The 2018 College Football Playoff National Championship Game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and Georgia Bulldogs at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta is in the books.
Georgia jumped out to an early lead and took a 13-0 lead into the half, but things got interesting in the second half after Alabama head coach Nick Saban rolled the dice and took a gamble on true freshman Tua Tagovailoa to start the second half.
There was a sideline fight between a player and coach, a player being stretchered off after collapsing on the sideline, and a little bit of everything in the final 30 minutes of the epic championship game.
After a three-and-out to start the third quarter, Tagovailoa provided the spark that the Crimson Tide needed and led the team to their first touchdown of the game to set up an interesting and wild game down the stretch.
The Crimson Tide continued rolling in the second half behind the arm of the true freshman, who was making clutch play after clutch play before throwing a game-tying touchdown with under four minutes remaining on fourth down. It was a perfect pass to thread the needle.
That game-tying Tua Tagovailoa touchdown pass was PERFECT. #RollTide #NationalChampionship pic.twitter.com/r7EbQ0s87T
— Campus Sports (@CampusSportsNet) January 9, 2018
Could Georgia answer or would the game be heading to overtime? The Bulldog failed to go ahead after Alabama’s equalizer and gave the ball back to the Crimson Tide with two minutes remaining.
Tagovailoa continued to show rare poise for a true freshman on the biggest stage in college football and drove the team down into scoring range. With just three seconds remaining, it came down to the leg of Andy Pappanastos for a 35-yard field goal attempt. Pappanastos missed the game wide left, sending the game to overtime.
NO GOOD! #NationalChampionship pic.twitter.com/jcECWaqqYl
— Zombie Prophet (@ZPGIFs) January 9, 2018
In the first overtime, Georgia freshman signal-caller Jake Fromm made a crucial mistake and took a huge sack on that put the Bulldogs on the edge of field goal range. Luckily for UGA, kicker Rodrigo Blankenship came through with a clutch 51-yard field goal to put the Bulldogs in front.
Clark Kent enjoying his work #Nat pic.twitter.com/2jk3x9YfXk
— Zombie Prophet (@ZPGIFs) January 9, 2018
Alabama started off their first overtime possession by taking a big sack of their own which set up second-and-26.
Despite the early setback, Tagovailoa once again came through with a clutch play to find DeVonta Smith for a 41-yard touchdown pass to seal the victory and Nick Saban’s sixth national championship.
TUA WITH THE WALK OFF! BAMA WINS#NationalChampionship pic.twitter.com/ffKRxvBVt5
— Sports Landing (@SportsLanding) January 9, 2018
When the final whistle blew, Alabama came away with a 26-23 win, despite never leading for a second of the game.
It was the perfect ending to an Alabama team that was looking to erase the bad taste of a last-second loss to Clemson just a year ago.