Fourth-and-31 will go down in the storied history of the Iron Bowl. But it was nearly the end of Alabama’s College Football Playoff hopes. The Crimson Tide needed Jalen Milroe and Isaiah Bond to pull off “Gravedigger” in the final minute of regulation on Nov. 25, escaping Jordan-Hare Stadium with a 27-24 win over rival Auburn.

Asked to reflect on the performance on Sunday, a day before No. 4 UA takes on No. 1 Michigan in the Rose Bowl, Saban admitted the Tide likely slept on the then 6-5 Tigers.

“That game was a difficult game for us. We’d already kind of clinched the SEC and I think everybody was looking a little bit ahead of what might be in store for playing SEC Championship game. I don’t think we respected the Auburn team like we should. I don’t think we played one of our best games and I think we’re very fortunate at the end of the game to be able to execute and come out with a win.

“Hopefully, the players learn that it doesn’t matter who you play. When they play us, we’re gonna get their best game and we need to be prepared to play our best game whenever we go out on the field,” Saban said.

Alabama scored on its first drive of the game and would enter halftime with a three-point lead over Auburn. The Tide struggled to contain Auburn, allowing 244 rushing yards, including two 90-yard rushers, and went into the fourth quarter trailing after Ja’Varrius Johnson got behind Alabama’s secondary.

Auburn extended its lead four minutes later and forced Alabama to punt with five minutes remaining. Yet, a special teams mix-up led to a muffed punt, which linebacker Jihaad Campbell fell on. Two improbable fourth-down conversions and a near walk-off pick-six from Terrion Arnold followed and Alabama kept its CFP hopes alive.

Alabama eventually bested then-No. 1 Georgia, 27-24, and leapfrogged undefeated, Atlantic Coast Conference champs Florida State to reach the playoffs. Kickoff from Pasadena, Calif., will be at 4 p.m. CT.

Nick Alvarez is a reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @nick_a_alvarez or email him at [email protected].