DeBoer tells why Alabama decided to go for it on critical 4th & 8 against Missouri

Oct 11, 2025; Columbia, Missouri, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver Lotzeir Brooks (17) runs the ball against Missouri Tigers safety Trajen Greco (4) during the second half at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-Imagn Images

Alabama football decided to take a risk and go for it on 4th & 8 when the Crimson Tide were leading Missouri 20-17 late in the fourth quarter.

The risk paid off when Ty Simpson threw an NFL-level throw to true freshman wide receiver, Lotzeir Brooks, to keep the drive alive. The drive ended with Simpson finding a wide-open Daniel Hill in the endzone to extend the Tide’s lead to 27-17.

Ty Simpson hits Lotzier Brooks on 4th & 8 to keep the drive alive against Mizzou. 🎯 pic.twitter.com/MEYi9R4D1n

— Touchdown Alabama (@TDAlabamaMag) October 11, 2025

Kalen DeBoer detailed what went into the decision to go for it on fourth down during his post-game press conference.

“You’re too far out for a field goal obviously,” DeBoer said. “I just feel like if we keep swinging and they put me in a spot to put the pressure on me by converting some yards on third down and when I see the fight and I see us get the ball, and I think, was it Kevin on the check down? And then he knifing through, I can see us battling. There’s a feel you have, and there’s a belief you have. And a lot of it is it’s on the body language and on the execution and just feel, when you got a quarterback with some guys around him that can go make plays, you got to let them play. You can’t be reckless. Punt in that spot can gain you some yards, put them back, but we’re going to play to win. We’ve done that quite a bit this season already and want to continue to play to win.”

Alabama went on to close out the Tigers 27-24 on the road to improve to 5-1 on the season. The Tide will return home next weekend to take on Tennessee.