Alabama wins SEC title over Florida, clinches College Football Playoff spot
Running back Bo Scarbrough #9 of the Alabama Crimson Tide celebrates with defensive back Marlon Humphrey #26 of the Alabama Crimson Tide and defensive back Ronnie Harrison #15 of the Alabama Crimson Tide after recovering the ball for a safety against the Florida Gators in the first quarter during the SEC Championship at the Georgia Dome on December 5, 2015 in Atlanta, Georgia. Credit: Getty Images / Kevin C. Cox
ATLANTA — Heisman Trophy favorite Derrick Henry rushed for 189 bruising yards and No. 2 Alabama locked up its spot in the College Football Playoff, beating No. 18 Florida 29-15 with a dominating defensive performance in the Southeastern Conference championship game Saturday.
The Crimson Tide (12-1, No. 2 CFP) held the Gators to a total of 3 yards in the second and third quarters. Florida (10-3, No. 18 CFP) got an 85-yard punt return from Antonio Callaway and a late touchdown that didn’t really matter.
Henry turned in a performance that might be good enough to lock up the Heisman, carrying a staggering 44 times against one of the nation’s top defenses and putting the Tide ahead to stay on a 2-yard run late in the first half.
Henry tied the SEC record for touchdowns in a season (23) and eclipsed Herschel Walker’s 34-year-old conference mark for rushing yards in a year.
