College National Football Championship Recap

College Football National Championship Recap 

On Monday, Jan. 10, the Georgia Bulldogs made history by taking down the Alabama Crimson Tide for the first time since 2007. Many Georgia fans were ecstatic that their beloved program finally took down the Nick Saban powerhouse of Alabama, but the game carried even larger implications. After losing to Alabama in the Southeastern Conference Championship earlier in the year, Georgia had won this rematch in the biggest game of the year: The National Championship.  

Georgia fans have been through a lot since the team’s last championship in the 1980 football season. Head coaches had come and gone with no championship success, and big names such as future NFL stars Matthew Stafford, Todd Gurley, and Nick Chubb produced monster individual seasons to no avail. Constant ridicule from rival fan bases, particularly Alabama, made the final victory that much sweeter. 

The game in Indianapolis kicked off on a Monday evening, with seventy thousand screaming fans crammed into the stands at Lucas Oil Stadium, home of the Indianapolis Colts. The first half was relatively quiet from both teams, with Georgia struggling from miscues on offense. Alabama failed to capitalize on these miscues, settling for three field goals by halftime. Georgia booted in two of their own, resulting with a 9-6 Alabama lead at the half. 

Midway through the third quarter, Georgia running back James Cook broke off a huge 67-yard run to get the Bulldogs into scoring territory. A few plays later, Georgia back Zamir White punched a one-yard score into the end zone, bringing the score to a 13-9 Georgia lead. 

Georgia and Alabama then traded scores, with quarterback Stetson Bennett fumbling the ball on a controversial call and Alabama scoring a touchdown. Bennett made up for his fumble on the next series, completing a forty-yard bomb to receiver Adonai Mitchell for a touchdown. This brought the score to a 19-18 Georgia lead with eight minutes left to play. 

After a three and out by Alabama due to back-to-back incompletions, Georgia quickly drove the ball down and scored on a throw from Bennett to tight end Brock Bowers. Georgia now held an eight-point lead with three minutes left to play. 

Alabama had one last chance to potentially tie the game with a quick touchdown and successful two-point conversion. The odds were long, but Georgia fans held their breath because the team had blown leads to the Crimson Tide in past championship games. Heisman quarterback Bryce Young started the drive hot, completing several throws to multiple targets. However, on a third-and-ten on the Georgia forty-four-yard line, Young arched back to launch a ball to wideout Ja’Corey Brooks. As the throw spiraled through the air, Georgia defensive back Kelee Ringo moved into position to contest the catch. The throw ended up short of the target and landed in the arms of Ringo. Ringo sprinted down the field for a touchdown, putting the final nail in the coffin and sealing the victory. 

As confetti fell on the first Georgia team to win a championship in over forty years, there was no shortage of emotion. Bennett embraced head coach Kirby Smart, and popular Atlanta rapper Quavo celebrated on the field with receiver George Pickens and linebacker Nakobe Dean. Georgia fans around the state rejoiced in their championship, a moment enshrined in history and a core memory for Georgia players, students, and fans alike.