Exactly, that is “situational tempo” and they slowed the O down at times during games.
Plays per game:
**reference**
2021 Lashlee - 72.9
2022 Gattis - 68.9
2022 - UGA - 70 ranked 48th
2021 - UGA - 63.2 ranked 115th
2020 - BAMA - 69.3 ranked 68th
2019 - LSU - 71.7 ranked 35th
2018 - Clemson - 71.7 ranked 50th
2017 - BAMA - 67.5 ranked 92nd
2016 - Clemson - 81.3 ranked 7th **also a top 10 defense**
2015 - BAMA - 72.5 ranked 52nd
2014 - OSU - 73.3 ranked 48th
2013 - FSU - 67.6 ranked 94th
2012 - BAMA - 64.1 ranked 116th
2011 - BAMA - 66.5 ranked 88th
2010 - Auburn - 67.7 ranked 61st
2009 - BAMA - 67.6 ranked 57th
2008 - UF - 62.4 ranked 110th
2007 - LSU - 75.3 ranked 24th
2006 - UF - 62.5 ranked 77th
2005 - Texas - 72.4 ranked 36th
2004 - USC - 71 ranked 47th
2003 - LSU - 71 ranked 51st
USC - 69 ranked 79th
2002 - UM - 68.2 ranked 86th
OSU - 64.9 ranked 112th
Average including Clemson's outlier year - 69.2 (rounded up) average plays per game for all title holders since 2002 (yes, we won **** it and included). Only 1 top 20 plays per game offense won, but they also had a top 10, statistically, defense. By and large the ultra fast offenses aren't winning it all.
Urban sped up his title year at OSU compared to UF. UF was rather......slow as ****.
Point being, Gattis was slightly slower in total plays and Lashlee slightly higher in total plays than the average championship team. It's not entirely the number of plays you're running, its knowing when to speed the game up and slow it down. If Gattis was better situationally and with scheme, his total plays would be just fine.
Hence, situational tempo.