For the better part of 58 minutes the Alabama Crimson Tide offense and QB Bryce Young were thoroughly outplayed. They were downright bullied at the hands of the Auburn Tigers, until Young led a 97-yard game-tying drive with 1:32 seconds left.
Young wouldn’t let his team lose on a day when nothing went right. His leadership, toughness and elite playmaking emerged and put the game in a chokehold just as the Crimson Tide looked dead in the water against their archrivals.
Bryce Young went most of the game without a TD.
Then he led @AlabamaFTBL on a 98-yard game-tying TD drive and won the game in quadruple overtime. pic.twitter.com/orXezIXRC8
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) November 28, 2021
Young extended plays and made timely completions, exhibiting the clutch skill set that made him the top-ranked QB during the 2020 recruiting cycle.
Young Had His Heisman Moment In The Epic Four-Overtime Classic
The Heisman race is now a two-man battle between the front-runner Young and Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud. Both signal callers had special moments on Saturday. Young’s came in a 4OT sudden death win, while Stroud’s came in a loss to Michigan that knocked the Buckeyes from the Big Ten Championship and CFP.
Young led Alabama on an epic 97-yard drive with 92 seconds left, minus his top receiving weapon in Jameson Williams, who was ejected for targeting in the first half. After being sacked seven times, while being pressured and harassed all game, Young stepped up and solidified his standing as the Heisman front-runner.
“The Drive,” which featured two fourth-down and eight first-down conversions and a huge third-and-10 conversion, culminated with Young making a 28-yard touchdown throw to Jacorey Brooks to silence the frenzied 87,000 at Jordan-Hare Stadium.
TOUCHDOWN BAMA
TIE BALLGAME pic.twitter.com/j4hJI4KfSG
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) November 28, 2021
Young’s Late-Game Heroics Solidify Heisman Standing And Keep The Crimson Tide’s Playoff Chances Wide Open
Alabama came into the game at 10-1, and a second loss would have terminated the program’s CFP hopes. Even with Alabama winning the SEC West and playing top-ranked Georgia in the SEC Championship next week, no two-loss team has ever made the playoffs.
Young has faced adversity in the face plenty of times this season and has come out on top. With Alabama firmly planted in the CFP mix, ‘Bama will travel to Atlanta to meet No. 1 ranked Georgia in a must-win game.
A game that should cement Young’s Heisman worthiness.
Young’s Heisman odds are now at -200, with Stroud the closest contender at +450. Young’s chances are aided by the opportunity to play in a conference championship game and give the Heisman voters one last look. Stroud won’t play again until the Buckeyes’ bowl game. Ohio State will likely play in the Rose Bowl, which is on New Year’s Day, after the award is given.
Young’s throw to wide receiver John Metchie in the fourth overtime capped the win, and Metchie let everyone down on “The Plain” know all about it.
Often imitated, never duplicated. pic.twitter.com/rOkcmWZ3Sc
— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) November 28, 2021
Nick Saban Elated After The Fight His Team Showed In Comeback Win
Legendary head coach Nick Saban looked bewildered and frustrated throughout the contest. He just wanted his team to execute and recognized that the game would be decided by desire more than any scheme he or his coaches could concoct.
“I can’t put it into words … I told just go have fun.”
"I can't put it into words … I told them to just go have fun."
– Nick Saban to our @JamieErdahl after an incredible @AlabamaFTBL Iron Bowl win pic.twitter.com/dihaMgjUGc
— SEC on CBS 🏈 (@SEConCBS) November 28, 2021
Alabama will need Young to be heroic again next week against UGA in the SEC Championship Game. He seems to be up to the task and playing his best football at the right time for the Crimson Tide.
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