Alabama OC tells why fourth quarter vs. South Carolina was ‘one of the biggest growth moments of the season’

Oct 25, 2025; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver Germie Bernard (5) celebrates after scoring the game-winning touchdown against the South Carolina Gamecocks in the fourth quarter at Williams-Brice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-Imagn Images

When No. 4 Alabama faced an unranked South Carolina team just over a week ago, it faced a late-game deficit and scare that was reminiscent of the Tide’s Week 1 loss to Florida State. Although Alabama pulled off the comeback this time around, the game provided a similar developmental spark for the Crimson Tide, according to offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb.

Once Alabama allowed the Gamecocks to claw their way back into the fight and entered the fourth quarter trailing 15-14,  the Crimson Tide fumbled the ball. South Carolina took advantage of the turnover, drove down the field, and took a 22-14 lead.

What came next was perhaps one of the best offensive drives for the Tide all season, as it drove 79 yards in 14 plays while taking almost eight minutes off the clock. It then completed the two-point conversion to tie the game.

After Alabama’s defense immediately forced a fumble on the Gamecocks’ 38-yard line, the Crimson Tide’s offense was on a roll. It found its way to the endzone to take the lead thanks to a 25-yard rushing touchdown from wide receiver Germie Bernard.

With just 30 seconds left on the clock, the touchdown effectively sealed the comeback win for the Tide. And now, after recovery, preparation and reflection over the bye week, Grubb says that the fourth quarter was one of the biggest moments of the season.

“I just told our guys that was probably one of our biggest growth moments of the season, the fourth quarter of that game,” Grubb said. “That could have been reminiscent of the Florida State game and the guys not being able to find a way to get it done and make the plays that had to be made late in the football game. Just give a ton of credit to the guys, just the resiliency and the mindset to be able to go make those plays, because I think it’s easier said than done. You can get in a state of mind when things aren’t working, and you just fall back into ‘it’s not going to work.’ I thought they were very coachable on the sideline. I thought their approach to every series was that it was going to happen on this series. So they didn’t let previous failures lead into that next series. That’s the growth that this team’s had with guys like Parker [Brailsford] and Ty [Simpson] moving into those roles and really establishing what it was gonna feel like when we went back out on the field. Ty really did a good job leading the guys.”

That fight and the ability to find a way to win were something that went unseen as Alabama took the field against the Seminoles earlier this season, when it was still looking to establish an identity and player leadership structure.

But as the Tide is now on a six-game win streak, which includes four-straight wins over ranked teams, it will look to take advantage of its leadership and growth as it prepares to take on the LSU Tigers on Saturday.