Georgia beats Alabama 33-18 in CFP Championship Game, claims first national title since 1980

INDIANAPOLIS -- Georgia football broke its 41-year national championship drought by beating Alabama 33-18 in the CFP National Championship Game at Lucas Oil Stadium.

The Bulldogs (14-1) beat the Crimson Tide (13-2) in a toe-to-toe battle that saw five field goals before Zamir White scored the first touchdown of the night on a 1-yard run in the third quarter that gave Georgia a 13-9 lead.

The Tide battled back to take an 18-13 lead after a Stetson Bennett fumble allowed Bryce Young (35-of-57 passing, 369 yards, TD, 2 interceptions) to set up shop at the 16, but Georgia showed the sort of resiliency that enable the program to hold the No. 1 ranking for eight weeks during the regular season

Georgia freshmen AD Mitchell and Brock Bowers scored on touchdown receptions of 40 and 15 yards in the fourth quarter before Kelee Ringo sealed the game with a 79-yard Pick 6 with 54 seconds remaining.

Bennett, the Orange Bowl Offensive MVP, finished 17-of-26 passing for 224 yards and 2 touchdowns, overcoming 4 sacks and the costly fumble to win CFP Offensive Player of the Game honors.

CFP Final

Statsbroad, Dawgnation

FOURTH QUARTER

Georgia 33, Alabama 18, 0:54: Kelee Ringo 79-yard interception return for touchdown. (Podlesny kick).

Georgia 26, Alabama 18, 3:33: Brock Bowers 15-yard pass from Stetson Bennett (Podlesny kick). Drive: 7 plays, 62 yards, 3:37.

team Stats, StatBroad

StatBroad, Dawgnation

SECOND QUARTER

Alabama 9, Georgia 6, 3:09: Podlesny 49-yard field goal. Drive: 9 plays, 34 yards, 3:58.

Alabama 9, Georgia 3, 7:07: Reichard 37-yard field goal. Drive: 6 plays, 55 yards, 2:29. Key play: Cameron Latu 61-yard reception to Georgia 8.

Alabama 6, Georgia 3, 11:12: Reichard 45-yard field goal. Drive: 5 plays, 47 yards, 1:23. Key play: Jameson Williams 40-yard reception to Georgia 35.

Injury Update: Alabama star wide receiver Jameson Williams carried off field with apparent left leg injury. Crimson Tide is already without its other top receiver John Metchie III, sidelined with a torn ACL.

Georgia 3, Alabama 3, 12:35: Jack Podlesny 24-yard field goal Drive: 11 plays, 87 yards, 5:51. Key play: George Pickens 52-yard reception to Alabama 29.