Fifty-five seconds left. The ball at the 26-yard line, second down, and eight to go.
In this situation, what should be the plan?
Obviously, running down the clock, kicking a field goal, and tying the game to force overtime was the safest option.
If they did that, Saban and Swinney would effectively agree to take it slow and push the game into overtime together, hand-in-hand.
So, what was Saban's thought process?
Lance shifted his position.
Up until now, the Crimson Tide had mainly used the pistol formation:
In this setup, the offensive line forms a straight line. The quarterback stands 4 yards behind the center, with the running back positioned another 4 yards behind the quarterback. The three players form a straight vertical line. On the sides, two wide receivers stand to the left, with another wide receiver and a tight end on the right side, aligned horizontally with the offensive line.
This formation gained popularity in the NCAA, especially for teams with mobile quarterbacks.
The overlapping positions of the quarterback and running back allow the quarterback to choose between passing, handing off, or running the ball himself.
The University of Nevada popularized this formation in 2005, and in the 2009 season, they became the first team in history to have three players rush for over 1,000 yards in a season, including two running backs and quarterback Colin Kaepernick.
Both Hurts and Bateman, the Crimson Tide's quarterbacks, were mobile, so Saban often used this formation.
But now, the Crimson Tide lined up in a shotgun formation:
The basic setup is similar to the pistol, but the key difference is the running back's position.
Instead of standing behind the quarterback, the running back lines up parallel to the quarterback and slightly farther apart. This turns the running back into a potential receiving option. Some teams even go a step further, positioning the running back alongside the wide receivers and tight ends near the line of scrimmage.
So the strategy was clear. When the running back becomes a fifth receiving option, the shotgun formation is mainly used for passing plays.
In contrast to the NCAA, the NFL, which focuses more on passing, uses the shotgun formation frequently. It's one of the best formations for showcasing traditional pocket quarterbacks and unleashing a team's full offensive potential.
Legendary quarterback Peyton Manning took the shotgun formation to its peak. His ability to read defenses and design running routes was unmatched.
In the 2013 season with the Denver Broncos, Manning pushed the shotgun formation to its extreme, throwing for 5,477 yards and 55 passing touchdowns—both NFL records—and leading the Broncos to become the first team in history to score over 600 points in a single season.
Now, back to the Crimson Tide.
Seeing Lance's position shift, it was clear: Saban had moved away from the pistol formation and had made the rare choice to use the shotgun. This meant one thing—they were going for a pass.
It was all or nothing.
The Crimson Tide weren't playing it safe. Second down, eight yards to go, and Saban was rolling the dice.
The Tigers' defense immediately went on high alert. The shotgun formation's strength lies in having five receiving options, giving the offense a numerical advantage. In the Tigers' 4-3 defense, with only three linebackers, it was difficult to cover all the receiving threats, potentially leaving an opening.
Watkins quickly reacted, signaling to his teammates to spread out and adjust the defensive formation.
In the first quarter, a shotgun formation might have prompted a blitz, pressuring the quarterback directly to cut off the play at its source. But with only fifty-five seconds left, they just needed to break up the pass to turn the tide of the game, rendering a blitz unnecessary.
Now, it was about tight man-to-man coverage and zone defense, covering the short and mid-range pass zones.
But—
Bateman, following Saban's instructions, wasted no time. His focus was speed.
"Hike!"
As soon as they lined up, Bateman called the snap, not giving the defense any time to adjust.
Then—
Lance saw the defenders' first reaction: they all took half a step back, preparing to drop into coverage, eyes glued to Bateman's arm.
The air felt tense.
In that split-second, the Crimson Tide had caught the defense off guard with an unexpected formation, creating a momentary mismatch.
Lance stepped up and sidestepped.
Bateman's pass, thrown with quick precision, sailed right into Lance's arms.
Pop.
Lance felt the familiar grip of the leather football in his hands. Without hesitation, he planted his foot and surged forward.
A pass play?
No, a run.
Though the shotgun formation is used for passing 99% of the time, there's always that 1%.
Saban, with masterful insight into the Tigers' defensive mindset, had created this opportunity by disguising the play, intending to steal a quick gain on the ground.
Saban understood that running the ball would consume the clock, but perhaps Lance could pull off something extraordinary. Even if the play failed, as long as they gained the first down, they could burn their last timeout and still have three more chances to score.
The tactical misstep from the defense gave Lance space, and he remained fully aware.
Ahead of him, tight end Hunter Kiss and wide receiver #1 Foster were clearing the path, blocking the linebackers and corners. But before Lance could reach the short-pass zone, he had to deal with the defensive line near the line of scrimmage by himself—
Here they come!
Lawrence, quick to react, was already moving.
Offensive tackle Cotton tried to hold him off, and for a moment, he succeeded, placing both hands on Lawrence's shoulders, slowing him down.
But Lawrence, sensing Bateman's throw, planted his feet and powered through, slipping past Cotton.
Cotton, afraid of drawing a penalty and wasting the carefully planned play, hesitated just enough, and Lawrence broke free.
Physically gifted and quick to react, Lawrence was no doubt a top prospect, capable of going in the first round of the NFL draft. Despite still being a high schooler, he had all the potential and skill needed to thrive. Now, he was coming after Lance like a predator descending on its prey.
But Lance remained calm.
A quick juke to the left, then a sudden shift to the right.
His balance swayed as his feet danced in a flurry of motion, like a flamenco performer. He kept shaking Lawrence's focus.
With no time to hesitate, Lawrence lunged forward, arms wide like an eagle's wings, aiming to engulf Lance.
But to Lance, Lawrence's desperate dive was a futile attempt.
With a slick move to the right, Lance easily dodged Lawrence's outstretched arms. His footwork was smooth and agile, sidestepping the tackle attempt.
Lawrence's grasp missed completely, leaving him sprawled out, arms flailing as he fell to the ground.
As for Lance?
His movements were fluid and graceful, the momentary dodge giving him enough time to re-plant his foot, launch himself forward, and accelerate—
He was sprinting away now.
Lawrence was left in the dust, out of the play.
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Powerstones please.