College Football Playoff committee admits that Kalen DeBoer’s season-saving call was what propelled Alabama back where it belongs
Kalen DeBoer did more than just save Alabama’ season, he helped the team’s playoff seeding.
If the Alabama Crimson Tide go on to win the national championship this year, there will be one play that was viewed as the turning point. A fourth-and-2 call with the game, the season, and potentially DeBoer’s future on the line, the HC put the ball in Ty Simpson’s hands, who found Isaiah Horton for the score, and the Tide won the Iron Bowl.
That propelled Alabama to the SEC championship this week, all but guaranteed the team a spot in the College Football Playoff, and after Tuesday night, bumped Alabama up one spot in the rankings, a place they rightfully deserved.
Committee says the fourth-and-2 call from Alabama was enough to jump Notre Dame in CFP Rankings
“I will tell you, the debate between Alabama and Notre Dame over the past three weeks has been one of the strongest debates we’ve had in the room for the past two years that I’ve been a member of the committee,” said CFP selection committee chairman Hunter Yurachek via ESPN’s Mike Rodack on X-Twitter. “I think this week, as we looked at those two teams and how closely they have been over the past three weeks – Notre Dame went on the road, had a strong win at Stanford, but Alabama went on the road in a rivalry game, looked really good, especially in the first half getting up 17-0.
“Ran the ball well. Auburn came back at them. They had a great, gutsy call on fourth-and-2 late in the [game] to get a touchdown, and then got the turnover late in that game. I think that was enough to change the minds of a couple of committee members to push Alabama up ahead of Notre Dame in this week’s rankings.”
I’m not sure how or why, when you compare the resumes of the two teams, that Alabama and Notre Dame were a tough discussion, but that is neither here nor there. Alabama made the jump, and barring a blowout loss to the Georgia Bulldogs, the team should be in the field. Josh Taylor, who is a contributor to A to Z Sports Alabama, wrote about DeBoer’s gamble minutes after it happened, and why it was so important for Alabama.
“After a 17-0 lead, Auburn fought back when Alabama’s offense started to struggle, and the call to go for it was as bold a call as you can make in that situation. Alabama needed a big play, and it got a play that will be in the history books of the most iconic rivalry in college football. Alabama just needed to get a win to add to its resume for the playoffs, and now the Crimson Tide is headed to the SEC Championship game.” – Taylor
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