Alabama football found itself in a tough spot.

The Crimson Tide trailed by four in the final two minutes, needing a touchdown. It had the ball on its own 18-yard line and needed 22 yards for the first down. An incomplete pass on third-and-7, followed by a personal foul on Kendrick Law, created the fourth-and-22 conundrum.

1:53 remained, and Alabama had all three timeouts.

Then the Crimson Tide decided to run a play instead of punting. Running back Justice Haynes caught a short pass for 13 yards, not near enough for the first down. Turnover on downs.

Tennessee got the ball deep in Alabama territory, didn’t get a first down then kicked the field goal to take a 24-17 lead with 1:32 left.

The Crimson Tide got the ball back one more time with 1:30 left, but Jalen Milroe threw an interception the first play. As a result, Tennessee defeated the Crimson Tide 24-17 on Saturday at Neyland Stadium.

After the game, Alabama‘s second loss of the season, Crimson Tide coach Kalen DeBoer was asked to describe his thought process on the decision to go for fourth-and-22.

“Either way, it’s going to be a punt and you’re going to get the ball back if you stop them,” DeBoer said. “You’re going to have to have a touchdown either way on our end. If you can just hold them to a field goal, you’re going to have to get a stop on three straight plays. Use your three timeouts.”

DeBoer said it can go both ways. He said if Alabama stops Tennessee, the Crimson Tide would get the punt back and have to go the length of the field any way.

“So you’re getting yourself one more play,” DeBoer said. “They did a good job of checking in and out of something. It was a chance for us. I know what it looks like when you watch it. There’s a game plan reason where we would do something where I understand you’re throwing short to the sticks as well. Hats off to them. They played it the way they needed to. Adjusted. I couldn’t burn a timeout when we’re in that situation. We needed the three for the defensive sequence when we got to that.”

Nick Kelly is an Alabama beat writer for AL.com and the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X and Instagram.