On a field 100 yards long, it was a play from the three-yard line that ultimately decided Alabama’s 32-31 loss to LSU.

In the first frame of overtime, LSU matched Alabama’s touchdown and then rolled the dice on a two-point conversion — succeeding and sending Tiger Stadium in meltdown mode.

When a reporter asked Alabama coach Nick Saban after the game if he was expecting the Tigers to go for two after Jayden Daniels ran for the score, he responded, “No, I wasn’t.”

LSU had won the overtime coin toss and chose to give the Tide the ball first, which gave the Tigers the benefit of knowing what it needed to win. In this case, after Alabama scored a touchdown and a point-after, it was two points instead of an extra point that would have sent the game to a second overtime.

“We played what we would have played in that situation because the next series [in the second overtime], you have to go for two,” Saban continued. “So we played what we would have played against that formation and we had a chance to stop the guy, so it wasn’t like we didn’t have him covered. If we kept him out, we would have won the game.”

When LSU lined up for its two-point try, Alabama had 12 defenders on the field. The Tide called a timeout to regroup, then emerged from the timeout with further confusion. Defensive lineman DJ Dale ran onto the field and safety Brian Branch ran off to match LSU’s personnel, but then linebacker Jaylen Moody also ran onto the field to give the Tide 12 defenders.

Cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry noticed the error and ran over to safety Malachi Moore, who sprinted off the field as the crowd reacted. If the Tigers had snapped the ball, it would have been a penalty against Alabama that would have moved LSU closer to the goal line.

Even after getting Moore off the field, Alabama still seemed unsettled. Linebacker Henry To’o To’o looked to the sideline and both Moody and safety Jordan Battle looked toward To’o To’o. A second later, the ball was snapped, Battle could not reach LSU tight end Mason Taylor in time and Alabama’s season went up in the smoke of the Death Valley fireworks.

Mike Rodak is an Alabama beat reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @mikerodak.