Alabama Beats Georgia in Overtime to Win College Football Championship

With his team trailing 13-0 at halftime, Alabama coach Nick Saban decided to make a change for the second half. Saban replaced starting quarterback Jalen Hurts with freshman Tua Tagovailoa. This was perhaps a risky move, but with Hurts ineffective, there wasn’t a lot to lose. Tagovailoa completed 14 of 24 passes for 166 yards and three touchdowns, the last of which won the National Championship for the Crimson Tide.

The score was 20-10 after three quarters, and in the fourth, Alabama scored on a 30 yard field goal by Andy Pappanastos and a seven yard touchdown reception by Calvin Ridley. The Tide had a chance to win at the end of the quarter, but Pappanastos’ 36 yard field goal attempt was wide, sending the game into overtime.

The Bulldogs had first possession, and scored on a booming 51 yard field goal from Rodrigo Blankenship. On Alabama’s possession, Tagovailoa was sacked for a 16 yard loss on the first play. On second down from the Georgia 41 yard line, Tagovailoa launched a long pass downfield to another freshman, DeVonta Smith who caught it and took it in for the winning touchdown as Alabama completed the comeback with a 26-23 victory. The Crimson Tide won their second College Football Championship in three years, and the college football season closed out on an exciting note.