Top-ranked Alabama survives rally by 9th-ranked Florida

Alabama will remain No. 1. However, there will be those who question how sturdy the Crimson Tide’s stature is.

Alabama went to Gainesville on Saturday and jumped to a 21-3 lead. The rout wasn’t on.

Florida, which was ranked ninth, came back and gave the Crimson Tide everything it could handle before falling 31-29.

The second half saw the Gators score on drives of 75, 99, and 75 yards.

They closed to within the final score but were stuffed on a 2-point conversion with 3:10 left that could have tied the game.

Florida had to go for 2 because it missed an extra point in the second quarter after scoring a touchdown to cut Alabama’s lead to 21-9.

Alabama went to the running game on its final drive and managed to eat up three minutes before punting with 10 seconds to go.

Florida made a fair catch at its 24 on the punt with 4 seconds left but quarterback Emory Jones was sacked.

“I think the offense did a great job of answering the bell,” Coach Nick Saban told CBS. “Our team needs to learn to maintain intensity throughout the game. I thought we looked tired on defense.”

The Gators scored 4 rushing touchdowns against a Crimson Tide defense that had been allowing less than 1 a game through recent time.