Alabama Beats Auburn in the Iron Bowl: ThreeThings We Learned

The Kick-Six is history. Alabama has erased it.

A dominant second half for the Alabama Crimson Tide resulted in a win over the hated Auburn Tigers in the Iron Bowl Saturday. The Tide went down 33-21 in the third quarter and looked to be in serious trouble, but they managed to recover and outscore the Tigers 34-11 after that to win 55-44.

Nick Saban did a tremendous jobs keeping his team composed when things got a little bit rough, and Alabama’s win saved the SEC. Had they lost, there might have been a chance for no SEC team to make the College Football Playoff this year.

As it is, Alabama is still in control of the conference.

Here are three things we learned from the Iron Bowl on Saturday.

1. Blake Sims is a Clutch Quarterback

Does Jameis Winston have a twin brother in Tuscaloosa? Because they seem to be doing the same things this season. Well, on the field. Obviously, Sims doesn’t have a Heisman trophy nor does he deserve one, and he’s also managed to avoid any off-field controversy. But on the field this year, both quarterbacks seem to loved putting their teams in huge holes and then leading their teams out of them. Sims already did this with LSU, and now he has done it with Auburn.

He was 20 of 27 for 312 yards and 4 touchdowns, and he also had 5 carries for 23 yards and another touchdown for 5 total touchdown. But he also threw 3 interceptions.

However, after his third interception that put the Tide in the 33-21 hole, Sims went 10 of 12 for 183 yards and 3 touchdowns, and he also had 4 carries for 30 yards and a touchdown. Sims has intangibles on the same level as Winston, as he came through in the biggest way when desperately needed to save the Tide’s College Football Playoff hopes.

He is now an Iron Bowl legend.

More from Alabama Crimson Tide

• #10 Alabama football: 3 takeaways from close road win against USF
• College Football Playoff: Projected top 4 after Week 2
• Biggest winners and losers from College Football Week 2
• Alabama football: Is the Nick Saban Dynasty officially over?
• Alabama football: 3 bold predictions vs. No. 11 Texas in Week 2

2. Amari Cooper is a Superstar

We already knew this, but the way Amari Cooper came through Saturday was remarkable. In his THIRD 200-yard game of the year, Cooper had 13 catches for 224 yards and 3 touchdowns. He has spent all season bailing out Sims many times, and he did the same thing on Saturday.

Cooper is clearly the best receiver in all of college football this year, and he should be a Top 10 pick in next year’s NFL Draft. Not only does he put up huge numbers, but like Sims, he comes through best when the moment is biggest.

The junior did the same thing on Saturday, and he might just have a case to be a Heisman Trophy winner. It seems like a long shot, but to catch 2 touchdowns AFTER your team goes down 33-21 to play a huge role in leading them back is an incredibly clutch performance. And now Alabama is going to the Iron Bowl because of it.

3. Lane Kiffin is an Offensive Genius

This is something else we already knew, but it was put on display in the best way on Saturday. Kiffin doesn’t have any fancy spread offense, he doesn’t do anything cute with his players, and he’s not afraid of coaching in the big moments.

Say what you want about him as a head coach, but if you’re an offensive player who wants to develop for the NFL, he is the guy you want to play for. Kiffin makes quarterbacks look great in a pro-style system, and the Alabama dynasty looks like it is continuing this year with a much more open offense than it has had in the previous few years.

Obviously, Sims being a better quarterback than AJ McCarron helps. But the Kiffin hire was one of the most brilliant moves by Saban because in the past, he’s relied on a massive offensive line to simply carry a simple offense while the defense dominates.

Now, the offense is on the defense’s level with Kiffin’s coaching. And he deserves credit for that.