Alabama’s 41-34 victory over Georgia on Saturday night probably won’t come without one of the most amazing athletic performances in Crimson Tide football history.

Ryan Williams’ 75-yard catch-and-run put Alabama on top with 2:18 left, just 13 seconds after the Bulldogs took their first lead at 34-33. The Saraland freshman leapt to intercept a pass from Jalen Milroe, somehow stayed in the field, spun between two Georgia defenders and landed in the end zone.

Given the stakes of the game (No. 2 Georgia vs. No. 4 Alabama), the situation of the game (the Crimson Tide were trailing after blowing a 28-0 lead) and the sheer athleticism on display (off the charts). Williams’ touchdown has to rank among the greatest in program history.

But how high is it on the list?

Here are our top six, at least from Alabama football’s television era:

6. Tyrone Prothros Fang vs. Southern Miss (September 10, 2005)

Prothro’s incredible play to get behind Golden Eagles defender Jasper Faulk’s back and somehow gain control of the ball is one of the most incredible plays you will ever see. In fact, it won an ESPY for College Football Game of the Year. The 42-yard grab also came on fourth-and-12, helping Alabama overcome a 21-10 deficit in a game that went on to win the game 30-21. It was originally ruled a touchdown before replay nullified the call, giving the Crimson Tide the ball at the Southern Miss 1 (Alabama scored on the next play).

4. The Goal Line Stand vs. Penn State (January 1, 1979)

Perhaps the iconic play (or series of plays) of the Paul “Bear” Bryant era of Alabama football: The Crimson Tide stopped No. 1 Penn State on three consecutive plays at the 1-yard line, securing a 14: 7-win sugar bowl. Don McNeal’s second-down tackle on Scott Fitzkee on the 1st is largely forgotten, but was just as fantastic as the third- and fourth-down stops by running backs Matt Suhey and Mike Guman. Alabama linebacker Barry Krauss was at the center of the action, hitting Guman at the top of the pile to block him just short of the end zone on fourth down. No. 2 Alabama won the game and won its fifth of six national titles under Bryant.

3. Second-and-26 vs. Georgia (January 8, 2018)

In terms of sheer importance of the moment, there isn’t much more than a touchdown to win in overtime of the national championship game when your team is trailing by three. Tua Tagovailoa’s 41-yard touchdown pass to Devonta Smith – one play after he was sacked for a 16-yard loss – gave Alabama the walk-off win and its fifth of six titles under Nick Saban. The only points you could take away from this game would be because it wasn’t a particularly difficult or athletic play by the quarterback or receiver. Georgia missed coverage so badly that Smith was essentially wide open and all Tagovailoa had to do was get the ball close to him.

3. Ryan Williams vs. Georgia (September 28, 2024)

Maybe it’s a matter of recency, but Williams’ game-winning touchdown against the Bulldogs on Saturday night deserves this spot in our opinion. Alabama had just fallen behind by four touchdowns, but Jalen Milroe went straight to the air for his fantastic freshman. Williams outran Georgia’s Julian Humphrey to recover the ball, landed on one foot near the sideline to regain his balance, and then somehow broke between Humphrey and fellow defensive lineman KJ Bolden to break away on his way to the end zone. It was simply an incredible play at an incredibly pivotal moment for the Crimson Tide in a game that (at least temporarily) looked like it was slipping away.

4/2 & 31/Gravedigger vs. Auburn (November 25, 2023)

There was so much at stake here – a spot in the national championship race, a three-game winning streak against Auburn and (though we didn’t know it at the time) Nick Saban’s legacy. It all led to perhaps the most unlikely victory in Alabama’s recent history. The Crimson Tide had first-and-goal at the Auburn 8, but lost 18 yards on a bad snap, then five more when Milroe was called for an illegal forward pass. Backed up to the 31, the Alabama quarterback found a leaping Isaiah Bond in the back corner of the end zone for the game-winning touchdown of a 27-24 victory with 32 seconds left. The Crimson Tide defeated Georgia in the SEC Championship Game the following week before losing to Michigan in the Rose Bowl, which turned out to be Saban’s final game. If there’s anything to glean from this play, it’s that Auburn’s coverage was inexplicably soft.

1. George Teague’s streak against Miami (January 1, 1993)

Yes, we know that Alabama was offside and that play didn’t actually count (because Miami accepted the penalty). It doesn’t matter. Teague’s phenomenal recovery and hustle to beat Miami’s Lamar Thomas and save a seemingly certain touchdown ended up being the defining moment of Crimson Tide football between the Bryant and Saban eras. It is a play the likes of which few have ever seen before – and no one has seen it since; Not only did Teague catch Thomas, but he also ripped the ball out and hung on to it, all in one motion. Alabama was already leading 28-6 at this point, but any chance of Miami staging a comeback was gone at this point. Alabama ultimately won 34-13 and became national champions for the first time in 13 years.

So that’s our list. What have we left out? Send us an email and let us know.

Creg Stephenson worked AL.com since 2010 and has been covering college football for various publications since 1994. Contact him at [email protected] or follow it to X @CregStephenson.