Alabama could not get anywhere, could not block and could not stop making mistakes for 59 minutes and change on Saturday in the Iron Bowl.

Then Bryce Young reminded everybody why he is a Heisman Trophy candidate.

Young drove the Crimson Tide 97 yards in 1:11, leading to the tying touchdown with 24 seconds left in regulation, then threw for a touchdown and a pair of 2-point conversions in overtime as Alabama (11-1 overall, 7-1 SEC) knocked off Auburn 24-22 on Saturday at Jordan-Hare Stadium. The Crimson Tide remained in the College Football Playoff hunt heading into next week’s SEC Championship Game clash with No. 1 Georgia.

It was the first overtime game in the 86 meetings between Auburn and Alabama.

In the 4th OT, Crimson Tide defense back Kool-Aid McKinstry broke up a pass in the end zone on a 2-point conversion (in a new rule this year, starting in the 3rd extra session the teams trade 2-point tries, not full possessions). Young then hit John Metchie for the winning conversion.

Young passed for 317 yards and Metchie had 150 yards on 13 receptions.

In the third OT, Young hit Metchie for the 2-point conversion. TJ Finley responded with a screen pass to tight end John Samuel Shenker to tie the score 22-22.

In the second OT, sophomore Ben Patton hit a 49-yard field goal to put Auburn ahead 20-17 after the Crimson Tide sacked Finley on 3rd down. Alabama only got 5 yards on its second OT drive and Will Reichard’s 38-yard field goal extended the game.

In the first OT, Young hit Slade Bolden for a 6-yard TD to put Bama ahead 17-10. The Tigers responded when Finley threw a 5-yard TD to freshman tight end Landen King, whose one-handed catch near the back of the end zone tied it at 17.

Alabama, No. 3 in the CFP rankings, waited more than 59 minutes to reach the end zone but Young hit freshman wide receiver Ja’Corey Brooks for a 28-yard touchdown with 24 seconds to go in the 4th quarter and the PAT tied the score at 10-10.

Alabama outgained Auburn in regulation 358-141 but that was still 143 yards under Alabama’s average. The Crimson Tide came into the game No. 6 in FBS in total offense at 501 yards per game.

Auburn (6-6, 3-5) brought pressure on Young all day. Alabama wound up in 3rd and long situations all day and didn’t have much luck converting them, going 8-for-22 (also 1-for-4 on 4th downs).

Alabama outgained Auburn in regulation 358-141 but that was still 143 yards under Alabama’s average. The Crimson Tide came into the game No. 6 in FBS in total offense at 501 yards per game.

Alabama took over on its 2-yard line with 4:40 left in the fourth quarter after a punt by Auburn’s Oscar Chapman pinned the Crimson Tide. On 4th and 1 from their own 47, the Tide rushed up the middle with Trey Sanders but Auburn stopped it.

After Bama stopped Auburn, the Tigers punted again and pinned the Tide at their own 3-yard line. Alabama reached the Auburn 28-yard line in the final seconds by converting on 4th down then Young threw the tying TD pass.

Bama got a break earlier in the quarter when Finley’s passed was tipped and intercepted by Crimson Tide defensive back Josh Jobe with 11:50 left. That set up Reichard’s field goal to bring Bama within 10-3.

Brian Robinson rushed 38 yards to the Auburn 21-yard line. Robinson limped off with an apparent leg injury after the play. Alabama drove to the Auburn 8-yard line but Auburn’s 7th sack of the day, this one by Derick Hall, set up Reichard’s 30-yard field goal to finally get the Crimson Tide on the board with 8:44 to go in the game.

On 4th down with about 12 minutes left, Young dropped the snap and Auburn sacked him, That continued a series of mishaps for Alabama, which on its first four drives of the second half went punt, interception, turnover on downs and another turnover on downs.

Even a field goal, about as sure a proposition as Alabama could ask for over the past couple of seasons, went awry in the third quarter. Backup QB Paul Tyson was unable to handle the snap and his impromptu pass attempt was incomplete. It would have been a 37-yard field goal try for Reichard, who has only missed 4 times in 26 attempts since 2020.

The Tigers took over in Alabama territory on each of their first two drives in the second half but only got 3 points. Auburn took over on the Tide’s 21-yard line after a short punt and an 18-yard return, but settled for Ben Patton’s 33-yard field goal. After another Bama punt, Auburn started a drive 45 yards from the end zone, but surrendered consecutive sacks and punted.

The lone score in the first half came on Finley’s 15-yard swing pass to Kobe Hudson for a score. That capped a 4-play, 39-yard drive including a 29-yard pass to Demetris Robertson.

Jameson Williams, Alabama’s top receiver, was ejected for targeting while making a special teams tackle in the second quarter. Williams, who had 2 catches for 43 yards, came in with 1,218 receiving yards and 13 TDs on the season.

It was a first half full of punts and very little offense. At halftime, Auburn had 95 yards and Bama had just 68. Auburn ran 18 times for minus-3 yards; Bama rushed 14 times for minus-2 yards through two quarters. Each team punted 6 times in the first half.