If his Crimson Tide beats Florida on Saturday in the SEC Championship Game, Bama’s next stop will be in a College Football Playoff semifinal in either the Cotton or Orange bowls. Watch Florida Gators vs Alabama Crimson Tide live stream online NCAA College Football CBS TV broadcast coverage, live scores, Game Kickoff time & schedule and Radio Commentary info here.
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Alabama Crimson Tide running back Derrick Henry is the favorite to step up to the podium in New York City on December 12 and accept the Heisman Trophy.
Henry, who was averaging 149.8 yards rushing per game, had 65 yards rushing on 19 carries in the first half, and he could not break any of the big runs that have been the trademark of the Alabama offense this season. After a few turnovers, Antonio Callaway for Florida got the ball off a punt and took the ball 85 yards for the touchdown to put the Gators up 7-2.
Florida’s defense did everything it could to slow down Henry, and he still managed to set not only the SEC single-season rushing record with 1,986 yards but also became the first player in SEC history to top the 100-yard mark in multiple SEC Championship Games.
These short takes are presented as a companion to the SEC championship game column, which can be found here.
Florida has made tremendous strides in Year One of the Jim McElwain regime, removing itself from the mediocrity of the Will Muschamp era with a 10-2 record and an SEC East division title.
The Florida football team was embarrassed yesterday in Atlanta in a very one-sided matchup with the Alabama Crimson Tide. But the offense is ranked 98th in third-down conversions in the Football Bowl Subdivision, and the team looks unbalanced at times with a run-heavy offense built around running back Derrick Henry. The drive stalled at the Gators’ 16-yard line, but in a game where points were hard to come by, Alabama kicked a field goal for a 15-7 lead.
“I think it’s the best defense we faced”, Henry said. “They wanted to do something special”.
Henry redeemed himself from his earlier fumble and had a short touchdown run. Calvin Ridley leaped between two Florida defenders to pull down a 55-yard pass at the Florida 2, setting up Henry’s touchdown. It would be equally foolish to say that Richt was sent off to Miami – not to retire but to coach the Hurricanes – because he never won a national title the way Saban does so regularly.
After McElwain warned everyone all week about Alabama’s “creatures”, the Tide’s loaded defense harassed the Gators all afternoon. Saban said if a team wins the SEC, “you should deserve the opportunity to be in a playoff”. Then, later, Hill hit C.J. Worton on a 46-yard touchdown pass late in the fourth quarter against an Alabama prevent scheme. “I’m going to do whatever it takes to help this team win”.
“We’re a program on the rise”.
Alabama locked up another trip to the College Football Playoff. Gus Malzahn did it at Auburn in 2013 and played in the BCS national championship game that year. Florida (10-3, 7-2 SEC) awaits a Sunday evening announcement of whether they’re driving downstate to Orlando for the Citrus Bowl or Tampa for the Outback Bowl.
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“They (Alabama) stopped the run game and we have to get better on that”. But whatever happens with Smart, Alabama’s defense still has some work to do. Harris’ regression culminated Saturday against Alabama when he was only able to complete nine out of twenty-four passes for an terrible 37.5 percent completion rate.
