Ryan Williams’ game-winning TD against Georgia was actually a mistake

Mandatory Credit: Gary Cosby Jr.-Imagn Images

Sometimes being lucky is better than being good, but Ryan Williams was both against Georgia last season.

Williams officially burst onto the college football scene catching six passes for 177 yards and a crucial go ahead touchdown late in the fourth quarter to propel the Crimson Tide past the Bulldogs 41-34.

The late score from Williams instantly became the iconic play of the year for Alabama as the young receiver acrobatically escaped a pair of defensive backs with a spin to break away for the 75 yard reception.

But it turns out that the legendary play was actually a mistake from the then 17-year old.

When speaking with Jon Gruden of Barstool Sports this past week, Williams revealed that the play would have been graded as a missed assignment had he not scored.

Everyone has seen this touchdown Ryan Williams scored to beat Georgia last season…

But did you know how it came to be? I got the inside scoop on his connection with Jalen Milroe before this play! https://t.co/9CYjqHgjlS pic.twitter.com/hzoVAlTdvS

— Jon Gruden (@BarstoolGruden) June 1, 2025

Due to the coverage from Georgia, Williams was supposed to run a different route concept then a straight go, but after a conversation with quarterback Jalen Milroe on the sideline, the two were on the same page to break the rules a bit.

“We talked on the sideline so I wasn’t supposed to convert [on the route],” Williams said. “So technically it’s not a missed assignment.”

Gruden would follow up and ask if his head coach Kalen DeBoer had any feedback for going rogue, but it turned out the first year Alabama head coach didn’t have much criticisms.

“Nothing. Touchdown,” Williams said when asked what DeBoer said to him.