High Tide: Alabama Routs Kansas State in Sugar Bowl
Tide coast to a 45-20 victory over the Wildcats in New Orleans to reach 11 wins.
By: Dave in Tuscaloosa
Bryce Young hoists the Sugar Bowl MVP trophy. (Photo via @AlabamaFTBL)
Entering into Saturday’s Sugar Bowl against 9th-ranked and Big 12 champion Kansas State, 5th-ranked Alabama was coming off of a month that defined the 2022 season…some lows, yet some incredible highs as well. Outside 13 players entering the transfer portal (see Sir Nick’s reference to “Energy VAMPIRES”) and failing to qualify for the College Football Playoff for only the second time, the Tide signed the consensus #1 recruiting class which contains several potential instant difference-makers. Furthermore, during the era of opt-outs, the Crimson Tide bucked the system and instead, all Bama players chose to “opt-in” and participate in the final game of the ‘22 season. Alabama took that momentum and played their most complete game of the season, routing the Wildcats 45-20 to put the finishing touches on their twelfth straight season of 11 wins or more.
Generational quarterback Bryce Young led a Tide offense that racked up a total of 496 yards and after falling behind 10-0 in the first quarter, Alabama rattled off 35 straight points to take command of the contest. In his last game in a crimson jersey, Young was brilliant, completing 15 of 21 passes for 321 yards and five touchdowns. In addition, the two areas that had been most inconsistent during the season, the receiving corps and the offensive line, played their most complete game, coupled with a defense that held the Big 12 champs and standout quarterback Will Howard to 401 total yards.
Kansas State took advantage of a slow Tide start and came out of the gate on fire. Star back Deuce Vaughn sprinted 88 yards (the longest touchdown run against a Nick Saban-coached Tide team) at the 3:26 mark of the first quarter, giving K-State an early 10-0 lead. After Vaughn’s touchdown, Alabama took control of the game. Although Young was off the mark several times in the first quarter, including missing a wide-open Jermaine Burton for a sure touchdown, he calmed down and performed brilliantly through the final three quarters. The Vaughn run seemed to wake up the Tide and the turning point came on the Tide’s final drive of the first quarter. Facing a third and 10 from the Alabama 31, Young avoided pressure, stepped up in the pocket, and hit Jahmyr Gibbs on a short crossing route that the junior tailback turned into a 60-yard gain to the KSU 9-yard line. Three plays later, Young hit Isaiah Bond in the back of the endzone to cut the Wildcat lead to 10-7. After a three-and-out from Kansas State, the Tide marched 63 yards on six plays with Young throwing his second touchdown of the day, this time to tight end Cameron Latu from a yard out to give Alabama their first lead of the day, 14-10. Howard and the Wildcat offense would respond with an impressive 18-play, 73-yard drive that ate up 10:30. On the drive, an aggressive Chris Klieman’s offense converted on two fourth downs, yet failed on a fourth and goal from the 2-yard line, which handed the ball back to Young and the Tide on its own 2-yard line. In what may have been the defining drive of the year, Bill O'Brien's offense marched 98 yards on 7 plays that ended on a 12-yard Young to Burton touchdown.
The Wildcats were two yards away from entering halftime up 17-14. Instead, they trailed an inspired Tide squad 21-10. Kleiman continued to be aggressive as the Wildcats opened the second half with an unsuccessful onsides kick that set up the Bama offense at the K-State 46. Two plays later, Young threw his fourth touchdown of the afternoon, a 32-yard dime to Ja’Corey Brooks that increased the Tide lead to 28-10. Three plays later, Brian Branch picked off a Howard pass, and on the next play, Jace McClellan raced 17 yards to the endzone to push the Bama lead to 35-10. The teams would later trade a touchdown and a field goal each, bringing the final score to 45-20.
All respect to Kansas State, who had a terrific season and stands as the only team to top championship game-bound TCU. With all attention going to the Tide players that chose to play in the game, it is important and appropriate to state that Kansas State had several draft-eligible players choose to opt-in as well. It was also an extremely clean game and it was obvious to see that both teams greatly respected each other. What happened in the Sugar Bowl was a terrific representation of what college football is all about.
The dominant outcome in Alabama’s favor may serve as ammunition for those that think Saban’s Tide deserved a playoff spot, yet the reality is that this team fell short of expectations. The Sugar Bowl win was bittersweet for Tide nation, as a dominating win in a big bowl game is always satisfying, yet it also showed what could have been for this squad. If Alabama had played the way they played against K-State, what would have been the result against Tennessee on Rocky Top in October or against LSU in November? We indeed are left with a sense of what could have been, yet we are also left with tremendous gratitude for the team that showed up on Saturday in New Orleans. Young, Will Anderson, Jahmyr Gibbs, and others could have easily opted out to prepare for the upcoming NFL draft, yet stated time and time again how much they respected and loved the program, the coaches, and their “brothers” in uniform. With such sentiment, Tide nation can certainly be optimistic that the Saban Dynasty, often dismissed during the 11-2 season, may still have life after all.