No. 1 Alabama defeats No. 7 Florida in SEC championship game

The No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide defeated the Florida Gators, 52-46, on Saturday in the SEC championship game. 

The No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide defeated the Florida Gators, 52-46, on Saturday in the SEC championship game.

The Crimson Tide move to 11-0 on the season and will almost assuredly remain No. 1 in the College Football Playoff.

After a back-and-forth first quarter in which Alabama led 14-10, the Crimson Tide took complete control in the second quarter behind a record-setting performance by running back Najee Harris. The Crimson Tide would go into halftime with a 35-17.

However, the Gators came out hot in the second half as quarterback Kyle Trask found wide receiver Trevon Grimes for a 50-yard touchdown to cut the lead to 35-24.

Later in the third quarter, Florida’s Nay’Quan Wright scored to cut Alabama’s lead to 35-31.

The Crimson Tide would kick off the fourth quarter with another Harris touchdown, followed by a field goal to make it 45-31.

The Gators wouldn’t go away.

Florida found the end zone again, but Alabama quarterback Mac Jones answered, finding DeVonta Smith for a six-yard touchdown, which proved to be the decisive points.

Harris had a huge game, rushing for 178 yards and three touchdowns. He also caught five passes for 67 yards and two more scores.

Smith finished with another big night with 15 receptions for 184 yards and two touchdowns.

Jones completed 33 of 43 passes for 418 yards and five touchdowns in the victory.

Alabama is now two wins away from another national championship.