Auburn’s offense was happy to keep the ball on the ground and out of Alabama’s hands. That largely limited what Florida could do in the passing game. Two other viable contenders, Clemson’s Deshaun Watson and Stanford’s Christian McCaffrey, will also suit up on Championship Saturday.
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This is the Jekyll and Hyde that is Alabama football this year.
Alabama then drove 67-yards to the Auburn 23-yard-line. Kiffin, on Twitter, dropped his first tweet since July, posting a photo of his son “dabbing” on Auburn’s field. “We’ve got two guys we feel good about that both have experience and both have won games on the road and in our league”, Malzahn told reporters. See Auburn’s report card from Saturday’s defeat to the Crimson Tide. Jake Coker’s touchdown pass to ArDarius Stewart pushed the lead to 13 before Smith’s wizardry pulled Auburn back into the game. With the extra point, Alabama took a 19-6 lead. He came off the bench to attempt an even longer one on the final play against Auburn in 2013 that Chris Davis returned 109 yards that’s even more of a distant memory now.
Three plays later, when Auburn needed to respond or avoid a potential blowout, Jeremy Johnson uncorked a rather prayerful long pass to Jason Smith, who was a skosh behind an Alabama defender.
Someone had to step up to break up the field-goal fest the 2015 Iron Bowl had turned into for two-and-a-half quarters. His 13-yard run late in the third gave the Buckeyes an 18-point cushion and his 17-yarder midway through the fourth ended the scoring.
Alabama’s defense held Auburn to a punt and a turnover-on-downs on the next two drives, all but sealing Auburn’s fate.
“It’s a huge challenge, we’re playing the best team in college football”, McElwain said on the teleconference of facing Alabama.
Mayfield was knocked out of the previous game with a concussion, but he was fearless against the Cowboys, rushing for 77 yards and a touchdown.
It was Henry’s fourth 200-yard game this season, and he’s barged his way to the top of every Heisman Watch list.
On Henry’s second carry of the game he broke an arm tackle and powered into the Auburn secondary for a 30-yard gain.
Another three spots could open up depending on how Kansas State, Georgia State, and South Alabama, all 5-6 with one regular-season game remaining, fare this upcoming weekend. Griffith was five of five on the day, kicking a 47 yarder and a 50 yarder. The freshman responded to his newfound lead role by finishing with 25 carries for 276 yards – the most in the nation for the week – and four touchdowns.
But Coker redeemed himself later, wriggling out of a certain third-quarter sack in Manzielesque fashion to rush for seven yards on 3rd-and-8. Peyton Barber only gained 29-yards against the Tide. But after the game athletics director Joe Alleva said the embattled coach will be retained, ending a week of speculation and ominous reports about whether Miles would be back – fueled when LSU’s administration had declined to comment on his status.
Of course, McElwain and the 2009 Crimson Tide would have their revenge, overtaking No. 1 Florida 32-13 for the SEC title to start an incredible run of success that saw Alabama claim three of the next four national championships, beginning with that 2009 BCS title.
Alabama and Florida are set to kick off at 4 p.m. E.T. Saturday.
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Auburn is bowl bound, so their season is not over. SC finished its season at 3-9.
