Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett (13) runs with the ball during College Football Playoff National Championship game action between the Georgia Bulldogs and the Alabama Crimson Tide at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana. Georgia defeated Alabama 33-18.
Credit: © John Mersits, Cal Sport Media/Alamy Images

The Georgia Bulldogs unleashed a smothering defense to defeat the Alabama Crimson Tide 33-18 in the College Football Playoff National Championship game on Monday, Jan. 10, 2022, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. The victory gave Georgia their first Division I football championship since 1980 and ended a string of seven straight losses to Southeastern Conference (SEC) archrival Alabama. The game was a rematch of the SEC Championship Game where Alabama handed Georgia their only loss of the season 41-24 on Dec. 4, 2021. 

Alabama entered the College Football Championship playoff as the top seed, looking to win their seventh national championship under head coach Nick Saban. Led by Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Bryce Young, Alabama made it to the title game after crushing the No. 4 Cincinnati Bearcats 27-6 in the Cotton Bowl on Dec. 31. Later that day, No. 3 seed Georgia rode their top-ranked defense to flatten No. 2 Michigan 34-11 in the Orange Bowl to set the national championship matchup.  

Defense ruled early in the title game, as the teams traded field goals that gave Alabama a 9-6 lead going into the half-time break. The defensive stalemate finally broke when Georgia drove late in the third quarter, finishing with a 1-yard touchdown run by running back Zamir White to take a 13-9 lead. Alabama responded with an early fourth-quarter field goal. In the next possession, Alabama regained the lead 18-13 after Young connected on a 3-yard touchdown pass followed by a failed two-point conversion attempt. But Alabama didn’t score again.  

Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett then connected on a 40-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Adonai Mitchell to take the lead. A failed two-point try left the score 19-18. Bennett later hit tight end Brock Bowers on a 15-yard pass for a score, padding Georgia’s lead to 26-18 following the extra point. Alabama had about 3 minutes to mount a game-tie drive, but Georgia defensive back Kelee Ringo delivered a knockout blow by intercepting a deep throw by Young and returning it 79 yards for a game-icing touchdown.  

With the championship, Georgia finished the 2021 season with a 14-1 record, the most wins in school history. Bennet finished the game 17-for-26 with 224 yards passing and two touchdown passes. He was named the game’s offensive Most Valuable Player. For Alabama, Young completed 35 passes in 57 attempts for 369 yards and one touchdown.  

DeVonta Smith scores a touchdown during the second quarter of the College Football Playoff National Championship game on Jan. 11, 2021 in Miami Gardens, Florida.
Credit: © Kevin C. Cox, Getty Images

On Monday, January 11, the University of Alabama Crimson Tide defeated the Ohio State University Buckeyes 52-24 in the College Football Playoff National Championship in Miami Gardens, Florida. It was coach Nick Saban’s sixth national title at Alabama and his seventh title overall. (Saban won the national championship in 2003 as head coach at Louisiana State University.) Alabama added yet another trophy to the school’s celebrated football history, dating back to its first championship title nearly 100 years ago.

In the first quarter, hard hits were met with even harder hits. Running backs tried to slice through defenses, while wide receivers tried to outpace their speedy opponents. Each team put one touchdown on the board. But then the score, much like Alabama’s DeVonta Smith, took off. Alabama exploded in the second quarter, scoring a whopping 28 points.

Smith’s performance was electric. The Heisman Trophy-winning wide receiver had three touchdowns and 215 receiving yards—and that was only in the first half! He cemented several records, including most yards in a half, most single-season receiving yards in the Southeastern Conference, and most receiving yards in a College Football Playoff season. (Smith left early in the third quarter, due to a hand injury, and did not return.) Other Alabama superstars included the quarterback Mac Jones and the running back Najee Harris. Jones threw for five touchdowns and more than 400 passing yards. Harris barreled through Ohio State’s defense, picking up 79 rushing yards and scoring three touchdowns.

This national championship—and the entire football season—nearly did not happen. In summer 2020, citing the pandemic (global outbreak) of the coronavirus disease COVID-19, several conferences canceled sports seasons. One of these conferences was the Big 10, of which Ohio State is a part. In September 2020, the Big 10 reversed its decision, but the season was shortened. Rather than play between 10 and 11 games, Ohio State played only 6. Many people questioned whether the team should even be considered for the playoffs. But the players proved themselves in the semifinal against Clemson, eviscerating the Tigers 49-28.

The effects of the ongoing pandemic and the efforts to stop the spread of disease were visible at the championship game. There was limited seating, and the fans that were there were spaced for safety. Yes, the fans wore masks. But, the masks did not mute the loud cheers! As the confetti rained down on the victors, the players celebrated with their beloved, boisterous fans, if only at a distance.