CATS IN THE HAT
NORTHWESTERN FINISHES STRONG, BEATS ILLINOIS
College football’s game of the year, in the most intense rivalry in the sport, on the best weekend of this and every season begged for a defining play, and No. 1 Alabama seemed to provide it.
Quarterback AJ McCarron, gunning for his third national title as a starter and the fourth in his five years in the program, took a fourth-quarter snap at his 1-yard line, dropped back into the end zone and heaved a ball down the right sideline to Amari Cooper. Ninety-nine yards later, the all-powerful Crimson Tide had a seven-point lead on No. 4 Auburn.
The Tigers — and their frenetic home crowd — were stunned. Twitter exploded with the question: Did McCarron just win the Heisman? It was the ultimate tease. With 32 seconds left to play, Auburn’s Nick Marshall connected on a 39-yard touchdown pass to Sammie Coates. The extra point tied it at 28, and overtime seemed a given.
But the Tide quickly drove into Auburn territory and, with a single tick on the game clock, lined up for a 57-yard field-goal attempt by freshman kicker Adam Griffith.
The SEC West title and a spot in the league championship game was on the line. And the play of the year in college football — one of the most amazing endings in the history of sports — was about to unfold.
Griffith’s kick fell short and into the arms of Auburn’s Chris Davis, nine yards deep in the end zone. What else was Davis to do? The senior cornerback from Birmingham brought it out … and out … and out some more. Down the left sideline he went, all the way to a 34-28 victory and unthinkable glory.
“I knew when I caught the ball, I would have room to run,” he said. “I knew they would have big guys on the field to protect on the field goal.
“When I looked back, I said, ‘I can’t believe this.’ ” Who in the world could? The Tigers (11-1, 7-1 SEC) are Atlanta-bound to play East champ Missouri. Before then, they’ll wait on pins and needles for the BCS rankings to come out Sunday evening. Will they jump ahead of unbeaten Ohio State and find themselves in line to oppose new No. 1 Florida State for the BCS title in Pasadena, Calif., on Jan. 6?
“An SEC team can’t get left out of the [championship game] with one loss,” Auburn athletic director Jay Jacobs told USA Today after the game.
It’s certainly possible Jacobs is mistaken. CBS Sports BCS expert Jerry Palm, for one, believes the Buckeyes are safe. He, too, might be wrong.
And what happens now to the Tide (11-1, 7-1)? If the coming four-team playoff started this year rather than next year, they would be overwhelming favorites to raise the trophy. It’ll take a miracle for them to get that chance.
Florida State isn’t about to lose to Duke in the ACC title game. Ohio State, which hasn’t been beaten since 2011, will be favored over Michigan State in the Big Ten title game. And Auburn?
“We’re a team of destiny,” Davis said. “We won’t take no for an answer.”