Alabama Regains Football Title
January 9, 2018
Last night, on January 8, the University of Alabama Crimson Tide needed a magnificent performance by an unlikely hero to grind out a second half comeback and a 26-23 overtime victory over the University of Georgia Bulldogs in the College Football Playoff National Championship at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. The victory gave Alabama head coach Nick Saban an unprecedented fifth national football championship in the past nine years. The win also established the Crimson Tide as the first great college football dynasty of the 21st century.
Alabama receiver DeVonta Smith catches a 41-yard touchdown pass in overtime to give the Crimson Tide a 26-23 victory over Georgia in the College Football Playoff National Championship at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, on Jan. 8, 2018. Credit: © Mike Ehrmann, Getty Images
Up against a stout Georgia defense, Alabama trailed 13-0 at halftime. But Alabama’s top-ranked defense kept the game within reach, stunting the Bulldog’s vaunted running game and twice intercepting Georgia freshman quarterback Jake Fromm. To start the second half, Saban pulled sophomore quarterback Jalen Hurts, who had started most of Alabama’s games during the season. Saban sent in freshman backup Tua Tagovailoa, and the Hawaiian quarterback quickly led a third quarter touchdown drive to close the gap to 13-7. Georgia struck back with an 80-yard touchdown pass from Fromm to make it 20-7. Alabama notched two field goals to make the score 20-13 before the confident Tagovailoa drove the Crimson Tide downfield for the tying touchdown. Alabama missed a field goal that would have capped their comeback win in regulation time.
Georgia, who had defeated Oklahoma in double overtime in the college championship playoff a week ago, got the ball to start overtime play against the Crimson Tide. The Bulldog drive stalled, but kicker Rodrigo Blankenship made good on a 51-yard field goal. The Alabama possession started off poorly as Tagovailoa was sacked for a 16-yard loss. But on the next play, he hit freshman receiver DeVonta Smith on a 41-yard touchdown pass to complete the epic comeback. The win gave Saban a total of 6 national championships (his first came with Louisiana State University in 2003), equaling the title total of legendary Alabama head coach Paul “Bear” Bryant.
In the four-team college football playoff, Alabama avenged their defeat in last year’s title game by beating the defending national champion Clemson Tigers 24-6 in the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans on New Year’s Day. Clemson enjoyed a 12-1 season and had gone into the NCAA playoff ranked number 1 in the country. Alabama went 11-1 during the season, but the team barely made the playoffs as the number 4 seed. Many football fans thought that spot should have gone to 11-2 Ohio State instead. Southeastern Conference champion Georgia (12-1) entered the playoff as the number 3 team against the second-ranked Oklahoma Sooners. The Bulldogs needed double overtime to scratch out a thrilling 54-48 victory over the Sooners at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, on New Year’s Day to set up the national title game. It was the first overtime game in Rose Bowl history.
