In a season filled with gaudy statistics and jaw-dropping plays, Alabama quarterback Bryce Young finally had his so-called “Heisman moment” last Saturday in the Iron Bowl. Trailing by seven points on the road at Auburn with 1:35 remaining in regulation, he took over with the ball backed up against his own goal line and cooly marched the offense 97 yards down the field in 12 plays, capped off by a picturesque, 28-yard over-the-shoulder lob to Ja’Corey Brooks in the end zone.
Four overtimes later, Young hit John Metchie III in the chest for a successful 2-point conversion to cap off the comeback and keep Alabama’s hopes of reaching the College Football Playoff alive. Afterward, Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban said that Young was someone whom the players believed in, praising his mental toughness.
“He’s got a lot of grit about him,” Saban said, which is a high remark from someone who grew up in a coal mining town in West Virginia.
But something was lost in the postgame celebration and the rush to crown Young as this year’s Heisman Trophy winner: context.
Young didn’t win anything on Saturday night other than a football game. In a Heisman race this close, what he did was give himself a chance and put himself on stage as the odds-on favorite at -200.
TOUCHDOWN BAMA
TIE BALLGAME pic.twitter.com/j4hJI4KfSG
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) November 28, 2021
But to finish the job and take home the award, he has to thwart the best defense in recent memory and beat No. 1-ranked Georgia to win the SEC championship on Saturday.
To understand what a monumental task that is, consider again the drive at Auburn. Lost in those 12 plays and 97 yards was who wasn’t on the field. Jameson Williams, Alabama’s leading receiver, was in street clothes after being ejected for targeting in the first half; Brian Robinson Jr., Alabama’s leading rusher, was sidelined by a lower body injury he suffered midway through the fourth quarter; and two of Alabama’s starting offensive linemen, center Darrian Dalcourt…
Source : espn
