Jalen Milroe lights up Iron Bowl and keeps Alabama alive for CFP

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – This is Jalen Milroe and Alabama football in 2024. Fully capable of big plays and dominant efforts with just enough mistakes to keep things interesting – or frustrating.

Flawed, but still perfect at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

Milroe passed for 256 yards and ran for 104 yards and three touchdowns to lead No. 13 Alabama to a 28-14 victory over Auburn on Saturday, keeping the Crimson Tide’s playoff hopes alive.

It was the last chance for Alabama (9-3, 5-3 Southeastern Conference, No. 13 CFP) to make a statement in Kalen DeBoer’s up-and-down debut season. The Tide will have to wait and see how the chase plays out, but the team may have gotten a boost when CFP No. 12 Clemson, which plays SMU for the ACC championship, and No. 6 Miami both lost.

DeBoer’s biggest selling point might be playing in the mighty SEC, with a resume that includes a win over No. 6 Georgia but also three road losses.

“I think everyone knows our schedule, and I don’t know the exact stats, but I know we beat four top-25 teams during the year, and I don’t know if anyone ever has,” said DeBoer. “When you talk about the schedule and how it goes week to week, it’s just tedious. And having to come back every week, the only conference that has to do that is really ours.”

“We have won five of our last six games by playing physical football.

The Tigers (5-7, 2-6) held it close for a half, but ultimately suffered their fifth straight Iron Bowl loss and fourth straight losing season.

Alabama’s four turnovers, including two fumbles and an interception by Milroe, helped Auburn stay closer.

But Milroe made enough big plays to help the Tide remain undefeated at home. He was 18 of 24 passing and had 17 runs with touchdowns of 1, 17 and 19 yards.

Jam Miller paced the Tigers’ defense to 84 yards on 28 carries, and Germie Bernard gained 111 yards on seven catches.

When asked if Alabama was playoff-worthy, Bernard replied: “100 percent. Next question.”

Milroe and other players dismissed that question and focused on enjoying the rivalry victory.

Auburn’s Payton Thorne completed 24 of 41 passes for 301 yards with a 29-yard touchdown to Cam Coleman. He had a late interception, while the trailing Jarquez Hunter was also taken out in the fourth quarter on a trick play that backfired, ending any hopes of a comeback.

Alabama took a 14-6 lead into the locker room after a first half marked by missed opportunities on both sides. The Tide lost a fumble and an interception in Auburn territory and ended up setting up a field goal with another fumble.

Auburn missed a field goal, failed on a fourth-down play from the Tide’s 19 and failed to get into the end zone after getting a first down at the 2. Ian Vachon’s 25-yard field goal was the result of Milroe’s fumble with 27 seconds left.

Things got heated in the second half after a scuffle on the Auburn sideline. Alabama defensive backs DeVonta Smith and Malachi Moore were both convicted of unsportsmanlike conduct. It started after Auburn receiver KeAndre Lambert-Smith blocked Smith well off the field.

“It’s an emotional game,” said DeBoer, who didn’t have the best view from the other side. “It builds up to that and the game itself back and forth. It’s not OK, but I understand where the emotions were on both sides.”

On the field, Milroe & Co. converted 12 of 18 third-down attempts.

“I think the difference in the game was their ability to stay on the field on third down and us not being able to score touchdowns in the red zone,” Auburn coach Hugh Freeze said.

The takeaway food

Auburn: Couldn’t follow up its win over No. 20 Texas A&M and Freeze will begin his third season on the hot seat.

Alabama: A 24-3 loss at Oklahoma left playoff hopes hanging despite the Iron Bowl victory. Milroe bounced back from a game in which he was intercepted three times and ran for just 7 yards, although it was another flawed performance.

Next

Alabama and Auburn await their postseason goals.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.