Alabama claimed their first US college football title since 1992 when they defeated Texas 37-21 in the BCS championship game at the Rose Bowl on Thursday.
Alabama wore the Longhorns down with a punishing running game led by Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram to take a 24-6 halftime lead over Texas, who lost All-American quarterback Colt McCoy on the team’s first possession because of a shoulder injury.
The Crimson Tide played conservatively in the second half, with the Texas defense stiffening and freshman quarterback Gary Gilbert connecting with receiver Jordan Shipley as the Big 12 champions drew within 24-21 with 6:15 left in the game.
PHOTO: AFP
With three minutes remaining, Eryk Anders blitzed from the blindside and forced Gilbert to fumble deep in Texas territory and Alabama recovered at the three.
Ingram bulled his way into the endzone for his second touchdown of the game to give Alabama some breathing space at 31-21.
Alabama, who entered the game with an identical 13-0 record to Texas, capped a fine night with another touchdown after picking off a Gilbert pass. Ingram, who gained 116 yards on 22 carries and scored two touchdowns, was named offensive player of the game.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Giant lineman Marcell Dareus, who sent McCoy to the sidelines with a crunching hit and rambled 28 yards into the endzone after intercepting a botched shovel pass in the closing seconds of the first half, was honored on the defensive side.
Alabama coach Nick Saban became the first coach to win the BCS championship with two different teams, having won the crown with Louisiana State University six years ago.
Texas coach Mack Brown said the Dareus interception at the end of the first half was crippling.
“The last play of the first half was an absolute killer,” he said.
Despite that tack-on score, the Longhorns made a game of it in the second half.
“I told them I was really proud of them, I was proud of their fight and their toughness. We just had too many turnovers,” Brown said after failing in his bid to claim a second national championship in five years for the Longhorns.
Alabama, which was burned by an intercepted pass on a fake punt, settled into running the football and with McCoy sidelined took control of the game.
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