Senior quarterback Stetson Bennett tossed two second half touchdown passes, and Kelee Ringo had a late pick six to seal it as the #3 Georgia Bulldogs won their first National Championship since 1980 with a 33-18 win over the #1 Alabama Crimson Tide in the College Football Playoff National Title game played at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis Monday night. The game was a rematch of the SEC Championship game that was won by Alabama.
Alabama (13-2) had the ball first and caught an early break. Bryce Young was pressured and hit by Georgia defensive lineman Jordan Davis and looked like he may of fumbled, which was scooped up and returned to the endzone by Nakobe Dean. After a review however, it was revealed Youngs arm was going forward for an incomplete pass. The Crimson Tide took advantage and got a 37 yard Will Reichard field goal and a 3-0 lead. The Bulldogs finally got some traction after not picking up any first downs in their first two possessions. A 52 yard pass from Bennett to George Pickens fueled an 87 yard drive resulting in a 24 yard Jack Podlesny field goal early in the second to tie it 3-3. Young on the next offensive play would hit wide receiver Jameson Williams for a 40 yard pass. Williams though was hurt on the play, went to the locker room, and didn’t return to the game. That drive ended in another Reichard field goal, this time from 45 yards to regain an Alabama three point lead. After a Georgia three and out, Young would hit tight end Cameron Latu down the left sideline for a 61 yard play to set up the Tide first and goal to go. The Bulldogs defense though tightened including a third down sack by Channing Tindall, forcing another kick by Reichard to extend the advantage to 9-3. Podlesny hit the longest field goal he’s attempted this season for the ‘Dogs from 49 yards to again cut it to three with 3:09 left second quarter, which is where it stood at halftime.
It was late in the third quarter before any team threatened to score again. Alabama was set up for another field goal of 48 yards by Reichard, but Georgia got a block from Jalen Carter to keep the score where it was. James Cook then broke off a 67 yard run to get the Bulldogs into the redzone, and Zamir White finished it off with the first touchdown of the night with a one yard rushing score with 1:20 left to push Georgia ahead for the first time 13-9 headed to the fourth quarter. After another good drive, Alabama was forced to settle for a Reichard field goal to make it 13-12 early in the fourth. The Crimson Tide re-took the lead 18-13 when they took advantage of the first turnover of the night when Bennett was hit and fumbled deep in his own territory, leading to a Young to Latu three yard TD. The two point conversion run by Young failed. The Bulldogs came right back when Bennett after Alabama jumped offside had a free play and made a great throw to freshman receiver Adonai Mitchell, who made a back shoulder 40 yard touchdown catch over his defender in the endzone with 8:09 left to play. The two point conversion failed after the score and it stayed 19-18 Georgia. Bennett tossed his second TD of the night almost five minutes later, an 18 yarder to Brock Bowers to extend the lead to eight. On a last chance for the Tide, Ringo intercepted Young and took it 79 yards to the endzone to wrap it for Georgia (14-1) and end a 41 year drought since the last time the ‘Dogs had won the title.
Bennett went 17-24 passing for 224 yards and the two touchdowns. White rushed for 84 yards on 13 carries and a touchdown, and Cook added six for 77 yards in the win. Bowers led the receiving core with four catches for 36 yards, while Mitchell had two for 50 yards with each scoring a touchdown. The sophomore Young, who won this years Heisman Trophy, finished 35-57 passing for 369 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions in the loss. Brian Robinson Jr. rushed 22 times for 68 yards. Latu had five receptions for 102 yards and one touchdown.
