It wasn't the fake punt or missed fg, it was this...

Dawgs get the ball with 5:19 left in the game. They run the dumbass Fields play and then Jake hits Swift for a 26yd pass play and we have the ball on the Bama 49, 1st and 10, with under 5 minutes left on the clock.

We literally need 2 first downs and to drain every playclock down to <5 and the game is ours or it goes to OT. This is football coaching/game management 101. Here's what we did:

1st & 10 -- Holyfield up the gut for LOSS of 1yd
2nd & 11 -- Jake throws it away
3rd & 11 -- Jake throws it away
4th & 11 -- The fake. Bama gets ball with >3mins left!!!

Where the frick were the short passes toward the middle of the field?
Where the frick were the screen passes?
How about a quick slant to Godwin or 5yd button hook for Nauta?
How about an edge rush tossed in here or there?

We needed quick completions to keep the clock running and avoid Bama's pass rush. We needed to get the ball to our playmakers.

Chaney called a pretty good game but seemingly not recognizing that this series should be the last possession of the game was inexcusable, in my eyes. Bama had all 3 TOs left but Saban isn't going to start burning them until the game clock is under 1:30-2:00.

So yes, the 4th down play was baffling but we should've never been in position to have to make that decision. Hell, even picking up a single first down gets us into the far edge of Rodrigo's range!