That’s the standard Nick Saban has set in Tuscaloosa.
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“I think it’s the best defense we faced”, Henry said. Bama may be the No. 1 seed when the CFP parings are announced Sunday morning.
Alabama’s first trip was to the College Football Playoff was not a happy one.
“I don’t think anybody really thought we’d end up here after the Ole Miss game”, said Saban, referring to Alabama’s only loss in its 12-1 season that the Tide sustained September 19 after committing five turnovers. It was the program’s sixth title game victory and the 25 conference championship.
Make no mistake, the Tide are terrific on defense stopping the run, forcing teams into predictable situations and thriving in them.
“I don’t know coach Harbaugh personally or anything like that, but obviously, I’ve seen from afar what that guy has done”.
Henry turned in a performance that might be good enough to lock up the Heisman, carrying a staggering 44 times against one of the nation’s top defenses and putting the Tide ahead to stay on a 2-yard run late in the first half.
If you discount the Tide’s blowout of Charleston Southern Nov. 21 in which Henry just played a quarter, he has averaged 37.5 carries and 218.5 yards in his last four games (and wins) over LSU, Mississippi State, Auburn and Florida.
Oh, you know, just lead the conference with 11.5 more sacks despite constant double teams and chip blocks, notch 57 tackles, 18.5 for loss, intercept a pass, force five fumbles, break up two passes, hurry the quarterback seven times and block a kick.
KANSAS STATE 24, WEST VIRGINIA 23 (at Manhattan, Kan.) – Wide receiver Cody Cook led the Wildcats to a pair of touchdowns as the emergency quarterback, Morgan Burns returned a kickoff 97 yards for the go-ahead score and Kansas State (6-6, 3-5 Big 12) became bowl-eligible.
Henry, named the game’s MVP, solidified his status as a Heisman favorite.
Heading into the SEC title game, Taylor had three consecutive 100-yard games and held the second-longest active streak of games with 15-plus carries (11) among FBS players.
“My main focus is on finishing and helping the team win”, Henry said. He topped Herschel Walker’s 34-year-old SEC record for yards rushing in a season as he pushed his total to 1,986.
Alabama opened the scoring with a safety on a blocked punt as Tide linebacker Keith Holcombe’s block of Florida punter Johnny Townsend’s kick bounced through the back of the end zone for a safety to give the Tide a 2-0 lead in the first quarter. Hargreaves is projected to go in the first round by many analysts but said he would “of course” participate in the Gators’ future bowl game after a few players last season chose to skip the Birmingham Bowl after then-head coach Will Muschamp was dismissed.
The 82-yard march wiped out Iowa’s 13-9 lead, which it got on an 85-yard pass from C.J. Beathard to Tevaun Smith. He finished 9 of 24 for 165 yards with an interception and a touchdown. Walker gained 1,891 yards in 1981 – the year before he won the Heisman Trophy.
“Yeah, they took it to us a little bit”, McElwain said.
The Tide complemented its pound-and-ground offense with a couple of huge passing plays.
Stewart hopped right back up. But it all changes later this month against Oklahoma or Clemson or Michigan State – teams that can press you on both sides of the field, and teams that can throw the ball and expose the Tide secondary. But whatever happens with Smart, Alabama’s defense still has some work to do.
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The Tide is heading back to the playoffs.
