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For a second, it looked like the Alabama Crimson Tide would fall to an unranked conference opponent for a second straight week.
South Carolina took a 19-14 lead early in the third and held onto it into the final quarter. However, Alabama secured two touchdowns in the final frame and stopped a two-point attempt in the final minute to earn a 27-25 win and avoid the upset bid.
Alabama looked in control at halftime, holding 14-0 lead with less than two minutes remaining. However, a disastrous display that included a fourth-down touchdown conversion for South Carolina, a safety against Alabama and an interception from quarterback Jalen Milroe allowed the Gamecocks to make it 14-12 at the break.
Milroe would toss another interception in the fourth, but added a rushing and passing touchdown in the final quarter to retake the lead.
Milroe finished 16-of-23 for 209 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions while also adding 36 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. Jam Miller led the ground game with 42 yards on 12 carries while Germie Bernard had four catches for 89 yards and a touchdown.
Despite the victory, fans, including former Heisman winner Mark Ingram, took to social media to rip Milroe and the Tide for the lackluster performance and question the team’s potential for a playoff bid.
If Alabama had lost, it would have been the first time since 2007 that the program had lost back-to-back games.
However, the Crimson Tide avoided that fate and will now look to get back to playing the elite level of play that allowed them to secure the earlier victory over Georgia.
They will have to figure it out fast, as Alabama will head to Knoxville to face No. 8 Tennessee next week for a chance to earn a big push in the SEC standings.
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