Fourth and 31 is the play that everyone will remember from Alabama’s rollercoaster season, but two more signal to trouble for Michigan in the Rose Bowl.
The back-to-back plays by Alabama defender Dallas Turner against LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels characterized the Crimson Tide’s season of development. Alabama’s defense crumbled in the fourth quarter against Texas and appeared undeserving of playing in Bryant-Denny Stadium. Two months later, Turner defeated the SEC’s Heisman Trophy nominee in the second half against LSU, giving Alabama the SEC West title.
Quarterbacks receive all of the attention, but defenses still win SEC championships.
The Associated Press selected Turner the SEC’s defender of the year this week. Daniels won the award for offensive player of the year. When the two stars faced off this season, Turner emerged victorious. Turner swatted away Daniels’ pass attempt before taking LSU’s quarterback out of the game on the next play in the SEC’s defining defensive sequence of the year. Turner’s hit on Daniels was dubbed a dirty play by some.