The Tide rolled after a Longhorn comeback
Alabama is the national champ
Thirteen is a lucky number for Alabama.
The No. 1 team in the nation claimed its 13th national college football championship with a 37-21 victory over the No. 2 Texas Longhorns in the BCS championship game at the Rose Bowl Thursday night.
The game was much closer than the final score indicated, as the Longhorns had a chance to win the game with less than six minutes left. Texas turned what looked like a disastrous night when quarterback Colt McCoy was injured into near-victory with a second-half comeback.
McCoy was knocked out of the game early with an injured shoulder and Alabama raced to a 24-6 halftime lead. The game's turning point came just before the first half ended when instead of running out the clock, Texas coach Mack Brown called a time out. On the next play, Alabama's Marcell Dareus intercepted a shuttle pass thrown by substitute quarterback Garrett Gilbert and and returned it for a touchdown. At that point, it looked like the game would be a blowout.
But the Longhorn defense shut down the Alabama offense during most of the second half and rallied with two touchdowns and a two-point conversion to close the gap to 24-21 with a little over six minutes left in the game. Texas got the ball back with three minutes left and the ball on its own seven-yard line. Two plays later, Gilbert was hit hard and fumbled. Alabama recovered on the three-yard line. Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram scored three plays later. Alabama added another late touchdown after intercepting a Texas pass.