Alabama benches starting QB in National Championship for freshman
Jan 8, 2018, 9:04 PM
(AP Photo/David Goldman)
The second half of the National Championship would wind up being two true freshmen quarterbacks deciding the biggest game of the college football season.
Alabama coach Nick Saban decided to sit starting sophomore Jalen Hurts for true freshman Tua Tagovailoa after trailing Georgia 13-0 after one half.
Hurts was struggling, going 3-of-8 through the air for 21 yards and rushing for 47 yards on six carries on the ground.
Alabama would call a big shot for Tagovailoa early, a play-action pass on his first play. Tagovailoa had his man deep but overthrew him.
A shaky start wouldn’t bother the freshman, though, as he completed his next five passes on a touchdown drive in a game where the Crimson Tide could barely get a first down.
The drive included the signature play of the game for Alabama. On third down, Tagovailoa scrambled right and didn’t have anywhere to throw or run. With four Georgia defenders around him, he managed to somehow scramble out of the scrum to the left to gain the first down.
this was just an insane play by Tua Tagovailoa pic.twitter.com/aZmJ9iWooL
— Dr. Saturday (@YahooDrSaturday) January 9, 2018
At the end of the drive, the freshman had the country’s attention.
This freshman Alabama QB!!!!!
— Budda Baker (@buddabaker32) January 9, 2018
I see you TUA
— Tony Jefferson (@_tonyjefferson) January 9, 2018
Tua, my goodness. What a drive. Game on.
— Pat Forde (@YahooForde) January 9, 2018
Saving Tua for the Championship. Brilliant! #Alabama
— Andrew Brandt (@AndrewBrandt) January 9, 2018
Nick Saban has been hiding Tua all season just for this moment
— The Ringer (@ringer) January 9, 2018
Quite the run by Tua. He's also throwing with confidence.
— Jerry Palm (@jppalmCBS) January 9, 2018