EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the final story in a series on the 15 most memorable SEC football games beat writer David Paschall has covered since joining the newspaper in 1990. The games were presented in chronological order.
The championship game of the 2017 college football season between Alabama and Georgia inside Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium had yet to reveal a winner on Tuesday, Jan. 9 at 12:08 a.m.
My deadline for the story was 12 minutes away.
Something decisive needed to happen immediately and certainly did, as Crimson Tide freshman quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who was sacked for a 16-yard loss on the first play in Alabama’s overtime possession, lofted a 41-yard scoring strike to fellow freshman DeVonta Smith that sealed a 26-23 victory over the Bulldogs. Georgia was tasting its first national title since 1980, but one play dashed those hopes and catapulted Alabama to its fifth crown of the Nick Saban era.
“I’m so happy for our folks and for our players,” a jubilant Saban said with confetti falling all around. “I’m happy for everyone.”