This is how Jalen Milroe and Alabama football looked in 2024. Capable of big plays and stretches of domination, but also making enough mistakes to keep things tense — and sometimes frustrating.
Even with flaws, Alabama was still perfect at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
Milroe threw for 256 yards and ran for 104 yards, scoring three touchdowns to help No. 13 Alabama beat Auburn 28-14 on Saturday, keeping their playoff hopes alive.
This was Alabama’s last chance to make a statement in Kalen DeBoer’s first season, which has had its ups and downs. The Crimson Tide now has to wait to see how things play out, but the team may have gotten a boost when No. 12 Clemson (who plays SMU for the ACC championship) and No. 6 Miami both lost.
DeBoer’s best point might be playing in the tough SEC, which includes a win over No. 6 Georgia, but also three losses on the road.
“When you talk about the schedule week to week, it’s just a grind,” DeBoer said. “And having to come back every week, that’s really the only conference that has to do that is ours. That’s what I would say.”
Auburn (5-7, 2-6) kept the game close for the first half but ended up losing their fifth straight Iron Bowl and fourth straight losing season.
Alabama’s four turnovers, including two fumbles and an interception by Milroe, allowed Auburn to stay in the game.
But Milroe made enough big plays to keep the Tide perfect at home. He completed 18 of 24 passes and also had 17 runs, scoring touchdowns from 1, 17, and 19 yards.
Jam Miller ran for 84 yards on 28 carries, and Germie Bernard had 111 yards on seven catches.
When asked if Alabama was worthy of the playoff, Bernard simply said, “100 percent. Next question.”
Milroe and other players avoided the question, choosing instead to focus on celebrating the rivalry win.
Auburn’s Payton Thorne completed 24 of 41 passes for 301 yards, including a 29-yard touchdown to Cam Coleman. Thorne threw an interception late in the game, and tailback Jarquez Hunter was also intercepted on a trick play in the fourth quarter, ending any hopes of a comeback.
Alabama led 14-6 at halftime after a first half full of missed opportunities on both sides. The Tide lost a fumble and threw an interception in Auburn territory, and another fumble led to a field goal at the end of the half.
Auburn missed a field goal, failed on a fourth-down attempt from Alabama’s 19-yard line, and couldn’t score a touchdown after getting a first down at the 2-yard line. Ian Vachon’s 25-yard field goal was all they got with 27 seconds left after Milroe’s fumble.
Tempers flared in the second half following a fight on the Auburn sideline. Alabama defensive backs DeVonta Smith and Malachi Moore were both called for unsportsmanlike conduct after Auburn receiver KeAndre Lambert-Smith blocked Smith out of bounds.
“It’s an emotional game,” DeBoer said, who was on the opposite sideline and didn’t have the best view. “It builds up to this, and the game itself back and forth. It’s not OK, but I understand where the emotions were on both sides.”
On the field, Milroe and the rest of Alabama’s offense converted 12 of 18 third-down attempts.
“I think the difference in the game was their ability to stay on the field on third down, and us not being able to score touchdowns in the red zone,” Auburn coach Hugh Freeze said.