Who knows where Alabama’s season will end up, but Saturday’s prize fight certainly felt like a split-decision victory with a 27-24 score.

No. 8 Alabama held on to defeat No. 14 Missouri 27-24 at Faurot Field in Columbia, Missouri. That win marks the third consecutive against a ranked opponent for the Crimson Tide, who gives the Tigers their first loss of the season.

When I asked Drinkwitz his overall feeling about the game, he first said “heartbreak and disappointment.” He said there was no consolation in playing Alabama close, and that Mizzou will “learn our lessons and leave the event. We’re not going to sit here and pout and make it more than it was.”

The Crimson Tide held the nation's best rushing team to roughly half of its average number of yards on the ground.

The Tigers have been here before. They fell to 7-15 against ranked teams in the Drinkwitz era, and 3-6 when both teams are ranked. Saturday marked the first meeting between top-15 teams in Columbia since 1979, and the Tigers wanted to make the most of the opportunity.

Brooks had secured a fourth-down catch to extend a drive that resulted in the game-winning touchdown. It was one of the most important plays in a game No. 8 Alabama outlasted No. 14 Missouri 27-24 on Saturday at Faurot Field in Columbia, Missouri. The Crimson Tide (5-1, 3-0 SEC) has now won three consecutive games against ranked opponents.

Watch the video below as Missouri football reporters Joey Van Zummeren and Michael Stamps give their initial thoughts on the Tigers' loss to Alabama. COLUMBIA,