Alabama had gotten here, to the brink of yet another national championship game, relying on the dizzying legs of Jalen Milroe. With its season on the line, it wasn't surprising that the Crimson Tide went to the Milroe well once again.
What was surprising, however, was the way Alabama did it. With the Crimson Tide needing touchdown to extend their Rose Bowl clash with Michigan, offensive coordinator Tommy Rees put the ball into the hands of Alabama's third-year quarterback.
It didn't pay off. Milroe was rounded up by a wave of Big Blue defenders, sealing Michigan's 27-20 win and ending the Crimson Tide's playoff hopes.
It was a play call that looked awkward on the eyes at first glance. Milroe had done most of his damage — both during the game and during the season — in open field. The way such space would open up? By giving Milroe the option than the ball off, pass it to an open receiver or carry it down the field himself via RPO.
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That wasn't the case on fourth down, however. Milroe was immediately called into action as yet another snap fell towards his ankles. Even though he recovered, the choreography of the play was all over the place.
Roydell Williams was the intended target of the play, shifting out to the left before the snap. He was to be joined by two blockers, who would attempt to clear land in the hopes of providing Williams with safe passage into the end zone.
But the snap came low — a constant problem for Alabama throughout the year when lined up in shotgun. With a pass rusher darting towards Milroe untouched, the Alabama hurler decided to take matters into his own hands, much to the chagrin of Crimson Tide fans across the world.
Alabama’s final play was an RPO
— Adam Breneman (@AdamBreneman81) January 2, 2024
This ball should’ve gone to the swing pass to the RB
Bama had 2 blockers on the 2 DBs and the RB out leveraged the defender playing him man
But low snap forced Milroe to abort it and run himself pic.twitter.com/T84g9niTQ6
It was an issue of execution, in the end. But plenty of college football fans had their say on the matter, oftentimes at Rees' expense. Such is life when you're a part of one of college football's most famous (infamous?) brands.
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Everybody on earth: It’s 4th and goal on the 3. You should call anything but a QB sneak.
— GEN Y (Ret.)🏴 (@gyab_x) January 2, 2024
Tommy Rees: pic.twitter.com/IfoAhqhb3s
MF CALLED A QUARTERBACK POWER ON 4TH AND GOAL FROM THE 4.
— Cale Charles (@CaleCOTC) January 2, 2024
Lmaooooooo..TOMMY REES, COME ON DOWN! pic.twitter.com/irvAseU1en
Tommy Rees on 4th & goal: pic.twitter.com/WlAKF4wxgk
— College Sports Only (@CollegeSportsO) January 2, 2024
Tommy Rees sending in that final play call after having two timeouts to keep Alabama’s season alive pic.twitter.com/1GENNBV3vI
— AJ Spurr (@SpurrFM) January 2, 2024
Tommy Rees trying to clock in tomorrow pic.twitter.com/AqyycjjfMe
— ᴶᶜت (@JCtalksball) January 2, 2024
Tommy Rees with the natty on the line pic.twitter.com/o5hBlRFFe0
— Unnecessary Roughness (@UnnecRoughness) January 2, 2024
Head coach Nick Saban offered his assessment of the final moments of Alabama's season, as well as the corresponding decisions — both by the Crimson Tide and Wolverines — that led to that final play-call.
"The fact that it didn't work made it a really bad call." - Nick Saban on the Jalen Milroe QB draw on the final play of Alabama's Rose Bowl loss to Michigan. #CFBPlayoff pic.twitter.com/UnNYJHiBrT
— The Next Round (@NextRoundLive) January 2, 2024
"We called three plays. One they called timeout, one we called timeout and the last one that didn't work," Saban said. "The fact that it didn't work made it a really bad call.
Tommy just felt like the best thing we could do was have a quarterback run, which was kinda our two-point play for this game.... We didn't execute it very well and it didn't work."
It certainly didn't. And you'll have to imagine Saban will be reckoning with what could have been all throughout the offseason once he returns to Tuscaloosa as a result.