Just When Everyone Thought the CFB Playoff Picture Couldn’t Get Any Crazier, It Did

Just when anyone thought the College Football Playoff picture couldn’t get any weirder , it did. Number 1 Alabama loses 26-14 to number 6 Auburn on the road. Even if people predicted an Alabama loss, I bet no one would think it would be by double digits. If you missed it, here is a recap of the Kerryon Johnson show in Auburn.

On their second drive, Auburn went on a 12 play, 59 yard drive that was capped off by a Kerryon Johnson 3 yard jump pass to Nate Craig-Myers. There was no other scoring in the first quarter.

In the second quarter, Alabama was poised to tie the game and that is what they did on  a  7 play, 60 yard drive that ended with Jalen Hurts throwing a 36 yard, 50/50 ball to WR Jerry Jeudy. But as time was winding down, the Tigers answered with a field goal to take the lead 10-7 at half.

Coming out of the half, Bo Scarbrough struck from 21 yards out on a quick 1 minute, 38 second drive to take the lead 14-10. Auburn mustered a field goal to come within 1 of the defending SEC champions. After a stop on defense, the Tigers drove down the field 69 yards before Kerryon Johnson punched it in from a yard out.  This brought the score to 20-14.  

From here it was all Auburn in the fourth quarter.  Multiple key stops on the defensive side set them up to put the game away.  Despite Jalen Hurts best efforts, things seemed to fall apart around him. He had little blocking up front and his receivers did not seem to be on the same page with him.  They had some chances but the Tigers defeated the Crimson Tide 26-14, and punched their ticket to the SEC championship to get another matchup against Georgia.

This win puts Auburn in position to control their own playoff destiny. The SEC championship is win and get in, same as the ACC. Oklahoma controls their own destiny in the BIG 12, but this game screwed up a lot of teams playoff hopes. This is why college football is as good as it gets and I bet the best is yet to come this season. Next week will be pivotal in the final rankings.

GAME STATS:  Auburn had 408 total yards to Alabama’s 377. Stidham went 21-28 with 240 yards. Hurts was 13-18 for 177 and a TD and added 80 rushing yards to lead Alabama in that category.  Johnson had 30 carries for 104 yards and a TD along with a passing TD. Ryan Davis led the Tigers with 139 receiving yards and Cam Sims led BAMA with 65 receiving yards.

Written by Mason Wilkins