This team, ostensibly the fourth-best in all of college football and a national title contender, absolutely refuses to make things easy on themselves, particularly when the task is objectively an easier
one. Alabama went to Columbia to play the least talented team it has faced since Wisconsin, in its easiest task of the last two months, and almost fumbled away its playoff hopes in stupendous fashion — quite literally.
The offense did not get off the bus until the Tide was trailing 15-14 late in the 4th quarter. The gameplan was vanilla and uninspired. The maligned USC defensive line had their way with a ‘Bama offensive line that looked flabby, slow, and lacking in any sort of SEC physicality. Kane Wommack inexplicably did not dedicate a man to spy the Gamecocks sole offensive threat. Just stupid defensive penalties (and a few bad calls by the numpties in stripes) that gave a bad USC free yards. Gross. It was gross. And all of that combined to make this a one-score game for much of the afternoon.
But, there were dramatics to come.
Ty Simpson put together a late season-saving drive to push ‘Bama to a 22-20 deficit, with UA cashing in on a yuge two-point conversion to make it 22-all. Then, with the Gamecocks coming out with the ball and a pair of timeouts and two minutes to go, disaster struck for the home team. The maligned Deontae Lawson, who just hasn’t played well after his injury, forced a fumble off LaNorris Sellers, with Tim Keenan, who has quietly improved the ‘Bama interior in the Tide’s stretch of good play, pouncing on it at the USC 38 — both of those guys are team captains, and they made a play when it counted.
Alabama moved the ball a dozen yards or so, with USC frantically burning timeouts to stop the Tide’s momentum, facing a third and 10 just at Talty’s effective limit, Germie Bernard skeedaddled 25-yards into the endzone for the score. 29-22, Good Guys
This was always going to be a hangover game. It’s human nature, especially from a very tired team that needs its bye like a drowning man needs water.
Was it the Same Ole’ DeBoer? Yes, and no. Yes to the extent that he could not motivate these guys to focus on the task at hand getting off the bus. But, they — and he — are proving much more resilient in 2025. For once, ‘Bama made plays down the stretch and got the win. And ‘Bama’s dreams of Atlanta and hosting some playoff game survives another week
Let that be a lesson to everyone.
Celebrate (or rant) below.
Roll Tide.
