National Championship: Watch the game-winning TD for Alabama vs. Georgia
By David Rouben
Tua Tagovailoa’s 41-yard touchdown pass to DeVonta Smith to beat Georgia in overtime is a play that will go down in Alabama Crimson Tide history.
Tua Tagovailoa to DeVonta Smith. That will be echoed throughout Tuscaloosa and anywhere Alabama Crimson Tide fans are.
The National Championship Game came to a thrilling end when the true freshman quarterback connected with the fellow freshman on the left sideline who was wide open.
After Alabama missed a field goal at the end of regulation that would have won the game, Alabama allowed a 51-yard field goal to Georgia on their first possession. Nick Saban would’ve been forgiven if he didn’t trust his kicker Andy Pappanastos to tie the game, but things looked dire after Tagovailoa gave up a big sack.
But on the very next play, the Hawaiian true freshman dropped back and delivered a perfect throw that will go down in history:
WHAT. A. GAME.
— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) January 9, 2018
Tua Tagovailoa to DeVonta Smith ... BALLGAME!!!@AlabamaFTBL WINS THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP!!!! pic.twitter.com/WxmHdRazCQ
The Alabama Crimson Tide are the greatest dynasty in college football, but they had to work really hard to keep that up. Just like their NFL counterparts, the New England Patriots, they found themselves down by double digits after three quarters to a team from Georgia. But thanks to inspired play by their quarterback, they came all the way back to win in overtime in a game that won’t soon be forgotten.
But while Tagovailoa won the Player of the Game, all credit will go to Coach Saban. He’s known for making gutsy calls on the biggest stage, having called an onside kick against Clemson which sparked their title two years ago. It was hard to pull Jalen Hurts from the game, who had one interception all year long and got them to this point. But after the Tide accounted for 94 first half yards, and after seeing what Tagovailoa did, there was no doubt Saban made the right call again.
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And as if he didn’t have enough milestones, Saban has officially tied Bear Bryant for most championships of all time. But this must feel like his sweetest one yet.