ATLANTA (AP) — To add another championship to the greatest dynasty college football has ever seen, Alabama turned to its quarterback of the future, and Tua Tagovailoa proved that his time is now.
The freshman quarterback, who had played mostly mop-up duty this season, came off the bench to spark a comeback and threw a 41-yard touchdown to DeVonta Smith that gave No. 4 Alabama a 26-23 overtime victory against No. 3 Georgia on Monday night for the College Football Playoff national championship.
kAm%28@G2:=@2 6?E6C65 E96 82>6 2E 92=7E:>6[ C6A=24:?8 2 DECF88=:?8 y2=6? wFCED[ 2?5 E9C6H E9C66 E@F495@H? A2DD6D E@ 8:G6 E96 rC:>D@? %:56 :ED 7:7E9 ?2E:@?2= 492>A:@?D9:A D:?46 a__h F?56C 4@249 }:4< $232?]k^Am
kAmQw6 ;FDE DE6AA65 :? 2?5 5:5 9:D E9:?8[Q wFCED D2:5] Qw6VD 3F:=E 7@C DEF77 =:<6 E9:D] xV> D@ 92AAJ 7@C 9:>]Q %96 %:56 >:89E 92G6 2 BF2CE6C324< 4@?EC@G6CDJ 29625[ 3FE 7:CDE p=232>2 H:== 46=63C2E6 2?@E96C E:E=6]k^Am
kAmu@C E96 E9:C5 DEC2:89E D62D@?[ p=232>2 A=2J65 2 4=2DD:4 ru! 7:?2=] %96 %:56 DA=:E EH@ H:E9 r=6>D@?[ =@D:?8 =2DE D62D@? @? 2 E@F495@H? H:E9 2 D64@?5 =67E]k^Am
kAm(92E H2D $232? E9:?<:?8 2D E96 H:??:?8 A2DD D@2C65 E9:D E:>6nk^Am
kAmQx 4@F=5 ?@E 36=:6G6 :E[Q 96 D2:5] Q%96C6VD =@ED @7 9:89D 2?5 =@HD] {2DE J62C H6 =@DE @? E96 =2DE A=2J @7 E96 82>6 2?5 E9:D J62C H6 H@? @? E96 =2DE A=2J @7 E96 82>6] %96D6 <:5D C62==J C6DA@?565 E96 C:89E H2J] (6 D2:5 =2DE J62C[ Vs@?VE H2DE6 E96 766=:?8]V %96J DFC6 5:5?VE[ E96 H2J E96J A=2J65 E@?:89E]Qk^Am
kAm$>:E9 DEC62<65 :?E@ E96 6?5 K@?6 2?5 >@>6?ED =2E6C 4@?76EE: C2:?65 2?5 6G6? $232? D66>65 2=>@DE 8:55J 27E6C H2E49:?8 >2J36 E96 >@DE :>AC@323=6 G:4E@CJ @7 9:D F?>2E4965 42C66C] p 76H 9@FCD =2E6C[ p=232>2 H2D G@E65 }@] ` :? E96 7:?2= p! 4@==686 7@@E32== A@== 7@C E96 ``E9 E:>6[ E9C66 >@C6 E92? 2?J @E96C AC@8C2>]k^Am
kAmk2 E2C86ElQU>52D9j3=2?<Q 9C67lQ9EEADi^^EH:EE6C]4@>^6DA?^DE2EFD^hd_dhc___bbd`bcfa`Qmp7E6C p=232>2 <:4<6C p?5J !2AA2?2DE@D >:DD65 2 be\J2C5 7:6=5 8@2= E92E H@F=5 92G6 H@? :E 7@C E96 %:56 W`b\`X :? E96 7:?2= D64@?5D @7 C68F=2E:@?k^2m [ v6@C8:2 W`b\aX E@@< E96 =625 H:E9 2 d`\J2C5 7:6=5 8@2= 7C@> #@5C:8@ q=2?<6?D9:A :? @G6CE:>6]k^Am
kAm%28@G2:=@2 E@@< 2 E6CC:3=6 D24< @? p=232>2VD 7:CDE A=2J[ =@D:?8 `e J2C5D] ~? E96 ?6IE 96 7@F?5 $>:E9[ 2?@E96C 7C6D9>2?[ 2?5 9:E 9:> :? DEC:56 7@C E96 ?2E:@?2= 492>A:@?D9:A]k^Am
kAm%28@G2:=@2 H2D 3C:==:2?E 2E E:>6D[ E9@F89 96 925 2 76H 7C6D9>2? >@>6?ED] w6 E9C6H 2? :?E6C46AE:@? H96? 96 EC:65 E@ A2DD @? 2 CF??:?8 A=2J 2?5 2== 9:D C646:G6CD H6C6 3=@4<:?8] w6 2=D@ 52CE65 2H2J 7C@> A2DD CFD96CD 2?5 >256 D@>6 :>A64423=6 E9C@HD[ D9@H:?8 A@:D6 @7 2 G6E6C2?] u24:?8 7@FCE9\2?5\8@2= 7C@> E96 f[ 5@H? D6G6?[ E96 =67E\92?56C >@G65 E@ 9:D =67E 2?5 K:AA65 2 A2DD E9C@F89 EC277:4 E92E 9:E r2=G:? #:5=6J :? E96 ?F>36CD 7@C E96 EJ:?8 D4@C6 H:E9 bich =67E :? E96 7@FCE9 BF2CE6C]k^Am
kAmw6 7:?:D965 `c 7@C ac 7@C `ee J2C5D] %96 H:??:?8 A=2J H2D[ 32D:42==J[ 7@FC C646:G6CD 8@:?8 566A]k^Am
kAmQp7E6C E96 D24<[ H6 ;FDE 8@E FA 2?5 E@@< :E E@ E96 ?6IE A=2J[Q %28@G2:=@2 D2:5] Qx =@@<65 324< @FE[ 2?5 96 H2D H:56 @A6?] $>:EEJ H2D H:56 @A6?]Q uC6D9>6? H6C6 6G6CJH96C6 7@C E96 p=232>2 @776?D6 :? E96 D64@?5 92=7i }2;66 w2CC:D 2E CF??:?8 324<j w6?CJ #F88D xxx 2E C646:G6Cj p=6I {62E96CH@@5 2E =67E E24<=6 27E6C p==\p>6C:42? y@?29 (:==:2>D H2D 9FCE] xEVD 2 E6DE2>6?E E@ E96 C6=6?E=6DD >249:?6 $232? 92D 3F:=E]k^Am
kAmqFE E9:D 82>6 H:== 36 C6>6>36C65 >@DE 7@C 9:D 564:D:@? E@ 492?86 BF2CE6C324<D EC2:=:?8 `b\_]k^Am
kAmQx ;FDE E9@F89E H6 925 E@ E9C@H E96 32==[ 2?5 x 76=E 96 4@F=5 5@ :E 36EE6C[ 2?5 96 5:5[Q $232? D2:5 %28@G2:=@2] Qw6 5:5 2 8@@5 ;@3[ >256 D@>6 A=2JD :? E96 A2DD:?8 82>6] yFDE 2 8C62E H:?] xV> D@ 92AAJ 7@C p=232>2 72?D] vC62E 7@C @FC A=2J6CD] &?36=:6G23=6]Qk^Am
kAm$232? ?@H 92D D:I >2;@C A@== ?2E:@?2= 492>A:@?D9:AD[ :?4=F5:?8 @?6 2E {$&[ >2E49:?8 E96 C64@C5 D6E 3J E96 >2? H9@ =65 p=232>2VD =2DE 5J?2DEJ[ 4@249 !2F= q62C qCJ2?E]k^Am
kAm%9:D H2D ?@E9:?8 =:<6 E96 @E96CD]k^Am
kAm(:E9 !C6D:56?E %CF>A :? 2EE6?52?46[ E96 2==\$@FE962DE6C? r@?76C6?46 >2E49FA H2D 2== v6@C8:2 :? E96 7:CDE 92=7 367@C6 $232? AF==65 wFCED 2?5 E96 7:G6\DE2C C64CF:E 7C@> w2H2:: 6?E6C65] %96 AC6D:56?E H2E4965 E96 D64@?5 92=7 7C@> p:C u@C46 ~?6]k^Am
kAmQx 5@?VE <?@H 9@H r@249 $232? 7@F?5 >6 2== E96 H2J :? w2H2:: 7C@> p=232>2[Q %28@G2:=@2 D2:5] Q%92?< v@5 96 7@F?5 >6 2?5 H6VC6 96C6 C:89E ?@H]Qk^Am
kAm%96 %:56 EC2:=65 a_\f :? E96 E9:C5 BF2CE6C 27E6C v6@C8:2VD 7C6D9>2? BF2CE6C324<[ y2<6 uC@>>[ 9:E |64@=6 w2C5>2? 7@C 2? g_\J2C5 E@F495@H? A2DD E92E 925 E96 v6@C8:2 72?D 766=:?8 8@@5 23@FE 6?5:?8 2 ?2E:@?2= E:E=6 5C@F89E E92E 52E6D 324< E@ `hg_]k^Am
kAmuC@>> E9C6H 7@C aba J2C5D 2?5 7@C 2 H9:=6 :E =@@<65 2D :7 96 H2D 8@:?8 E@ 36 E96 7C6D9>2? DE2C @7 E96 82>6[ E96 7:CDE E@ ECF6 7C6D9>2? E@ =625 9:D E62> E@ 2 ?2E:@?2= E:E=6 D62D@? D:?46 y2>6==6 w@=:6H2J 7@C ~<=29@>2 :? `hgd]k^Am
kAmQx >62?[ :7 J@F H2?E E@ 7:?5 @FE 23@FE y2<6 uC@>>[ 8@ 2D< E9@D6 8FJD @? E96 @E96C D:56 @7 E96 32==[ 2?5 E96JV== E6== J@F 3642FD6 E92EVD 2 C62==J 8@@5 5676?D6 96 ;FDE H6?E 282:?DE[Q v6@C8:2 4@249 $>2CE D2:5]k^Am
kAmp =:EE=6 =6DD E92? 2 J62C 27E6C E96 pE=2?E2 u2=4@?D 3=6H 2 ad\A@:?E =625 2?5 =@DE :? @G6CE:>6 E@ E96 }6H t?8=2?5 !2EC:@ED :? E96 $FA6C q@H=[ E96C6 H2D >@C6 A2:? 7@C >2?J @7 E96 =@42= 72?D] %H@ J62CD 28@[ v6@C8:2 3C@F89E :? $>2CE[ $232?VD E@A =:6FE6?2?E[ E@ 3C:?8 E@ 9:D 2=>2 >2E6C 2 5@D6 @7 p=232>2VD !C@46DD]k^Am
kAm$>2CE[ H9@ DA6?E `` D62D@?D H:E9 $232? — 6:89E 2D 5676?D:G6 4@@C5:?2E@C :? %FD42=@@D2 — BF:4<=J 3F:=E Vq2>2 t2DE] xE H2D v6@C8:2 E92E H@? E96 $tr E9:D D62D@?] p=232>2 925 E@ D=:A :?E@ E96 A=2J@77 H:E9@FE 6G6? H:??:?8 :ED 5:G:D:@?]k^Am
kAm(:E9 E96 E:E=6 82>6 36:?8 A=2J65 f_ >:=6D 7C@> v6@C8:2VD 42>AFD :? pE96?D[ s2H8D 72?D A24<65 |6C4656D\q6?K $E25:F>[ 3FE :E EFC?65 @FE E@ 36 DH66E 9@>6 7@C p=232>2] }@H $232? :D `a\_ 282:?DE 9:D 7@C>6C 2DD:DE2?ED]k^Am
kAmqFE ?@E H:E9@FE 2?8DE]k^Am
kAmp=232>2 5C@G6 :?E@ E96 C65 K@?6 :? E96 7:?2= >:?FE6 2?5 $232? DE2CE65 A=2J:?8 7@C 2 H:??:?8 7:6=5 8@2= E@ 6?5 E96 82>6] p ?6CG@FD BF:6E 8C:AA65 E96 4C@H5 @7 ff[cb_ 2D Vq2>2 3FC?65 E96 4=@4<] (:E9 E96 32== DA@EE65 :? E96 >:55=6 @7 E96 7:6=5[ !2AA2?2DE@D =:?65 FA 7@C 2 <:4< E@ H:? E96 ?2E:@?2= 492>A:@?D9:A] %96 D?2A 2?5 9@=5 =@@<65 7:?6[ 3FE E96 <:4<65 >:DD65 325=J E@ E96 =67E]k^Am
kAmu@C E96 D64@?5 DEC2:89E H66<[ v6@C8:2 H2D 8@:?8 E@ @G6CE:>6] %96 qF==5@8D 362E ~<=29@>2 :? 2 H:=5 #@D6 q@H= :? 5@F3=6 @G6CE:>6 E@ 86E 96C6[ 2?5 27E6C y@?2E92? {6536EE6C 2?5 s2G:? q6==2>J D24<65 %28@G2:=@2 7@C 2 3:8 =@DD @? E96 7:CDE A=2J[ p=232>2 H2D :? EC@F3=6 — D64@?5\2?5\ae]k^Am
kAm}@E 7@C =@?8] %28@G2:=@2 =@@<65 @77 E96 D276EJ 2?5 E9C6H E96 3:886DE E@F495@H? A2DD :? E96 9:DE@CJ @7 p=232>2 7@@E32==]k^Am
kAm———k^Am
kAmu@==@H #2=A9 s] #FDD@ 2E k2 E2C86ElQU>52D9j3=2?<Q 9C67lQ9EEAi^^HHH]%H:EE6C]4@>^C2=A9sCCFDD@p!QmHHH]%H:EE6C]4@>^C2=A9sCCFDD@p!k^2mk^Am
kAm———k^Am
kAm|@C6 p! 4@==686 7@@E32==i k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^4@==6867@@E32==]2A]@C8Qm9EEAi^^4@==6867@@E32==]2A]@C8k^2m 2?5 k2 E2C86ElQ3=2?<Q 9C67lQ9EEAi^^HHH]EH:EE6C]4@>^p!TtaTg_Thc%@AadQm9EEAi^^HHH]EH:EE6C]4@>^p!U>52D9j%@Aadk^2mk^Am
Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.