The 10-2 Tigers fell to No. 7 in the BCS rankings after a triple-overtime regular season ending loss to Arkansas. His team hasn’t lost since. Now, they don’t play another game for 25 days.
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“Shoot guys, they won the line of scrimmage”, said McElwain of Alabama (12-1, No. 2 CFP).
How do you like the Crimson Tide now?
While not yet official, Henry will most certainly be invited to New York City for Saturday’s Heisman Trophy presentation. In between, Florida ran eight plays for minus-7 yards, managing an offensive touchdown for the first time in two games with about five minutes to go in the game. “To be honest, I had some questions in my mind as to whether we’d wind up here”.
After the game, Henry found his father, Derrick Henry Sr., in front of the Alabama band and cheerleaders.
The Georgia Dome wasn’t one of them. The Crimson Tide had five sacks and held the Gators to 15 yards rushing behind linebacker Reggie Ragland and defensive end Jarran Reed.
There was the addition of more zone-read to catch Florida’s defense off-guard.
Henry tied the SEC record for touchdowns in a season (23) and eclipsed Herschel Walker’s 34-year-old conference mark for rushing yards in a year, pushing his total to 1,986. “They’re very physical, very disruptive, very fast on the defensive line”.
To the naked eye, Alabama appears to have considerably fewer playmakers than last year’s team that entered the first College Football Playoffs ranked No. 1. It’s’s an impressive accomplishment, and one that may get him the Heisman Trophy. Jake Coker turned in just the sort of performance that the Tide needed out of its quarterback – 18 of 26 completions for 204 yards, including a pair of touchdowns. Alabama does basic things and does them very well. As for Florida, the Gators put up a spirited if mostly one-handed effort against Alabama, lacking virtually any offensive punch against a great defense to finish with 180 total yards. “That’s what big, strong, highly recruited guys do. We’ve still got a ways to go”.
It was a two-touchdown victory that seemed like a 10-TD beatdown, but it didn’t start that way. Maybe if Treon got some of the good stuff from Grier he could improve his play a bit? No one likes a bully, especially one who chants “We just beat the hell out of you!” after pounding your face into the turf. But whatever happens with Smart, Alabama’s defense still has some goals left to achieve. Time and again, the closing speed and ferocious hitting of the Gators’ defenders were on display.
Alabama extended its lead to 15-7 midway through the third period on a 30-yard field goal by Griffith.
Johnny Jefferson ran for 158 yards for Baylor and had enough yards to convert a fourth-and-4 with 2:31 left before he fumbled. Alabama has a snarling defense. Alabama took a 2-0 lead on a blocked punt in the first quarter and then blocked a Florida field goal attempt to maintain that lead into the second quarter.
After halftime, Alabama made Florida invisible. The Crimson Tide has won six SEC championship games, matching Florida for top honors.
Stewart hopped right back up, and Alabama was heading back to the playoffs.
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“I’m very proud of this team”, said Saban, who already has three national titles as the Tide’s coach and needs two more wins for his fourth. “If you win this league, you deserve the opportunity to be in the playoff”. We can’t control special teams.
