No. 3 Georgia defeats No. 1 Alabama to win first college football championship in 41 years

The Georgia Bulldogs won their first Division I football title since the 1980 season, upsetting the No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide 33-18 in the College Football Playoff National Championship on Monday night in Indianapolis.

Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett completed 17 of 26 passes and threw two touchdowns to lead the Bulldogs to their first win over their Southeastern Conference rival since 2007.

“A lot of guys made plays and that’s what this team has been, a collective group of people stepping up when they’re needed,” Georgia coach Kirby Smart said.

The game was a rematch of SEC Championship Game on December 4 in Atlanta when the Tide handed the Bulldogs their only loss of the season 41-24.

“We really focused on playing man-to-man and doing it better than they did,” Smart said.

After a tight first half that saw five field goals from the two teams, the game opened up after intermission.

With the Tide leading 9-6, Georgia got a third-quarter touchdown from running back Zamir White to take its first lead at 13-9.

Alabama, the defending champion, got a fourth-quarter field goal from Will Reichard and a 3-yard touchdown catch from tight end Cameron Latu to lead 18-13. But Alabama didn’t score again.

“I just feel really poorly that we didn’t finish the game better than we did in the fourth quarter, because we played a heck of a game against a heck of a team for the first three quarters of the game,” Alabama coach Nick Saban said.

Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett kisses the National Championship trophy after the Bulldogs defeated Alabama on Monday, January 10. Bennett is a former walk-on who grew up a Georgia fan.

Georgia head coach Kirby Smart is congratulated by former Georgia running back D'Andre Swift during the postgame celebrations.

Georgia players celebrate in the confetti.

Alabama offensive lineman Chris Owens, left, and quarterback Bryce Young leave the field after the game.

Georgia defensive back Tykee Smith celebrates after the final whistle.

Alabama's Khyree Jackson walks off the field after the game.

Smart shakes hands with Alabama head coach Nick Saban after the final whistle. Smart is a former Saban assistant who was 0-4 against him as a head coach.

Georgia fans react after Kelee Ringo returned an interception for a touchdown to seal the victory.

Bennett is hugged by a Bulldogs assistant coach late in the game.

Ringo runs into the end zone after his pick-six.

Smart celebrates with Ringo after his touchdown.

Georgia players celebrate on the sideline late in the game.

Young adjusts his helmet after being sacked in the fourth quarter. Young, this season's Heisman Trophy winner, was under heavy pressure for much of the game Monday.

Georgia tight end Brock Bowers celebrates after scoring a touchdown to extend Georgia's lead in the fourth quarter. After the extra point, Georgia led 26-18.

Georgia wide receiver Adonai Mitchell catches a 40-year touchdown pass over Alabama's Khyree Jackson in the fourth quarter. The touchdown gave Georgia a 19-18 lead.

Alabama's Cameron Latu celebrates after his fourth-quarter touchdown catch gave the Crimson Tide a brief 18-13 lead.

Bennett fumbles the ball as he is hit by Alabama linebacker Christian Harris in the fourth quarter. Alabama recovered deep in Georgia territory and went on to score a touchdown.

Georgia running back Zamir White celebrates with his teammates after scoring on a 1-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter. After the extra point, Georgia led 13-9.

Georgia's Jalen Carter blocks a Will Reichard field goal in the third quarter. Georgia scored a touchdown on its next drive.

Georgia's Anthony Summey intercepts Young early in the third quarter. It was the first turnover of the game.

Bowers is tackled by Kool-Aid McKinstry, left, and Henry To'oTo'o during the first half. The opening 30 minutes were a defensive struggle between the two teams, and Alabama led 9-6 at halftime.

Dallas Turner sacks Bennett in the second quarter.

Georgia kicker Jack Podlesny, center, watches a ball split the uprights in the first half.

Young throws a pass during the first half.

Reichard connects on one of his three first-half field goals.

Alabama wide receiver Jameson Williams injures his knee after a second-quarter catch. He was taken to the locker room and later ruled out for the rest of the game. Alabama was already down one star receiver after John Metchie tore his ACL in the SEC title game.

Saban watches the game in the first half.

Bennett shouts instructions to the Georgia offense in the second quarter.

Georgia's George Pickens makes a diving catch in the first half. It led to a Georgia field goal that tied the game at 3-3.

Offensive production was tough to come by in the first half.

Mitchell tries to pull in a catch.

Smart directs his team during the first quarter.

Bennett recovers his own fumble during the Bulldogs' opening drive.

Reichard makes a field goal to give the Crimson Tide a 3-0 lead in the first quarter.

Fans watch the action in the first half.

Georgia's Jordan Davis sacks Young on the game's opening drive. It was first ruled a fumble that Georgia returned for a touchdown. But replay reversed the call, and it was determined to be an incomplete pass instead.

Team captains meet for the opening coin toss before kickoff.

Natalie Grant sings the National Anthem during the pregame festivities.

Georgia fans cheer before the game.

Alabama is introduced before the game.

Young walks to the field for pregame warmups.

Georgia players take the field before the game.

Georgia's marching band performs before the game.

Hairy Dawg, Georgia's mascot, gets ready for kickoff.

Fans make their way to Lucas Oil Stadium before the game.

In pictures: Georgia defeats Alabama to win national title

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The Bulldogs used a 40-yard pass from Bennett to wide receiver Adonai Mitchell to take the lead and with just over three minutes to go grabbed a 26-18 lead with Bennett hitting tight end Brock Bowers for a 15-yard catch and run.

Alabama, needing a touchdown and a two-point conversion to tie, began to drive behind Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Bryce Young. But Young’s throw in the direction of wide receiver Traeshon Holden was short and picked off by Georgia’s Kelee Ringo who motored up the sideline for a 79-yard touchdown to ice the game.

“We had a lot of opportunities, moved the ball relatively well,” Young said. “We did some stuff well. We didn’t execute. And at the end of the day that’s on me. For us not finishing drives like we want to, it’s just not executing.”

Bennett was named the offensive player of the game. Georgia defensive back Lewis Cine was named defensive player of the game. He had seven tackles.