Georgia stuns Alabama 33-18 to clinch 2022 CFP National Championship
ByKelli Dugan, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
ByKelli Dugan, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
INDIANAPOLIS — Payback was sweet for the Georgia Bulldogs who claimed the 2022 College Football National Championship in Indianapolis on Monday night, knocking off the Alabama Crimson Tide by a score of 33-18.
The two teams previously met in Atlanta in the 2018 National Championship, where the Tide won in overtime. Alabama has won seven straight against Georgia, including last month’s SEC Championship, WSB-TV reported.
The No. 1-ranked Tide sputtered early on offense against the third-ranked Bulldogs, trading field goals to close the first half with a lead of only 9 to 6.
The second half, however, belonged to Georgia, with Alabama failing to score inside the red zone multiple times and Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Bryce Young throwing a pick six that nearly doubled the eight-point deficit.
Meanwhile, the Tide faithful held their collective breath early in the second quarter when wide receiver Jameson Williams went down with an apparent lower leg injury after making a 40-yard reception. Williams had taken center stage in Alabama’s passing game since John Metchie III tore his ACL in the first half of the Dec. 4 SEC Championship Game, also against Georgia.
Monday’s win means the Bulldogs will bring home their third national title in school history, and only their second since 1980.
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2022 CFP National Championship Alabama's Jameson Williams injures his knee after a catch during the first half of the College Football Playoff championship football game against Georgia Monday, Jan. 10, 2022, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya) (Paul Sancya/AP)
2022 CFP National Championship Fans cheer before the College Football Playoff championship football game between Alabama and Georgia Monday, Jan. 10, 2022, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya) (Paul Sancya/AP)
2022 CFP National Championship An Alabama cheerleader performs during the first half of the College Football Playoff championship football game against Georgia Monday, Jan. 10, 2022, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings) (Darron Cummings/AP)
2022 CFP National Championship Georgia players warm up before the College Football Playoff championship football game against Alabama Monday, Jan. 10, 2022, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) (Charlie Riedel/AP)
2022 CFP National Championship Fans wait outside at Lucas Oil Stadium before the College Football Playoff championship football game between Alabama and Georgia Monday, Jan. 10, 2022, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya) (Paul Sancya/AP)
2022 CFP National Championship Georgia's Stetson Bennett gets away from Alabama's Christian Harris during the first half of the College Football Playoff championship football game Monday, Jan. 10, 2022, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings) (Darron Cummings/AP)
2022 CFP National Championship Georgia's Jermaine Burton gets past Alabama's Brian Branch during the first half of the College Football Playoff championship football game Monday, Jan. 10, 2022, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings) (Darron Cummings/AP)
2022 CFP National Championship Ryan Jamison gets ready for the start of the College Football Playoff championship football game between Alabama and Georgia Monday, Jan. 10, 2022, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya) (Paul Sancya/AP)
2022 CFP National Championship Georgia's David Daniel and Lewis Cine celebrate after a third down stop during the first half of the College Football Playoff championship football game against Alabama Monday, Jan. 10, 2022, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya) (Paul Sancya/AP)
2022 CFP National Championship Alabama's Chris Herren Jr. is stopped by Georgia's Quay Walker and Nakobe Dean during the first half of the College Football Playoff championship football game Monday, Jan. 10, 2022, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya) (Paul Sancya/AP)
2022 CFP National Championship Fans wait fior the start of the College Football Playoff championship football game between Alabama and Georgia Monday, Jan. 10, 2022, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya) (Paul Sancya/AP)
2022 CFP National Championship Georgia's Quay Walker forces an early thorw by Alabama's Bryce Young during the first half of the College Football Playoff championship football game Monday, Jan. 10, 2022, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) (Charlie Riedel/AP)
2022 CFP National Championship Alabama's Jameson Williams injures his knee after a catch during the first half of the College Football Playoff championship football game against Georgia Monday, Jan. 10, 2022, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya) (Paul Sancya/AP)
2022 CFP National Championship Alabama head coach Nick Saban watches warm ups before the College Football Playoff championship football game against Georgia Monday, Jan. 10, 2022, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya) (Paul Sancya/AP)
2022 CFP National Championship Georgia's Stetson Bennett recovers his own fumble during the first half of the College Football Playoff championship football game against Alabama Monday, Jan. 10, 2022, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya) (Paul Sancya/AP)
2022 CFP National Championship The College Football Playoff National Championship event logo is displayed on the outside of the JW Marriott, Friday, Jan. 7, 2022, in Indianapolis. Alabama and Georgia are scheduled to play in the championship game on Jan. 10 at Lucas Oil Stadium. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings) (Darron Cummings/AP)
2022 CFP National Championship Michael Jacoppo, at the University of Georgia's coliseum in Athens, Ga., reacts during the first half of the College Football Playoff championship game against Alabama, Monday, Jan. 10, 2022. (AP Photo/Ben Gray) (Ben Gray/AP)
2022 CFP National Championship Fans at the University of Georgia's coliseum in Athens, Ga., celebrate a Georgia touchdown during the second half of the College Football Playoff championship game against Alabama, Monday, Jan. 10, 2022. (AP Photo/Ben Gray) (Ben Gray/AP)
2022 CFP National Championship Georgia's Nolan Smith stops Alabama's Agiye Hall during the first half of the College Football Playoff championship football game Monday, Jan. 10, 2022, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) (Charlie Riedel/AP)
2022 CFP National Championship Alabama's Dallas Turner sacks Georgia's Stetson Bennett during the first half of the College Football Playoff championship football game Monday, Jan. 10, 2022, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya) (Paul Sancya/AP)
