Milroe, who calmly removed his mouthpiece and signaled touchdown as he watched Bond come down inbounds with the pass.
As the ball sailed toward him, Bond had similar thoughts.
“It’s mine. That’s what I was thinking,” he said. “I was like, ‘It’s a 50-50 chance, and I’m going to get it.’ And I went and got it.”
In many ways, the game was a microcosm of Alabama’s season. The Crimson Tide haven’t always been perfect, even flawed at times, but they’ve responded over and over again after being left for dead in Week 2 after the home loss to Texas.
“I think that’s the biggest thing this whole football team has done, is to grow from tough times, and I think that’s what separates us from a lot of people, is never giving up and the love we have for each other,” Milroe said.
Alabama has trailed in the second 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 tied at 3-3 late in the third 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 second half, whether it was the Ole Miss game in the second half,” said Saban, who has guided 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 fighting 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 said it was the same way in the huddle when Milroe simply looked at everybody and said, “Let’s go make a play.”
Bond said the name of the play was “gravedigger.” Thanks to some costly penalties and an Auburn running game that cranked out 244 yards, Alabama nearly dug its own grave and went into the fourth quarter trailing 21-20.
“But that’s us, we’re going to finish the game all the way 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 first season on the Plains. The Tigers (6-6, 3-5 in the SEC) are still bowl eligible, but many of their fans sat in the stands for several minutes almost in shock after the game ended.
“It really came to those few plays in a game like this,” Freeze said. “But man, there’s a lot of hurt in that locker room, and it stinks.”
Saban, always the perfectionist, said his team needs to clean up some things and play with more consistency if Alabama is going to make a postseason push — and that starts with Georgia in the SEC championship game.
“I can’t tell you how proud I am of the guys and how good I feel about winning the game,” Saban said. “But as a coach, you always look at things like, ‘How did you play?’ because we’re going to have to play at a higher level on a more consistent basis if we’re going to have success in the future. And that’s what you always evaluate.
“That’s the reality check that we all have to make.”
The reality for Milroe as he walked out of the locker room and gave his father, Quentin, a bear hug before boarding the team buses is that he will forever be a part of Alabama lore. And that lore could only grow larger and more legendary from here.
Saban said Milroe’s progress has “transformed our team and our offense.”
Milroe said he would soak up the moment, at least for the time being.
“I’ll never forget this game … ever,” said Milroe, his big smile matching the magnitude of a play they won’t forget anytime soon in Tuscaloosa.
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Pete Thamel
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Pete Thamel
Senior College Sports Insider
- College Football Senior Writer for ESPN. Insider for College Gameday.
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Jake Trotter
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Jake Trotter
ESPN Senior Writer
- Jake Trotter covers college football for ESPN. He joined ESPN in 2011. Before that, he worked at The Oklahoman, Austin American-Statesman and Middletown (Ohio) Journal newspapers. You can follow him @Jake_Trotter.
ARLINGTON, Texas — Texas starting right tackle Cameron Williams will return for the College Football Playoff semifinal against Ohio State on Friday, Longhorns coach Steve Sarkisian said Thursday.
Williams suffered a right knee sprain in the playoff opener against Clemson. The injury forced him to miss Texas’ quarterfinal overtime victory over Arizona State.
A junior, Williams has played in 37 games in his career with 16 starts for the Longhorns. Williams is rated as the No. 28 overall prospect and fifth offensive tackle in ESPN’s NFL draft rankings.
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Pete Thamel
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Pete Thamel
Senior College Sports Insider
- College Football Senior Writer for ESPN. Insider for College Gameday.
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Max Olson
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Max Olson
ESPN Staff Writer
- Covers the Big 12
- Joined ESPN in 2012
- Graduate of the University of Nebraska
Georgia quarterback Carson Beck has entered the NCAA transfer portal, sources confirmed to ESPN on Thursday.
Beck had declared for the NFL draft on Dec. 28 but is now reversing course and will explore a transfer.
Sources told ESPN that Miami looms as the favorite for Beck and the timeline for his decision is expected to play out within a week.
While Miami is the favorite for Beck, a source said Beck’s camp intends to listen to all potential suitors for the best situation: “It’s a strategic thing, not an emotional thing,” the source said.
Beck, a two-year starter at Georgia, is currently recovering from surgery to repair the ulnar collateral ligament in his throwing elbow after suffering the injury during the Bulldogs’ SEC championship victory over Texas.
Beck will not be able to throw until March, sources told ESPN, which would have complicated his NFL draft process and will likely force him to miss spring practice at his next school. Sources said the variety of feedback he got from the draft process led to this decision, as he changed his mind in the past 24 hours. He received advice that if he could return and wanted to, he should probably return and play another season in college.
A source said Beck received feedback that he could end up anywhere between the first and third round, with much of that uncertainty due to the fact that he would not be able to throw for a team in predraft workouts.
Despite that injury setback, Beck will immediately become the most coveted quarterback available as a late entry to the transfer market. While Miami looms as the favorite, there are other big brand teams that could jump out as suitors including Texas Tech and Notre Dame.
The 6-foot-4, 220-pound senior went 24-3 as the Bulldogs’ starter and was viewed as a potential No. 1 draft pick entering the 2024 season. He threw for 3,485 yards with 28 touchdowns and 12 interceptions this season and led Georgia back to the SEC title game.
Beck injured his elbow on the final play of the first half against Texas on Dec. 7. Renowned orthopedic surgeon Dr. Neal ElAttrache performed Beck’s surgery on Dec. 23 in Los Angeles.
“He wants to win,” said the source close to Beck. “He didn’t come back to get knocked out at halftime of a conference championship.”
Entering his fifth college season, Beck was viewed as a potential top-10 draft pick. ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. currently considers Beck the No. 5 quarterback in his draft rankings.
Miami has not added a transfer quarterback this offseason to succeed Cam Ward, the potential No. 1 pick. They’ve quietly been canvassing the transfer market in recent weeks, per sources, as they have been set on bringing in a front-line starter who can produce immediately, much like Ward did.
Ward made a similar decision last January, initially declaring for the NFL draft but changing his mind and transferring to join the Hurricanes after he was unsatisfied with his draft feedback. Ward finished fourth in Heisman Trophy voting in his lone season in the program after producing 4,313 passing yards and 43 total touchdowns.
On3 first reported Beck’s intentions to enter the portal.
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