Alabama loses to Auburn after late FG attempt dings the uprights

DING.

No. 5 Alabama’s road game against No. 15 Auburn (and College Football Playoff hopes) came down to a 30-yard field goal attempt with 2:04 left in the fourth quarter of the Iron Bowl on Saturday.

The Crimson Tide trailed the Tigers, 48-45, and drained about six minutes off the clock with what could have been the go-ahead drive. But on 4th-and-goal on Auburn’s 11-yard line, they best choice was to try to tie the game with a field goal, despite Alabama’s tortured history with kickers.

And Joseph Bulovas didn’t just miss what would have been a game-tying field goal. The ball looked like it was headed straight down the middle of the uprights, but it shifted left and dinged the goal post. The Crimson Tide turned the ball over on downs, and Auburn ultimately won, 48-45.

And that was after a controversial ending to the first half, which allowed Auburn to kick a last-second field goal.

Even when Auburn was looking at a fourth down with a little more than a minute left, Alabama was flagged for too many men on the field, which gave the Tigers a first down and officially ended the game.

It was the Crimson Tide’s second loss of the season, and without the opportunity to play for the SEC championship, they’re most likely out of the College Football Playoff picture. No two-loss team has ever been invited to the playoff, and for it to happen, that team would probably have to be a conference champion.

Alabama also made the playoff for the first five years of its existence, so it’s absence will be a first. The Crimson Tide are now 10-2 while Auburn advances to 9-3.

Here’s how college football Twitter reacted to the missed field goal and Alabama’s loss.

[jwplayer Vfcpg2IG-q2aasYxh]

[opinary poll=”does-the-college-football-playoff-need-t” customer=”forthewin”]

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