5 reasons Alabama won’t win the national championship

The 12-1 Crimson Tide will make their second appearance in the two-year-old College Football Playoff. Hargreaves is projected to go in the first round by many analysts but said he would “of course” participate in the Gators’ future bowl game after a few players last season chose to skip the Birmingham Bowl after then-head coach Will Muschamp was dismissed.

“I think when you have anyone on your staff before, who’s been a part of the team, helped you build the program, and Jim was on our staff when we were building a program, did a fantastic job for us”.

Many are asking similar questions about the Gators.

The Gators finished with just 15 total rushing yards, the second lowest rushing output in SEC championship game history.

The final score, lopsided as it was, masks the effort Geoff Collins’ defense and Callaway’s legs posted in the first half to keep Florida in the game – and even lead it for a nine-minute spell.

How long till they are back in Atlanta? “We’re a program on the rise”. Two plays later, Tide running back Derrick Henry ran through a tackle for a 2-yard touchdown run and a 12-7 lead with 2:26 left in the half.

After McElwain warned everyone all week about Alabama’s “creatures”, the Tide’s loaded defense harassed the Gators all afternoon. Treon talked trash after Florida’s whole team had 180 yards of offense and Derrick Henry had 189.

The Gators gained just a single yard in the second quarter. McElwain shouldered the blame for his shaky play as of late, saying the coaching staff had been “trying to push the envelope a little bit”.

Harris completed only 9 of 24 yards for 165 yards with one touchdown and one interception.

Stewart made an awesome 33-yard touchdown catch to give Alabama a 22-7 lead. The SEC conference championship game is at a neutral site in Georgia.

But then the Gators fell apart.

Fans who watch the SEC championship game live online will see a Florida team keyed in on Henry and the other playmakers on Alabama. None resulted in points for Florida, and one ended with a 40-yard field-goal attempt that was blocked. McElwain will need a strong ground game against the Gators, as time of possession could be a big factor in this game.

“We’ll get worked on this kicking thing, and somebody will get it up over the line far enough that maybe somebody doesn’t block it with their armpit”, McElwain said. But the Alabama defense had already started to smother Florida, and the Crimson Tide gradually chipped away. It is a system that he grew up in, which is the old system that we played for years and adapted through the years.

Henry came into the game as a Heisman favorite and certainly did nothing to hurt his chances, with a staggering 44 carries against one of the nation’s top defenses to earn MVP honors.

Florida is now 10-3 and will likely play in the Citrus Bowl. It was his third straight 100-yard effort and Taylor needs just 23 yards to become Florida’s first 1,000-yard rusher since 2012 (Mike Gillislee).

In the end, there were plenty of “what if’s” for the Gators, but McElwain loved the heart, effort and experience for his team.

What Henry brings to the table is clear, but he’s hardly effective as a receiver or as a pass blocker, as Pro Football Focus noted.

“You saw the scoreboard”, Florida offensive lineman Trip Thurman said.