Alabama Crimson Tide news and notes from the weekend.
Alabama beats Auburn in the Iron Bowl, clinches SEC Championship Game spot
It didn't come easy, but Alabama football survived a thrilling Iron Bowl on Saturday night in Jordan-Hare Stadium. The Crimson Tide blew an early 17-0 lead and found the game tied at 20 in the fourth quarter before Ty Simpson engineered a 15-play, 75-yard touchdown drive capped off by a gutsy fourth-down call by Kalen DeBoer that led to a Simpson to Isaiah Horton touchdown pass.
Alabama escaped with a 27-20 victory thanks to that scoring play and a game-sealing forced fumble by Bray Hubbard that Deontae Lawson jumped on.
The win clinched Alabama's spot opposite Georgia in the SEC Championship and, according to DeBoer, should be in the College Football Playoff regardless of what happens this weekend in Atlanta.
Kalen DeBoer provides updates to injuries to Jam Miller and Josh Cuevas
Jam Miller had one of his most productive games of the season in the Iron Bowl, carrying the ball 15 times for 83 yards. Unfortunately, the senior RB was knocked out of the game in the fourth quarter with a lower-body injury. He was seen after the game on crutches, casting doubt about his availability for the SEC Championship Game.
DeBoer didn't have much of an update on Sunday night during the SEC Championship teleconference, but more is expected to be known about Miller later on Monday.
DeBoer did, however, have an update on injured TE Josh Cuevas, who has missed the last two games with a foot injury. DeBoer stated that Cuevas would "probably not" play against Georgia.
Kalen DeBoer discusses Ryan Williams' lack of usage in Iron Bowl
Despite Alabama's Iron Bowl win, it was not lost on anyone that star WR Ryan Williams was a complete non-factor against Auburn. The sophomore WR not only didn't record a catch - he wasn't even targeted in the game. He also only played about half of the Tide's offensive snaps (38 of 75), which was the fourth-most of Alabama's wide receivers.
DeBoer was asked about that on Sunday night, and he responded that there was nothing to read into about it.
Alabama needs Williams moving forward, so hopefully he's healthy and ready to contribute for this weekend's SEC Championship Game.
Alabama stays at No. 10 in the AP/Coaches Polls
Chalk held again in college football's final regular season weekend, and Alabama stayed put at No. 10 in both the AP and Coaches Polls this week. The expectation is the Crimson Tide will stay put in the College Football Playoff committee's ranking this week, too.
Alabama can clinch a spot in the playoff by beating Georgia on Saturday and winning the SEC Championship. The Crimson Tide should be safely in the field with a loss as long as BYU doesn't upset Texas Tech in the Big 12 Championship Game.