That particular outcome had happened less than 5 other times in the history of the modern NCAA. 99/100 times that game ends with either an Alabama win or O.T.
The bar that I was watching the game in exploded when that happened. You wouldn't believe the number of people calling him all sorts of names for making that call. And, I think it was a good call too. The point is that being risk averse is the right way for a coach to keep his job.