2016 SEC Championship Alabama vs. Florida live score updates, analysis
Top-ranked Alabama faces Florida in the 25th edition of the SEC Championship Game.
Alabama is a 24-point favorite in the game and is expected to make the College Football Playoff no matter what happens on Saturday. The undefeated Crimson Tide is looking to win its third consecutive SEC Championship. Florida is out of the running to make the four-team playoff, but could book a trip to the Sugar Bowl with a win on Saturday.
The game is scheduled to kick off at 3:00 p.m. CST and will be televised on CBS. It will be play-by-play announcer Verne Lundquist's last SEC game as the primary voice of SEC football.
Keep this page refreshed for Alabama vs. Florida live updates and analysis from the Georgia Dome.
FOURTH QUARTER: Alabama 40, Florida 16
END OF THIRD QUARTER: Alabama 40, Florida 16
--The Bo Show is rolling. Bo Scarbrough scores from 2-yards out -- one play after he ran for 34 yards -- to give Alabama a dominant 40-16 lead. It was an impressive 8-play, 98-yard drive for the Tide. Alabama 40, Florida 16.
--Florida moves the ball well but comes away with zero points after a great Alabama goal line stand. Alabama stopped Florida on three straight runs inside the three-yard line and Appleby's pass went incomplete on fourth down.
--Alabama unable to do anything on its first offensive drive of the half.
END OF SECOND QUARTER: Alabama 33, Florida 16
--Florida capitalizes on what looked to be a defensive miscommunication on an Appleby to Goolsby 25-yard touchdown with less than a minute left in the half.Alabama 33, Florida 16.
--Starting linebacker Shaun Dion Hamilton gets hurt and has to be helped off the field. He's headed right to the locker room.
--Joshua Jacobs scores from six yards out, benefitting from good blocking up front to pave the path in. Alabama 33, Florida 9 (3:47 left in half.
--Austin Appleby throws his third interception of the game to give Alabama at least one more chance to score before the end of the half.
--Adam Griffith hits a 25-yard field goal to boost the Tide's lead to 26-9 with 6:27 left in the first half. Alabama 26, Florida 9.
--A 47-yard punt return by Trevon Diggs puts Alabama in great field position. Alabama goes right to Bo Scarbrough on the first play for a 22-yard run.
--Alabama can't capitalize on a good scoring opportunity on Florida's side of the field. Griffith missed a 40-yard field goal attempt with 9:38 left in the first half.
--Alabama figures out its redzone struggles when Jalen Hurts finds Gehrig Dieter for a 6-yard touchdown. The touchdown was set up by an earlier Hurts to Calvin Ridley 52-yard catch and run. Alabama 23, Florida 9 (11:55)
END OF FIRST QUARTER: Alabama 16, Florida 9
--Alabama finished the first quarter with 16 points and -7 offensive yards.
--Alabama adds its second non-offensive touchdown on a block punt returned 27 yards by Joshua Jacobs for a touchdown. Florida then blocks Adam Griffith's extra point attempt and returns it for two points. Alabama 16, Florida 9. (1:42 left in 1st QTR).
--Appleby throws behind his receiver and right into Minkah Fitzpatrick's hands who returns it for a 44-yard touchdown. The defense has come up huge with the offense working out some kinks early in the game. Alabama 10, Florida 7 (5:06 left in 1st QTR).
--Jalen Hurts targeted Calvin Ridley twice inside the redzone but was unable to convert, setting up a 31-yard Adam Griffith field goal. Florida 7, Alabama 3. (6:58 left in 1st QTR).
--Shaun Dion Hamilton intercepts Appleby and gives Alabama great field position for the first time on Saturday.
--Florida gets on the board first with an Austin Appleby to Antonio Callaway five-yard touchdown. Florida 7, Alabama 0 (9:51 left in 1st QTR).
--Alabama starter Ronnie Harrison was down on the field for a few minutes but was able to walk off the field on his own.
--Florida is moving the ball fairly well to start the game. The Gators are on Alabama's 33-yard line following two first downs with 12:07 left in the first quarter.
PREGAME:
--Steve Spurrier, Gene Stallings and former SEC commissioner Roy Kramer are here being honored for the 25th anniversary.
Sourche: al.com