SEC Championship 2015: Game Grades, Analysis for Florida vs. Alabama

The second-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide earned their second straight conference title with a 29-15 victory over the No. 18 Florida Gators during the 2015 SEC Championship Game on Saturday.

Alabama scored 27 consecutive points to pull away from Florida and lock up a spot in the College Football Playoff.

Pass Offense: Essentially, the only success Treon Harris found was on downfield shots. He tallied a pair of 46-yard throws—one of which C.J. Worton snatched for a touchdown—but finished 9-of-24 for 165 yards and an interception.

Run Offense: Harris' 23-yard run late in the fourth quarter helped the Gators end the game with a positive number in the rushing category. Kelvin Taylor, Jordan Cronkrite and Jordan Scarlett combined for 19 yards on 10 attempts, while sack yardage dropped Harris to minus-four yards.

Pass Defense: Bryan Cox Jr. and Jon Bullard each registered a sack during the first quarter, but Florida wasn't able to disrupt and contain Jake Coker the rest of the way. Two Alabama passing touchdowns in the second half put the game out of reach.

Run Defense: Although the box score suggests otherwise, the Gators stopped the run reasonably well. Eventually, they were simply too fatigued to continue stifling the 6'3", 242-pound wrecking ball that is Derrick Henry.

Special Teams: Florida's special teams were a complete disaster early on. Alabama blocked a punt for a safety and blocked a field goal, while Antonio Callaway fumbled after a good decision that went wrong. He atoned for that mistake with an 85-yard punt-return touchdown.

Coaching: The defense executed an excellent game plan for most of the night, but the Gators offense was once again terribly limited without a legitimate passing quarterback. Special teams continued to be a major problem for Florida.

Pass Offense: Coker, who is perhaps the Crimson Tide's most improved player from a year ago, capped the 2015 portion of the season in style. He completed 18 of 26 passes for 204 yards and two scores. ArDarius Stewart and Richard Mullaney caught the touchdowns.

Run Offense: Henry amassed more than 125 yards for the ninth time this season, and the bruising back extended his touchdown streak to 18 games. The junior put in a 189-yard performance to solidify his place atop the chase for the Heisman Trophy.

Pass Defense: Tim Williams led the way with two sacks, while Jonathan Allen, Ryan Anderson, A'Shawn Robinson and Da'Shawn Hand combined for three more. Marlon Humphrey snagged an easy interception. Since the Tide showed they can be beaten deep, 'Bama fans should hope to avoid Oklahoma.

Run Defense: The nation's top-ranked run defense lived up to its billing. Florida averaged 0.4 yards on designed first-down runs, which regularly led to 3rd-and-long situations. The Gators finished 0-of-11 on the money down.

Special Teams: Keith Holcombe blocked the punt, and Tony Brown forced the fumble. However, Brown and Daylon Charlot were both flagged for foolish blocks in the back. The Crimson Tide must improve their punt-return unit before the CFP. Adam Griffith hit two field goals but missed a 24-yarder.

Coaching: Henry started off slowly, but Lane Kiffin used read-option calls to keep Florida honest on the edge. The adjustment steadily helped the running game pick up an extra yard or two, and Alabama eventually sealed the win on the ground.

 

Follow Bleacher Report college football writer David Kenyon on Twitter: @Kenyon19_BR.