What Alabama football’s Kalen DeBoer said about 4th-and-22 decision

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. − Alabama football coach Kalen DeBoer cited the need to score a touchdown to win regardless of Tennessee’s late field goal in explaining his decision to go for a fourth-and-22 from his own 18-yard line with fewer than two minutes remaining in the Crimson Tide’s 24-17 road loss. Quarterback Jalen Milroe completed a 13-yard pass to running back Justice Haynes on the fourth-and-22, giving Tennessee a turnover on downs. The Volunteers took over on the Alabama 31, and converted a field goal to make the score 24-17 as Alabama burned all three of its timeouts.

“You’re going to have to get a touchdown either way on our end. You hold them to a field goal, you’re going to get a stop on three straight plays, use your three timeouts. So, it can go both ways, right?,” DeBoer said. “But more than likely, if you (punt and) stop them, you’re going to get a punt back and have to go the length of the field anyway. You’re giving yourself one more (offensive) play.”

A very low-percentage offensive play, of course, but an extra play nonetheless.

Following the field goal, Alabama got the ball back with 1:30 remaining and no timeouts, and quarterback Milroe threw his second interception of the game on the first play of the drive to clinch the win for the Volunteers.

Tuscaloosa News columnist Chase Goodbread is also the weekly co-host of Crimson Cover TV on WVUA-23. Reach him at cgoodbread@gannett.com. Follow on X.com @chasegoodbread.

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