2010 BCS National Championship Game - Pivotal Plays

Pivotal Plays

Besides McCoy being taken out of the game, the two most pivotal plays of the game came at the ends of the halves. With only 15 seconds to go until halftime and Alabama leading 17–6, Texas quarterback Garrett Gilbert tossed a shovel pass into a crowd of Texas and Alabama linemen which bounced off the hands of Texas running back DJ Monroe. Alabama defensive lineman Marcell Dareus, the same player who had knocked McCoy out of the game, gathered it in and powered 28 yards for a touchdown to give Alabama a 24-6 lead at halftime.

The other pivotal play was late in the 4th quarter. Texas had closed the Alabama lead to 24-21 on the strength of two touchdown passes caught by senior wide receiver Jordan Shipley and a #2 ranked defense that had held Alabama scoreless in the second half. Texas had the ball deep in their own side of the field with 3:04 left to play. Alabama defender Eryk Anders made his team's first sack, tackling Gilbert hard enough to force a fumble, which was recovered by Courtney Upshaw at the Texas 3-yard line. On the following drive, with 2:01 to go in the 4th quarter, Alabama's Mark Ingram scored a touchdown to extend the Crimson Tide's lead to 31–21.

After the ensuing kickoff, Texas' QB showed his inexperience against a great Alabama defense. On the second play of that drive, defensive back Javier Arenas grabbed his 6th interception of the season, electing to down the ball rather than return it. Alabama's true freshman running back, Trent Richardson, gained 27 yards in 3 plays to score, building Alabama's lead to 37-21 with 47 seconds to play.

Texas' final drive also ended with an interception which bounced off of several players before ending up in the grasp of Alabama reserve defensive back Tyrone King, a senior who saw little playing time in his career. Alabama QB Greg McElroy would take a knee to drain the last 0:36 off the clock, handing Alabama its first BCS championship, 8th national title since 1960, and first ever win over Texas.

Coming into the game, Texas had the top rated rushing defense in college football. However, Alabama's Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram rushed 22 times for 116 yards and two touchdowns, while back-up running back true freshman Trent Richardson contributed an additional 109 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries. Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy was 6-for-11 for 58 yards and no touchdowns, taking five sacks in the process. Texas' freshman quarterback, Garrett Gilbert, passed for 186 yards and two touchdowns, but also lost a fumble and threw four interceptions, two of which bounced off Texas receivers.