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Georgia & Alabama set to collide in all-SEC national championship

Posted at 3:14 AM, Jan 02, 2018
and last updated 2018-01-02 03:14:31-05

ATLANTA, Ga. – In a Rose Bowl for the ages, Georgia outlasted No. 2 Oklahoma in double overtime 54-48 to advance to it’s first national championship game since 1980.

Georgia blocks Oklahoma’s kick. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

The Bulldogs, ranked No. 3 coming into the game, blocked a chip-shot field goal attempt by the Sooners, and then sealed the game with a direct-snap 27-yard run for a touchdown by Sony Michel.

Georgia’s backfield was a one-two punch. Michel rushed for 180 yards and three touchdowns, while counterpart Nick Chubb toted the rock for 145 yards and two touchdowns.

Meanwhile in the Sugar Bowl, Alabama neutralized a Clemson team that had looked dominant against other top-tier teams leading up to the game.

The No. 4 ranked Crimson Tide defense limited the top-ranked Tigers to 188 yards of total offense.

Clemson was trailing 10-6 when the game spiraled downhill for the Tigers. Da’Ron Payne, a 300-pound defensive lineman, intercepted Kelly Bryant with nine minutes left in the third quarter.

Less than five minutes later, Payne was rewarded with a one-yard touchdown catch.

On the ensuing Clemson possession, Kelly Bryant was intercepted by Alabama’s Mack Wilson for a touchdown, putting the Tigers to rest for good.

This will be the third straight national title game appearance for Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide.

Clemson’s Dabo Swinney and Alabama’s Nick Saban meet at midfield. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

With both the Bulldogs and Crimson Tide advancing, the Southeastern Conference is guaranteed to have hoisted the national title nine out of the last 12 seasons.

This will mark the  first all-SEC championship in the College Football Playoff era, and first time since the BCS Championship between LSU-Alabama in 2011.