Kirby Smart, Stetson Bennett and the Georgia Bulldogs turned back their demons and turned away Alabama, defeating the reigning national champions to capture the school’s first title since 1980.
Smart — who had previously been 0-4 when facing his mentor Nick Saban as a head coach — watched his top-ranked Bulldogs close the game with a 33-18 victory in Indianapolis.
Saban, who was seeking his seventh national title at Alabama, and eighth overall, was Smart’s boss for nine seasons in Tuscaloosa, and most recently got the better of his pupil during the SEC Championship game. The rematch, however, went the way of Georgia, in large part thanks to senior quarterback Stetson Bennett.
A costly fourth-quarter Red Zone fumble by Bennett led to Alabama’s lone touchdown, a three-yard strike from Bryce Young to Cameron Latu which put the Crimson Tide in front 18-13 with 10:14 to play. However, on the very next possession, Bennett responded with a picturesque 40-yard scoring strike to Adonai Mitchell, giving the Bulldogs the lead right back at 19-18.
Georgia’s vaunted defense, exposed during the 17-point loss to Alabama on Dec. 4, was more than up to the task in the rematch, holding Alabama to just 30 rushing yards, and forcing a pair of turnovers. The second of which, an interception by Kelee Ringo, served as the nail in the coffin, as the 19-year-old freshman cornerback picked off Young and raced 79 yards for Georgia’s third straight touchdown.
Young, who had designs on following wide receiver DeVonta Smith and becoming the second straight Alabama player to win both the Heisman Trophy and National Championship in the same season, was attempting to lead the Crimson Tide to a game-tying score and two-point conversion, when his throw was snatched by Ringo. On the night, the sophomore signal-caller attempted a whopping 57 throws, completing 35 for 369 yards in the loss.
Bennett, though asked to do less, was sharpest when it mattered most, following his touchdown pass to Mitchell with a 15-yard scoring toss to Brock Bowers, putting Georgia up 8 points with 3:33 to play. Bennett ends his storybook career in Athens by going 17-26 for 224 yards and earning offensive MVP honors.
The game’s earliest moments lacked a certain degree of excitement as both Georgia and Alabama were largely forced to settle for field goals. The Crimson Tide led 9-6 at the half, and the game’s first touchdown wasn’t scored until Georgia running back Zamir White punched it in from one yard out with 1:20 remaining in the third quarter.
However, the game’s final quarter offered up big plays befitting a contest of this magnitude, including both Bennett’s fumble and his touchdown pass on the ensuing drive.
For Smart, the win means he finally gets the better of his mentor. For Georgia, though, it’s simply a return to top dog status, 41 years in the making.
Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett IV was named the Offensive Player of the Game.
Bennett was 17 for 26, with 224 passing yards and two touchdowns. In a key moment in the fourth quarter, the senior quarterback launched a 40-yard scoring strike to Adonai Mitchell, to take back the lead from the Crimson Tide 19-18. The Dawgs never gave back the advantage and went on to win 33-18.
Georgia defensive back Lewis Cine was named that Defensive Player of the Game. He had 7 tackles.
Georgia defeated Alabama 33-18 in the College Football National Championship game.
This is Georgia’s first national title in football since the 1980 season.
It’s Georgia’s first win against Alabama since 2007.
Alabama was vying for its seventh national title since the 2009 season.
The Georgia defense back Kelee Ringo intercepted Bryce Young and took it to to the house.
Georgia now leads 33-18 with less than a minute to play.
The Georgia offense capped off a 62-yard, 7-play drive with a touchdown to push their lead to eight points.
A key 9-yard run by Georgia’s thumping running back Zamir White got the Dawgs down to the Alabama 15-yard line.
A few plays later on third and short, Stetson Bennett flipped it to Brock Bowers, who scampered 15 yards to the end zone.
Georgia now leads late in the fourth, 26-18.
Stetson Bennett has a short memory. And that’s good for Georgia.
After a costly Red Zone fumble led to Alabama’s first touchdown of the game and a five-point Crimson Tide lead, the senior signal-caller launched a 40-yard scoring strike to Adonai Mitchell, giving the Bulldogs the lead right back. The score is now 19-18.
Bennett knew he had a free play as Alabama’s defense jumped offsides, and he certainly took advantage with a throw that has quickly rewritten the script in this back-and-forth drama.
Georgia went for two and failed to convert, leaving the National Championship game as a one-point affair in the fourth quarter.
Alabama took over inside the Georgia Red Zone after a wild fumble recovery by the Crimson Tide defense.
A roughing the passer penalty on Georgia set up Alabama with first and goal at the six-yard line. On third and goal, Bryce Young completed a pass to tight end Cameron Latu in the end zone for the touchdown, regaining the lead for Alabama.
The Tide failed on the two-point conversion. They now lead 18-13 in the fourth quarter.
The momentum has shifted in Indianapolis following a bizarre - and costly - turnover by Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett.
Pressured out of the pocket, the Bulldogs signal-caller was unable to throw the ball away, as the pigskin slipped out of his hand and bounced precariously toward the sideline.
Jogging casually, Alabama’s Brian Branch corralled the football, and unknowingly kept his front foot in bounds despite thinking it was a dead ball.
The game’s officials initially ruled the play a fumble, a call that was upheld after further review, giving the Crimson Tide possession in the Red Zone.
After Georgia found the end zone for the first time tonight, on the next drive, Alabama came up short and had to settle for yet another field goal.
Bryce Young completed a 28-yard pass to wide receiver Agiye Hall to get Alabama to the Georgia five-yard line. But the Tide couldn’t push it in for the score.
It’s now Georgia 13, Alabama 12 in the fourth quarter
On the strength of the game’s first touchdown, Georgia holds a slim four-point lead as the NCAA National Championship game moves to the 4th quarter in Indianapolis.
Georgia’s Zamir White punched it in from a yard out late in the third quarter, giving the Bulldogs their first advantage of the evening.
On their third possession of the 3rd quarter, Alabama ran 17 plays, picked up 68 yards and ate up 7:45 of clock. They did not, however, add to their lead.
The Crimson Tide’s long sustained drive goes for naught as Georgia’s Jalen Carter blocks what would have been Will Reichard’s fourth field goal of the game, keeping the score at 9-6 Alabama.
Following the blocked field goal, Georgia running back James Cook broke a huge run for 67-yards to the Alabama 13 yard line on the next play.
A facemask penalty inside their own three-yard line by Alabama set up Georgia with first and goal. On the next play, Bulldogs running back Zamir White hammered it into the end zone for the game’s first touchdown.
It’s now 13-9 Georgia, 1:20 remaining in the third quarter.
We’re less than three minutes into the second half from Indianapolis, and the Georgia Bulldogs have registered the game’s first turnover.
On Alabama’s first offensive possession following the intermission, Bryce Young was picked off by Georgia defensive back Christopher Smith.
The interception gave the Bulldogs the ball on the Tide’s side of the field at the 43. However, Georgia was unable to capitalize, going three and out and punting the ball back to Alabama.
The score remains 9-6 Alabama.
Alabama wide receiver Jameson Williams is out for the game after suffering a knee injury in the first half.
Williams went down after hauling in a 40-yard reception down the middle of the field. Following the play, was helped off the field before heading for the locker room.
The second half is getting underway at the National Championship game in Indianapolis.
Georgia, trailing 6-9, gets the ball first in the third quarter.
Thirty minutes of gameplay.
Twenty-six combined wins on the season.
Two of the best teams in the nation.
Zero touchdowns.
Through the first half of the National Championship game, Alabama leads Georgia 9-6 as neither team has been able to find the end zone.
The two teams are a combined 6-17 on third down, as both quarterbacks have had to contend with pestering and productive pass rushes from the other side.
Alabama’s Bryce Young, the Heisman Trophy winner, has completed 15 of his 26 pass attempts for 206 yards, with the bulk of the damage being done on two second quarter chunk plays: a 61-yard catch-and-run by tight end Cameron Latu, and a 40-yard dime hauled in by wide receiver Jameson Williams. Williams, however, suffered an apparent knee injury on the play and has yet to return.
Meanwhile, Bulldogs quarterback Stetson Bennett, who’s been plagued by penalties and long third-down conditions, has completed 11 of 17 passes for 127 yards, with the highlight coming on a 52-yard completion to George Pickens. The Bennett to Pickens connection led to Georgia’s first points of the evening, care of a 24-yard field goal from Jack Podlesny.
Podlsesny added a 49-yarder later in the second quarter, as the Georgia kicker is trying to go toe-to-toe with Alabama’s Will Reichard who has a trio of 3-pointers himself.
In the first half Alabama outgained Georgia 216 yards to 153 — though Georgia is winning the time of possession battle, 16:08 to 13:52.
Alabama leads Georgia 9-6 at the half in Indianapolis.
Georgia kicker Jack Podlesny boomed one from 49-yards after the Dawgs’ drive was stopped short. Both teams are still failing to find the end zone tonight.
Alabama is up 9-6 late in the second quarter.
With his top two targets unavailable due to injury, Alabama quarterback Bryce Young needed another place to go with the football. Cameron Latu offered him that opportunity.
Facing 2nd-and-5 from his own 31, the ‘Bama signal-caller dumped it off to his 6’5”, 250 junior tight end, then watched as Latu rumbled 61 yards to the Georgia 8 yard line for the game’s biggest gain.
A 3rd down sack three plays later cost the Tide 13 yards and a shot at a touchdown.
Instead, Alabama settled for Will Reichard’s 3rd field goal of the game, extending its lead to 9-3.
After Georgia drove down the field and put up its first three points of the game, Alabama answered right back.
On the first play of the ensuing drive, Bryce Young completed one for 40-yards to wide receiver Jameson Williams, who went down with an apparent knee injury.
Alabama could go no further than the Georgia 28-yard line and had to settle for a 45-yard field goal. It’s now Alabama 6, Georgia 3 in the second quarter.
The Georgia offense was nearly non-existent for the first quarter in the National Championship game.
All that changed on one play, thanks to a high-arcing, 52-yard strike from quarterback Stetson Bennett to receiver George Pickens.
The play represented only the second first down of the game for the Bulldogs, and served as the key moment in a drive that concluded with a 24-yard field goal from Jack Podlesny, tying the game at 3-3.
On the drive, Georgia picked up 87 yards and four total first downs, a stark contrast from the Dawgs opening two possessions, which yielded simply a single net yard.
It’s now 3-3 in the second quarter, and Alabama is marching into Georgia territory.
