After many stellar performances, college football fans have heard a lot about the success of University of Georgia true-freshman quarterback, Jake Fromm. Despite doubts due to his young age, Fromm led the Georgia Bulldogs to their National Championship in 37 years. However, Fromm was not the true-freshman quarterback who claimed the National Championship title Monday, Jan. 8. After the Alabama Crimson Tide trailed 13 points at halftime, Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama’s backup quarterback took place of starter Jalen Hurts, and will be remembered for many years for his game-winning touchdown in overtime and a monumental comeback by the Alabama Crimson Tide.
Changing quarterbacks halfway through the game was a gutsy decision made by Alabama’s head coach, Nick Saban, and was one that Georgia Bulldogs Head Coach Kirby Smart had anticipated. “ We told everybody at halftime there was no question they were going to him because they were struggling and they needed some momentum,” said Smart in a post-game interview. The Crimson Tide indeed had momentum in the second half as Tagovailoa helped to tie the score 20-20. After a missed field goal by Alabama kicker, Andy Pappanastos, the two teams headed into overtime. Although Georgia kicker, Rodrigo Blankenship, scored a field goal during their possession,
Tagovailoa threw a game-winning 41-yard touchdown for the Alabama Crimson Tide to claim the national championship.
After Tagovailoa’s stellar performance, no one questioned Saban’s move to substitute the true-freshman in for a struggling Jalen Hurts. Tagovailoa has gotten the attention of the entire country, especially after a season where Fromm was covered as the true-freshman quarterback who might just “win it all.” Despite Georgia’s loss, the future is bright for quarterback Jake Fromm who is already favored to win the Heisman Trophy for the upcoming season. Although Tagovailoa did not play the entirety of the game, most would argue that the true-freshman quarterback provided the momentum shift the Crimson Tide needed to clinch the National Championship.