Smiling in the locker room Saturday night, Josh Jacobs didn’t look like someone who had not eaten a solid meal in more than 24 hours.

Alabama’s running back had just won the Most Valuable Player honor in the wild 35-28 comeback win over Georgia in the SEC title game on what sounded like a lousy week for the junior. Jacobs was sick enough that he had not eaten since 6 p.m. Friday when he forced down a bowl of soup.

On an empty stomach, he ran for 83 yards on eight attempts and two touchdowns. The only source of nourishment, Jacobs said, came in the form of IVs. He got fluids before the game and at halftime.

He didn’t practice Thursday and didn’t look healthy Friday at the team’s walk through. Before getting to the stadium Friday, Jacobs tweeted about having flu-like symptoms.

“I was just aching,” Jacobs said. “Nose runny, everything. Throat. Couldn’t drink any fluids. It was just a lot.”

He got a few IVs Friday before the two Saturday. The symptoms began Tuesday but by game time, he was ready.

Jacobs was part of part of one of the big early turning points in the game. First, he ran 59 yards for a huge first down with the Tide down 21-7. Then, his one-yard touchdown came with some drama. He fumbled before scooping on a play originally ruled a turnover in the end zone.

“When the ball came out, I saw it on the ground and when I grabbed it,” Jacobs said. “I made sure I was in, then the dude knocked it out of my hands so I knew it was going to be a touchdown.”

He wasn’t nervous when the original call was a turnover.

“No, I knew the officials were going to make the right call,” Jacobs said. “Those were the best SEC officials we had all year long so I knew they were going to get it right.”

Michael Casagrande is an Alabama beat writer for the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @ByCasagrande or on Facebook.