Georgia wins College Football National Championship

By Jason Kurtz, Mike Hayes and Meg Wagner, CNN

Updated 1:08 a.m. ET, January 11, 2022
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1:08 a.m. ET, January 11, 2022

Georgia avenges SEC title game loss and tops Alabama for first championship since 1980

From CNN's Jason Kurtz

Georgia head coach Kirby Smart and defensive back Lewis Cine celebrate after the win.
Georgia head coach Kirby Smart and defensive back Lewis Cine celebrate after the win. (Darron Cummings/AP)

Kirby Smart, Stetson Bennett and the Georgia Bulldogs turned back their demons and turned away Alabama, defeating the reigning national champions to capture the school's first title since 1980.

Smart — who had previously been 0-4 when facing his mentor Nick Saban as a head coach — watched his top-ranked Bulldogs close the game with a 33-18 victory in Indianapolis.

Saban, who was seeking his seventh national title at Alabama, and eighth overall, was Smart's boss for nine seasons in Tuscaloosa, and most recently got the better of his pupil during the SEC Championship game. The rematch, however, went the way of Georgia, in large part thanks to senior quarterback Stetson Bennett.

A costly fourth-quarter Red Zone fumble by Bennett led to Alabama's lone touchdown, a three-yard strike from Bryce Young to Cameron Latu which put the Crimson Tide in front 18-13 with 10:14 to play. However, on the very next possession, Bennett responded with a picturesque 40-yard scoring strike to Adonai Mitchell, giving the Bulldogs the lead right back at 19-18.

Georgia's vaunted defense, exposed during the 17-point loss to Alabama on Dec. 4, was more than up to the task in the rematch, holding Alabama to just 30 rushing yards, and forcing a pair of turnovers. The second of which, an interception by Kelee Ringo, served as the nail in the coffin, as the 19-year-old freshman cornerback picked off Young and raced 79 yards for Georgia's third straight touchdown.

Young, who had designs on following wide receiver DeVonta Smith and becoming the second straight Alabama player to win both the Heisman Trophy and National Championship in the same season, was attempting to lead the Crimson Tide to a game-tying score and two-point conversion, when his throw was snatched by Ringo. On the night, the sophomore signal-caller attempted a whopping 57 throws, completing 35 for 369 yards in the loss.

Bennett, though asked to do less, was sharpest when it mattered most, following his touchdown pass to Mitchell with a 15-yard scoring toss to Brock Bowers, putting Georgia up 8 points with 3:33 to play. Bennett ends his storybook career in Athens by going 17-26 for 224 yards and earning offensive MVP honors.

The game's earliest moments lacked a certain degree of excitement as both Georgia and Alabama were largely forced to settle for field goals. The Crimson Tide led 9-6 at the half, and the game's first touchdown wasn't scored until Georgia running back Zamir White punched it in from one yard out with 1:20 remaining in the third quarter.

However, the game's final quarter offered up big plays befitting a contest of this magnitude, including both Bennett's fumble and his touchdown pass on the ensuing drive.

For Smart, the win means he finally gets the better of his mentor. For Georgia, though, it's simply a return to top dog status, 41 years in the making.

12:28 a.m. ET, January 11, 2022

Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett named Offensive Player of the Game

From CNN's Mike Hayes

Stetson Bennett kisses his team's trophy after Monday night's win.
Stetson Bennett kisses his team's trophy after Monday night's win. (Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett IV was named the Offensive Player of the Game.

Bennett was 17 for 26, with 224 passing yards and two touchdowns. In a key moment in the fourth quarter, the senior quarterback launched a 40-yard scoring strike to Adonai Mitchell, to take back the lead from the Crimson Tide 19-18. The Dawgs never gave back the advantage and went on to win 33-18.

Georgia defensive back Lewis Cine was named that Defensive Player of the Game. He had 7 tackles.

12:30 a.m. ET, January 11, 2022

Georgia wins the National Championship

From CNN's Mike Hayes & Jill Martin

Georgia's Javon Bullard celebrates after the win on Monday night.
Georgia's Javon Bullard celebrates after the win on Monday night. (Darron Cummings/AP)

Georgia defeated Alabama 33-18 in the College Football National Championship game.

This is Georgia’s first national title in football since the 1980 season.

It’s Georgia’s first win against Alabama since 2007.

Alabama was vying for its seventh national title since the 2009 season.

11:56 p.m. ET, January 10, 2022

Georgia seals it with a pick six!

Kelee Ringo celebrates scoring on an interception late in the fourth quarter.
Kelee Ringo celebrates scoring on an interception late in the fourth quarter. (Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)

The Georgia defense back Kelee Ringo intercepted Bryce Young and took it to to the house.

Georgia now leads 33-18 with less than a minute to play.

11:47 p.m. ET, January 10, 2022

Georgia leads 26-18 late in the fourth

From CNN's Mike Hayes

Brock Bowers celebrates after scoring a touchdown in the fourth quarter.
Brock Bowers celebrates after scoring a touchdown in the fourth quarter. (Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)

The Georgia offense capped off a 62-yard, 7-play drive with a touchdown to push their lead to eight points.

A key 9-yard run by Georgia's thumping running back Zamir White got the Dawgs down to the Alabama 15-yard line.

A few plays later on third and short, Stetson Bennett flipped it to Brock Bowers, who scampered 15 yards to the end zone.

Georgia now leads late in the fourth, 26-18.

11:30 p.m. ET, January 10, 2022

Bennett atones for fumble and gives Georgia the lead with 40-yard touchdown pass

From CNN's Jason Kurtz

Georgia wide receiver Adonai Mitchell catches the ball for a 40-yard touchdown as he's defended by Khyree Jackson in the fourth quarter.
Georgia wide receiver Adonai Mitchell catches the ball for a 40-yard touchdown as he's defended by Khyree Jackson in the fourth quarter. (Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)

Stetson Bennett has a short memory. And that's good for Georgia.

After a costly Red Zone fumble led to Alabama's first touchdown of the game and a five-point Crimson Tide lead, the senior signal-caller launched a 40-yard scoring strike to Adonai Mitchell, giving the Bulldogs the lead right back. The score is now 19-18.

Bennett knew he had a free play as Alabama's defense jumped offsides, and he certainly took advantage with a throw that has quickly rewritten the script in this back-and-forth drama.

Georgia went for two and failed to convert, leaving the National Championship game as a one-point affair in the fourth quarter.

11:22 p.m. ET, January 10, 2022

Alabama regains the lead, 18-13

From CNN's Mike Hayes

Quarterback Bryce Young reacts after throwing a touchdown pass in the fourth quarter to give Alabama the lead.
Quarterback Bryce Young reacts after throwing a touchdown pass in the fourth quarter to give Alabama the lead. (Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)

Alabama took over inside the Georgia Red Zone after a wild fumble recovery by the Crimson Tide defense.

A roughing the passer penalty on Georgia set up Alabama with first and goal at the six-yard line. On third and goal, Bryce Young completed a pass to tight end Cameron Latu in the end zone for the touchdown, regaining the lead for Alabama.

The Tide failed on the two-point conversion. They now lead 18-13 in the fourth quarter.

11:18 p.m. ET, January 10, 2022

Georgia quarterback's confusing fumble gives Alabama the ball in the Red Zone

From CNN's Jason Kurtz

Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett fumbles the ball in the fourth quarter.
Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett fumbles the ball in the fourth quarter. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

The momentum has shifted in Indianapolis following a bizarre - and costly - turnover by Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett.

Pressured out of the pocket, the Bulldogs signal-caller was unable to throw the ball away, as the pigskin slipped out of his hand and bounced precariously toward the sideline.

Jogging casually, Alabama's Brian Branch corralled the football, and unknowingly kept his front foot in bounds despite thinking it was a dead ball.

The game's officials initially ruled the play a fumble, a call that was upheld after further review, giving the Crimson Tide possession in the Red Zone.

11:03 p.m. ET, January 10, 2022

Alabama settles for another field goal — but they're still trailing Georgia

From CNN's Mike Hayes

After Georgia found the end zone for the first time tonight, on the next drive, Alabama came up short and had to settle for yet another field goal.

Bryce Young completed a 28-yard pass to wide receiver Agiye Hall to get Alabama to the Georgia five-yard line. But the Tide couldn't push it in for the score.

It's now Georgia 13, Alabama 12 in the fourth quarter