Water noticed dripping from Mercedes-Benz Stadium roof before national championship game

ATLANTA — At about 6 p.m., or a little more than two hours before kickoff of the College Football Playoff national championship game, there was a clear and steady stream of water coming down from the Mercedes-Benz Stadium roof.

The Georgia Bulldogs and Alabama Crimson Tide face off in the national championship game with kickoff set for 8:17 p.m.

Mercedes-Benz Stadium is hosting the College Football Playoff title game for the first time.

So there is a fairly steady drop of water falling from the ceiling on the field in front of us, here at the 20 yard line closest to the end zone that says Georgia.

— Seth Emerson (@SethWEmerson) January 8, 2018

The water was dripping in the middle of the field at about the 25-yard line on the end of the field Georgia would use to warm up. Georgia punter Cameron Nizialek was seen noticing the water as he was one of the first Bulldogs out on the field for pregame warm-ups.

Kevin Butler and UGA operations director Josh Lee were seen checking out the leak with an unknown CFB official, and Georgia wide receiver Mecole Hardman later checked out the field where the water was dripping.

Georgia is playing in the championship game for the first time, while Alabama is playing in the game for the third straight year. With the two SEC rivals facing off, it marks the first time two conference foes will face off for the national title in the College Football Playoff era.

Georgia, which won the SEC title in this stadium last month, is 13-1, while Alabama is 12-1.