| 2018 College Football Playoff National Championship presented by AT&T | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 4th College Football Playoff National Championship | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date | January 8, 2018 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Season | 2017 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stadium | Mercedes-Benz Stadium | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Location | Atlanta, Georgia | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| MVP | Tua Tagovailoa (Alabama,QB) Daron Payne (Alabama,DT) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Favorite | Alabama by 3½ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| National anthem | Zac Brown Band | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Referee | Dan Capron (Big Ten)[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Halftime show | Georgia Redcoat Marching Band Million Dollar Band | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Attendance | 77,430 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| United States TV coverage | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Network | ESPN andESPN Radio | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Announcers | Chris Fowler (play-by-play) Kirk Herbstreit (analyst) Maria Taylor andTom Rinaldi (sideline) (ESPN) Sean McDonough,Todd Blackledge,Holly Rowe and Ian Fitzsimmons (ESPN Radio) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nielsen ratings | 16.7 (28.44 million viewers)[2] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| International TV coverage | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Network | ESPN Deportes ESPN Deportes Radio | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Announcers | Lalo Varela and Pablo Viruega (ESPN Deportes) Kenneth Garay and Sebastian Martinez (ESPN Deportes Radio) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The2018 College Football Playoff National Championship was acollege footballbowl game played on January 8, 2018, atMercedes-Benz Stadium inAtlanta, Georgia, and was televised nationally byESPN. The fourthCollege Football Playoff National Championship, the game determined anational champion in theNCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision for the2017 season. It was the final game of the2017-18 College Football Playoff (CFP) and, aside from the all star games following this, was the culminating game of the2017-18 bowl season. Sponsored by telecommunications companyAT&T, the game was officially known as the2018 College Football Playoff National Championship presented by AT&T.
TheAlabama Crimson Tide came back from a 13–0 deficit athalftime to defeat theGeorgia Bulldogs 26–23. This was the first CFP National Championship game to be decided in overtime, and the first overtime National Championship game since the2003 Fiesta Bowl. True freshman quarterbackTua Tagovailoa and defensive tackleDaron Payne were respectively named the offensive and defensive players of the game.
The College Football Playoff selection committee chose the semifinalists following the conclusion of the 2017 regular season. Alabama and Georgia advanced to the national championship after winning the semifinal games hosted by theSugar Bowl andRose Bowl Game, respectively, on January 1, 2018.
TheMercedes-Benz Stadium inAtlanta,Georgia was announced as the host site for the fourth College Football National Championship on November 4, 2015.[3]
The 2018 College Football Playoff National Championship featured the No. 4Alabama Crimson Tide and the No. 3Georgia Bulldogs. It was the teams' 68th meeting, with Alabama leading the series 37–25–4.
TheAlabama Crimson Tide defeated theClemson Tigers in the2018 Sugar Bowl by a score of 24–6 to reach the championship game. The Tide had a 12–1 season, becoming the SEC West Division co-champions with theAuburn Tigers. The Crimson Tide were coached byNick Saban.[4]
TheGeorgia Bulldogs defeated theOklahoma Sooners in the2018 Rose Bowl by a score of 54–48 in doubleovertime to reach the championship game. The Bulldogs had a 13–1 season claiming their 13thSoutheastern Conference (SEC) championship with a rematch victory over theAuburn Tigers, 28–7. The Bulldogs were coached byKirby Smart.[5] This was Georgia’s first appearance in a designated national championship game since the1983 Sugar Bowl.
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| Alabama | Position | Position | Georgia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Offense | |||
| Calvin Ridley 1 | WR | Javon Wims 7 | |
| Cam Sims | WR | Riley Ridley 4 | |
| Jonah Williams 1 | LT | Isaiah Wynn 1 | |
| Ross Pierschbacher 5 | LG | Kendall Baker | |
| Bradley Bozeman 6 | C | Lamont Gaillard 6 | |
| J. C. Hassenauer | RG | Ben Cleveland 3 | |
| Matt Womack | RT | Andrew Thomas 1 | |
| Hale Hentges | TE | TB | Nick Chubb 2 |
| Robert Foster | WR | Terry Godwin 7 | |
| Jalen Hurts 2 | QB | Jake Fromm 5 | |
| Damien Harris 3 | RB | Sony Michel 1 | |
| Defense | |||
| Da'Shawn Hand 4 | DE | David Marshall | |
| Daron Payne 1 | NG | John Atkins | |
| Isaiah Buggs 6 | DL | DT | Tyler Clark |
| Terrell Lewis 3 | SLB | LB | Davin Bellamy |
| Mack Wilson 5 | MLB | LB | Reggie Carter |
| Rashaan Evans 1 | WLB | LB | †Roquan Smith 1 |
| Deionte Thompson 5 | DB | Malkom Parrish | |
| Anthony Averett 4 | CB | Deandre Baker 1 | |
| Levi Wallace | CB | Aaron Davis | |
| †Minkah Fitzpatrick 1 | SS | S | Dominick Sanders |
| Ronnie Harrison 3 | FS | CB | J. R. Reed |
| † = 2017 All-American | |||
| Selected in an NFL Draft (number corresponds to draft round) | |||
Source:[6]
After winning thecoin toss, Alabama deferred to the second half and Georgia received the ball to begin the game. After two plays, quarterbackJake Fromm attempted a pass downfield and was intercepted by Tony Brown. Alabama began their first drive of the game, and, after eleven plays, that drive ended with kicker Andy Pappanastos missing a 40-yardfield goal. The teams each hadthree-and-outs for the game's first twopunts. During Georgia's ensuing drive, the quarter ended, with no score.[7]
After a failed third down conversion, on the second play of the second quarter, Georgia kickerRodrigo Blankenship hit a 41-yard field goal to open the scoring and put Georgia in the lead by three. Alabama's ensuing drive went nowhere, as they gained four yards on three plays and punted. Georgia took the ball and drove down the field, and found themselves with a first and goal at the Alabama 10-yard-line; the Tide defense held, however, and the Bulldogs settled for a second field goal and took a 6–0 lead with just over seven and a half minutes until half. On Alabama's next drive, the Georgia defense held yet again and Alabama'sJ. K. Scott punted for the third time. Just prior to the punt, Georgia wide receiver Javon Wims was shown walking to the locker room, reportedly with a left shoulder injury. Both defenses then forced punts, and Georgia took back over with 1:19 remaining in the half on their own 31-yard-line. Nine plays later, on Alabama's 1-yard-line,Mecole Hardman took a direct snap, faked a handoff, and ran into the end zone for the game's first touchdown, putting Georgia up 13–0 going intohalftime.[7]
Because they deferred the coin toss, Alabama received the ball first in the second half. They started their drive on their own 22-yard-line.Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama's backup quarterback, started the second half for the Tide; that drive quickly resulted in a three-and-out. The initial punt was blocked, but an offside call gave the Tide another chance to punt. Georgia started their drive on their own 36-yard-line, but punted on 4th & 17. Alabama took over on their own 44-yard-line.[7] The teams then traded touchdowns on consecutive drives; Alabama scored their first points of the game on a 6-yard pass from Tagovailoa to Ruggs, but Georgia immediately responded with an 80-yard touchdown connection from Fromm to Mecole Hardman, putting Georgia up 20–7. On the second play of Alabama's ensuing drive, Tagovailoa, while scrambling to the left, threw into traffic and was intercepted by Georgia's Deandre Baker. Up 13, the Bulldogs took over possession of the ball on Alabama's 39-yard-line. The Tide defense responded immediately, however, asRaekwon Davis intercepted a Jake Fromm pass on the first play of Georgia's drive, returning the pick to the UGA 40-yard-line. The Tide gained fifteen yards on six plays and kicker Andy Pappanastos avenged his earlier miss with a 43-yard field goal that put Bama within ten. The teams then traded punts. Just prior to Alabama's punt, it was announced that an Alabama defensive back, Kyriq McDonald, had collapsed on the sideline; the situation was described as a "serious medical emergency". He was loaded onto a medical stretcher awake and conscious. Georgia could not muster anything on offense that drive, and punted. The fourth quarter saw Tagovailoa lead the Tide to come back and tie the game at 20 with 3:49. Alabama regained possession, and with three seconds remaining in the game, Andy Pappanastos missed a potential game-winning 36-yard field goal wide left, sending the CFP Championship to overtime, the first in the era.[7]
In overtime, Georgia had an unsuccessful drive that resulted in both a three-and-out, and a 13-yard loss sack to Fromm. Georgia opted to attempt a 51-yard field goal, which they made. On Alabama's first offensive play in overtime, Tagovailoa was sacked for a 16-yard loss but immediately followed that with a game-winning 41-yard touchdown pass toDeVonta Smith, in a play that has since been called2nd and 26 by fans.[7] Tagovailoa was named the offensive player of the game, andDaron Payne was named the defensive player of the game.[8]
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. 4 Alabama | 0 | 0 | 10 | 10 | 6 | 26 |
| No. 3 Georgia | 0 | 13 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 23 |
atMercedes-Benz Stadium •Atlanta, Georgia
| Scoring summary | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Statistics | Alabama | Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| First downs | 20 | 22 |
| Plays–yards | 71–371 | 77–365 |
| Rushes–yards | 39–184 | 45–133 |
| Passing yards | 187 | 232 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 17–32–1 | 16–32–2 |
| Time of possession | 26:17 | 33:43 |
| Sources:ESPN,StatBroadcast | ||
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Passing | Tua Tagovailoa | 14/24, 166 yds, 3 TD, 1 INT |
| Rushing | Najee Harris | 6 car, 64 yds | |
| Receiving | Calvin Ridley | 4 rec, 32 yds, 1 TD | |
| Georgia | Passing | Jake Fromm | 16/32, 232 yds, 1 TD, 2 INT |
| Rushing | Sony Michel | 14 car, 98 yds | |
| Receiving | Riley Ridley | 6 rec, 82 yds | |
| Sources:ESPN,StatBroadcast | |||
The game was televised nationally byESPN andESPN Radio. On January 8, 2018, the network announced that its broadcast would feature a live performance byKendrick Lamar during halftime. This performance was separate from the event proper at Mercedes-Benz Stadium (which featured a traditionalhalftime show with the marching bands of the participating teams), and originated fromCentennial Olympic Park.[9]
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