Alabama Crimson Tide upset the Georgia Bulldogs, 26-23 in overtime, to claim the championship for College Football at Mercedes Benz Stadium on Monday, January 8.

The game was the first college football national championship to ever go into overtime proving to be a thrilling and historic end to 2017-2018 season. A staggering 28.4 million viewers tuned in to watch Alabama score the winning touchdown.

Georgia dominated the first half taking a 13-0 lead with a last-minute touchdown leading into the second half. Multiple attempts by Alabama to catch the Bulldogs proved unsuccessful as they failed to gain yardage, and a missed 40-yard field goal at the start of the game.

Following a struggling first half, Crimson Tide returned to the field with new hopes, benching starting quarterback, Jalen Hurts, and bringing freshman quarterback, Tua Tagovailoa, to the starting line.

Tagovailoa hustled to tie the game at 20 with 3:49 left. With three seconds left in the game, Andy Pappanastos, kicker for the Tide, missed a potential game-winning 36 yard field goal, sending the game to a dramatic overtime.  

In overtime, Georgia scored a 51-yard field goal putting Georgia in the lead by 3. Alabama’s first offensive play immediately put fans in distraught when Tagovailoa was sacked, pushing the offense out of field goal range.  They quickly rallied on the next play to throw a miraculous 41-yard touchdown pass to DeVonta Smith to win the game.

Despite a rough start for Alabama, Tagovailoa threw three touchdown passes, leading Alabama to its’ fifth national championship since 2009. Tagovailoa was named offensive player of the game and Da’Ron Payne was named defensive player of the game.