No. 10 Alabama locked a spot in the SEC Championship game with a 27-20 win over Auburn in the Iron Bowl.
With their sixth win in a row against Auburn, the Crimson Tide move to 10-2 overall and 7-1 in the SEC.
As expected, records were thrown out the window, and the Iron Bowl delivered a game down to the wire. After Alabama broke out to an early 17-0 lead, it looked like the Iron Bowl would have little excitement. Auburn scored 13 unanswered, and all of a sudden, an Alabama victory was in serious question. The Tigers tied the game early in the fourth quarter but the Crimson Tide answered with a touchdown and held off the comeback.
Here are a few takeaways from the Iron Bowl.
- Running Game Has Life
Alabama waited until the final game of the regular season to finally get the running game going. Against one of the best run defenses in the nation, the Crimson Tide rushed for 158 yards, including 98 rushing yards in the first half. Jam Miller led the way for Alabama rushers with 83 yards on 15 carries.
- Kicking Game Fixed?
Alabama kicker Conor Talty has had his ups and downs with the Alabama fans this year. Two weeks ago, Talty shanked a 36-yard field goal attempt against Oklahoma that would eventually be the difference in the game. And just last week he was booed after missing a 28-yard chip shot. Saturday, in the most important game of the year, Talty went a perfect 2/2, connecting on field goals from 45 and 29 yards.
- Simpson Still Struggling
Ty Simpson still hasn’t gotten back to the quarterback we all saw in the first half of the season. Saturday was one of his worst performances through the air, passing for just 122 yards and connecting on just 54% of his passes. Despite the rough outing, Simpson made the plays when it counted. Simpson tossed three touchdown passes and rushed for 31 yards.
- Hat Trick for Horton
Isaiah Horton had arguably his best game in a Crimson Tide uniform on Saturday. Horton had a modest 35 yards on five catches but made the most of his five catches, converting three into touchdowns, including the game-winning touchdown.
- Big Game Bray
Bray Hubbard has come a long way after getting called out for loafing in the first game of the season. Since then, he has been a turnover machine and one of Alabama’s best tacklers. Hubbard was a difference maker for the Crimson Tide defense on Saturday. Hubbard intercepted a pass that halted an Auburn offensive drive and forced a fumble in the final minutes of the game that sealed the victory for the Crimson Tide.
Alabama will play Georgia in the SEC Championship Game next Saturday at 3 p.m. The game will be televised on ABC.
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