DeBoer tells why Alabama went for it on fourth down with 3:54 left against Auburn

© Gary Cosby Jr.-Tuscaloosa News / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Alabama football took a big chance late against Auburn that led to Kalen DeBoer’s first road Iron Bowl victory. Alabama had the ball deep in the red zone, and a fourth down arose.

Instead of kicking a field goal to untie the game, the Crimson Tide looked at the distance they had to go and decided on keeping the offense on the field for another play. Alabama had to go two yards to get a first down, but quarterback Ty Simpson connected with wideout Isaiah Horton in the end zone for his third touchdown of the day.

It was a bold move that added to the pressure on the shoulders of Auburn’s offense, and the call ultimately led to an Alabama victory as Auburn was not able to score a touchdown to force overtime.

When asked about what went into the decision to go for it on fourth down with 3:54 left on the clock in a tie ball game, DeBoer gave some insight while showing that he knows his Iron Bowl history, referencing the 4th and 31 play in 2023.

“I figured it was 29 yards shorter than the last time we needed a touchdown here, so probably the percentages were much more in our favor,” DeBoer said as he cracked a slight grin. “I feel like there’s a confidence you have in the offense to get the two yards. We didn’t need to have a touchdown on that play, but we needed the two yards. And I think there’s also a piece where you’re backed up like that, you got confidence in your defense. In that situation, you got a chance to score, you got a chance to get a stop, and you also got a chance to maybe get the ball back again. And obviously, all those things, you know, there’s some things that don’t work for you to be in that spot and some things do work for you to be in that spot to where you get two chances at it. So, again, just a lot of trust in our guys on both sides of the ball that our guys can get it done.”

The one thing that Alabama’s staff consistently expresses through their words and decisions is that they are confident in the offense, regardless of the situation.

Alabama has made some gutsy calls this year with the game on the line, and those decisions have mostly paid off. Whether it was going for it on fourth down near the logo at Missouri or electing to keep the offense on the field for a critical fourth down in a tied Iron Bowl, the Crimson Tide are a team that is willing to take risks in order to stay in a position to make the playoff.