INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana - The No. 3 Georgia Bulldogs defeated the No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide, 33-18, capturing the program's first national championship in the College Football Playoff and first overall national title in 41 years.
In the contest, senior quarterback Stetson Bennett, a former walk-on, threw two touchdown passes, including scoring throws of 40 yards to Adonai Mitchell and 15 yards to Brock Bowers. Bennett completed 17-of-26 passes for 224 yards en route to being voted the Offensive Player of the Game.
Georgia again leaned on its defense, allowing only 30 rushing yards from the Tide. UGA’s title clinching touchdown came on cornerback Kelee Ringo’s 79-yard interception return of Bryce Young’s pass with less than a minute remaining. It was redemption for a Bulldog defensive unit that hadn’t allowed more than 17 points in a game before being humbled in its 41-24 loss to Alabama in the SEC championship game on Dec. 4. The Bulldogs entered the national championship game allowing a nation-best 9.6 points per game.
Junior DB Lewis Cine was named Defensive Player of the Game after collecting seven total tackles, including six solo stops, one from behind the line of scrimmage and a pass breakup.
Linebackers Quay Walker and Channing Tindall led Georgia with eight tackles apiece, while Nolan Smith pitched in two tackles for loss.
Georgia completed the 2021-22 campaign with a 14-1 record, capped by its first national title since the 1980 season under Vince Dooley. The victory also marked the first for UGA head coach Kirby Smart, former Alabama defensive coordinator, in five meetings with Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban.
