From Mississippi State’s upset of Ole Miss on Thanksgiving through the latest Auburn miracle on Saturday afternoon to Missouri’s win over Texas A&M, the final week of the regular season was definitely spectacular.
When it was all said and done, those were the only three games that had a big effect on the SEC’s postseason.
Auburn’s defeat of two-time defending national champion Alabama was just another chapter in the Tigers miracle season now Gus Malzahn’s team has their sights set on finishing off the story with a Southeastern Conference championship Saturday when they take on the Missouri Tigers in Atlanta.
Auburn never backed down from the nation’s No. 1 team on Saturday, tying the game in the final minute and winning it after the clock hit triple zeroes when Chris Davis returned Alabama’s desperation 56-yard field goal attempt on the final play 109 yards to score the winning touchdown.
“At first I had no idea that we had anyone back there, then coach called the timeout and we made the switch and I went back to receive,” explained Davis. “I knew when I caught the ball I would have room to run and I knew we had bigger guys on the field to protect and that was all after that. When I looked back I said I couldn’t believe this. When I was running I said God is good.”
For Auburn coach Gus Malzahn, it is another validation that the Tigers have completely bought into his approach to what it takes to win football games.
“We talked about that we wanted to keep it close, and if we could get it to the fourth quarter playing at home with our crowd we would find a way to win. Second week in a row that we won on a last play sort of thing,” he said. “Real proud of our team. They’ve gotten better each week. I think we are playing our best, and we beat a very good football team tonight. Very good defensively, very good offensively, very good on special teams and our guys found a way to win. I’m very proud of our team.”
Malzahn was Auburn’s offensive coordinator when the Tigers played South Carolina in the 2010 SEC title game, now he’s going back as a head coach.
“I really didn’t let my mind go there until I shook the coach’s hand, and I was thinking you know that we are going to the SEC Championship Game,” said Malzahn. “It was a lot of fun. It’s what you coach for. It’s what these kids play for, to get a chance to win the SEC Championship.
“It’s a tribute to our players. It’s hard to find ways to win like that when the pressure is on. There was unbelievable pressure to win and nobody understands that, especially with how much this game means. Our guys found a way.”
The Auburn players are looking forward to going back to the SEC Championship Game for the first time since 2010.
“It feels like the 2010 season,” said safety Jermaine Whitehead. “I was at home being recruited, I thought that had to be one of the most amazing experiences. It’s like a dream come true. I feel like we are destined to finish very strong. We are going to go to the film room and make sure we are ready to play.”
“Just me being able to play in the Georgia Dome again, it’s a great feeling. I’m happy for it, and I’m happy for this team,” said cornerback Jonathon Mincy.
“Man we worked hard for this and we can’t wait to get there,” said running back Tre Mason, who had 164 yards rushing against Alabama.
After the Auburn Tigers punched their ticket to the championship game, it was up to Missouri to do the same against Johnny Manziel and Texas A&M. They did it when Henry Josey sprinted 57 yards to score with 3:34 left for the go-ahead score. The win made Missouri the unquestioned champion of the SEC East.
Missouri coach Gary Pinkel heard the whispers before the season that maybe the SEC was going to be too hard on him and his team. He is not shocked that Auburn is in the game and he knew his players had this as a goal.
“Auburn has always done a great job. But, this season was a mission,” he said of his team. “Our guys got back here in January and what they did is they said, ‘well this is what we have to do.’ January, February, March, methodically going through their schedule, the preparation. I told you before, these guys play; they flat out play. When they go out there everybody is going to play hard.”
The game not only won the SEC East for the Tigers, it was Pinkel’s 101st win at Missouri, tying Don Faurot as Missouri’s winningest coaches ever.
“I am surely honored but that is not what is nice about that,” Pinkel said. “This is about winning a championship, it is about all the guys in here. I am so proud of this football team.”
“It is big-time for this program, especially after where we were last year,” said sophomore offensive lineman Evan Boehm. “Everyone counted us out this year at the beginning, but we knew as a unit and as a team that we could be the best. And you can’t worry about what everyone else has to say, you have to go out and work your hardest and do your best every single day. On the field or in the weight room, it doesn’t matter, you just have to be your best. That’s what this group did and that’s why this group is special. We didn’t let anyone else tell us differently.
“It’s a special moment right now to be a Missouri Tiger.”
There was no question that Auburn and Missouri were going bowling before Saturday. The only team that had to win last week to go bowling was Mississippi State, and the Bulldogs became bowl-eligible by winning the Egg Bowl in overtime against Ole Miss on Thanksgiving night.
Mullen is now 4-1 against Ole Miss in this special rivalry and has qualified Mississippi State for postseason four consecutive seasons.
“We found a way to win the game. We found a way to win and that’s what’s most important,” said Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen. ”Having this trophy back where it belongs is a special, special deal.”