SMART & SMARTER
Kirby vs. genius mentor tops intriguing title-game storylines
Georgia and Alabama will meet Monday night in Atlanta at Mercedes-Benz Stadium for the national champions hi p. The only venue more fitting would have been a Waffle House. After No. 3 Georgia’s incredible double-overtime, 54-48, comeback win over No. 2 Oklahoma, and No. 4 Alabama’s 24-6 domination of defending champion Clemson, the SEC rules the sport again. For the first time since Alabama beat LSU, 21-0, in the 2012 BCS title game — during a string of seven straight SEC national champions (2006-12) — two teams from the same conference will face off for college football’s crown. Because Georgia and Alabama are in different divisions, the schools have met only twice since 2008, with the Crimson Tide — in their only appearance ever as an underdog under Nick Saban — most recently destroying the Bulldogs, 38-10, in 2015. Alabama, which fell just short of claiming back-to-back titles last year, can enhance its dynasty by winning its fifth national championship in nine years. Georgia, which won its f irst SEC championship in 12 years, needs to travel less than 70 miles to win its first national championship since Jimmy Carter’s f inal year in the White House (1980).
Once again — and for the ninth time in the past 12 years — the SEC will be king. This time, computers can’t be blamed. Here are some other notable storylines heading into the national championship game:
The protégé against the legend
Saban, 66, gets another chance at his sixth national title, and to match Alabama icon Paul “Bear” Bryant for the most in college football history. For the first time since arriving in Tuscaloosa in 2007, he’ll have to do it without Kirby Smart by his side. Smart, 42, was the defensive coordinator for each of the Crimson Tide’s national title wins in the past decade, and spent 11 seasons working under Saban, starting at LSU, and including a stint with the Miami Dolphins. Alabama and Georgia haven’t met since Smart took over at his alma mater last season, but Saban’s students have never fared well. Saban is 11-0 when facing his former assistants, winning each game by at least 14 points.
An old-school showdown
by a traditional championship model of a strong defense, and powerful running game. Seniors Nick Chubb and Sony Michel combined for 326 yards rushing and six total touchdowns Monday, the most prolific backfield tandem in Rose Bowl history. The Crimson Tide ranked 10th in the nation in rushing, led by Damien Harris and Bo Scarbrough, who had 93 yards rushing and two touchdowns in last year’s title game. Still, it’s unclear if either ground game will get going. Alabama has the nation’s topranked rushing (91.8 yards per game) and scoring defense (11.1 points). Georgia has the SEC’s second-best run-stopping unit (121.9 yards) and ranks fifth in the country in points allowed (15.7).
The wild-card quarterbacks
Last year, Alabama’s Jalen Hurts had a chance to become the second true freshman quarterback to win a national championship. This year, Georgia’s Jake Fromm gets the chance to join Jamelle Holieway (Oklahoma, 1985) as the only freshmen quarterbacks with national titles. Fromm showed great poise in the semifinal, going 20-of-29 with 210 yards passing and two touchdowns, and leading a game-tying drive in the final minutes of the fourth quarter. Hurts also played mistake-free ball, throwing for 140 yards and two touchdowns. In last year’s loss to Clemson, Hurts went 13-of-31 for 131 yards and two passing touchdowns, while adding a 30-yard go-ahead touchdown run with just over two minutes remaining. Neither team relies on its quarterback to carry
it to victory. Neither fan base totally trusts either player. The outcome could come down to one making a devastating mistake against an intimidating defense.
The snubbed
It wouldn’t be new for Alabama to win a national championship without winning a conference championship. The Crimson Tide did it six years ago. But less than a month ago, Alabama wasn’t confident it would be included in the playoff after failing to reach the SEC title game. Big Ten champion/No. 5 Ohio State, which easily dismissed Pac-12 champion USC in the Cotton Bowl, can only wonder what could have been. Schools such as Central Florida (1 3-0), which upset Auburn — a team that beat Alabama and Georgia this season — in the Peach Bowl to remain the nation’s only undefeated team, can only wonder if Cinderella will ever receive a shot in college football. The AlabamaLSU title game increased the calls for a playoff. The case for expansion is growing.