Alabama vs. Auburn score

 

Alabama vs. Auburn score, takeaways: Tide stun Tigers with incredible last-chance TD to keep CFP hopes alive

One decade after the "Kick Six" broke the hearts of Alabama fans at Jordan-Hare Stadium, the Tide returned the favor in the same corner of the end zone in what will forever be known as "Fourth-and-31." Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe's pass on fourth-and-goal from the 31-yard line landed in the waiting arms of Isiah Bond in the back corner of the end zone with 32 seconds to go in the game to save the No. 8 Crimson Tide from the brink of disaster as Alabama stormed back for a 27-24 win over Auburn in the Iron Bowl. 

The miraculous play was the culmination of a wild sequence of events that nearly saw the one-loss Crimson Tide blow a golden opportunity in the red zone. 

On second-and-goal from the 8-yard line, Alabama center Seth McLaughlin snapped the ball to an unprepared Milroe on second-and-goal from the 8 with under two minutes to play. Milroe recovered at the 26-yard line, however. The Tide signal-caller rolled left and all the way back to the right side on third-and-goal, crossed the line of scrimmage and tossed an incomplete pass with 43 seconds left. Despite the near-disaster, Milroe was able to snag a rabbit out of the hat with his late-game heroics.

Auburn appeared to have things in control when it held Alabama to three-and-out up four points with 4:48 to play. However, Koy Moore muffed the punt and Jihaad Campbell recovered at the Auburn 30-yard line. That kept alive what wound up being the game-winning drive as Alabama remains in the College Football Playoff hunt entering next weekend's SEC Championship Game against No. 1 Georgia.

• The Crimson Tide were 6 of 17 on third down but 0 of 4 in the fourth-quarter. They were 2 of 2 on fourth down in the final quarter, however, with the touchdown pass from Milroe to Bond being the dagger.
• Alabama's offensive line only gave up one sack to the Tigers, which is a departure from the norm. The Crimson Tide's offensive line had given up 3.46 sacks per game on the season and has been a big question mark throughout the year.
• Auburn didn't call a running play on its first two touchdown drives as Demari Alston scored from 2 yards out and wide receiver Ja'Varrius Johnson scored from 12 yards out on an end around for the second. Johnson, who also caught a 27-yard touchdown pass from Payton Thorne, is the first player to score a rushing and receiving touchdown in the Iron Bowl since 2005.
• Milroe was credited with seven "big" plays through the air, which are considered plays of 20 or more yards. Those seven completions accounted for 200 of his 259 overall passing yards. 

CBS Sports was with you throughout the game providing live updates, highlights and analysis. Keep it locked here as we will provide takeaways below shortly. 

Alabama still needs College Football Playoff help

Alabama didn't need "style points" against Auburn in its quest for the College Football Playoff -- it just needed a win. The Iron Bowl is one of the wildest rivalries in the sport, and to get a win at Auburn's place after suffering so many heartbreaking defeats is more than enough to keep the Crimson Tide in the discussion. That theory will be tested on Tuesday when the CFP Selection Committee reveals its penultimate rankings heading into championship weekend. 

However, the Crimson Tide still need help because it has a "Texas problem." The head-to-head, double-digit loss at home is more than enough to keep the Longhorns at least one spot ahead in the rankings if both finish with one loss. Sure, that would mean that Alabama will have a win over Georgia on its resume, but Texas would still have the better win in the eyes of the committee: the win in Week 2 over Alabama. That's how the committee operates. 

Milroe with momentum going into the SEC title game

It's been a wild season for Alabama's offense, but especially so for the quarterback. Jalen Milroe struggled out of the gate, lost to Texas, was benched in Week 3 and developed into a dual-threat weapon who is riding high when it matters most. Milroe could have panicked on that wild sequence of events in the goal-to-go situation with under a minute left. Instead, he looked like his heart rate was in the low 60s, even when all looked lost on the fourth-and-goal from the 31-yard line.

That composure not only filters through the offense and the locker room, but further establishes Alabama's identity as the Tide head to Atlanta to take on two-time reigning national champion Georgia. Nothing Alabama will see against the Bulldogs will compare to what it went through on Saturday night on the Plains. Heck, we haven't seen anything like that in recent college football history, if ever. 

The coaching staff and Milroe have already rekindled the spark that led to their marriage. It felt like coach Nick Saban and offensive coordinator Tommy Rees were trying to fit a square peg in a round hole and calling plays that didn't fit Milroe's strengths earlier this season. That has changed in a big way, and the two will embark on a honeymoon to Atlanta next weekend.

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