Nick Saban was not a happy camper heading into the locker room at the half after refs gave Auburn a last-second field goal attempt.
Auburn had no timeouts when JaTarvious Whitlow was dragged down at the Alabama 34-yard line with one second left on the clock. Originally, the game clock ticked down to zero. But after review, the refs determined there was still one second left on the clock and allowed the Tigers to kick a field goal, which they made to pull to within four points, 31-27, at the half.
Saban was furious after Anders Carlson’s 52-yard field goal went through the uprights as time expired. He raged at the refs out on the field before heading into the locker room.
Right before he went into the locker room, Saban was interviewed by CBS and asked about the incident. He stated that, because Auburn did not have a timeout left, if the game had been allowed to play out without a stoppage, the Tigers would not have had time to get off the field goal.
But due to the review process stopping the clock, Auburn was allowed to make a field goal Saban believes it never should have had the opportunity to try.