Alabama benched struggling starting qb Jalen Hurts after halftime of Monday’s National Championship against Georgia and that decision won Alabama the national championship.
In the third quarter of today’s national championship game, coach Nick Saban turned to five-star freshman backup Tua Tagovailoa, and Tagovailoa turned the game around almost immediately.
In one of his first plays from scrimmage Tua busted out an incredible scramble play and you knew from that point that he was going to be special.
Tua Tagovailoa has been in for like three plays and he's already my favorite college football player pic.twitter.com/FPy4PTlMNr
— Gifdsports (@gifdsports) January 9, 2018
When the Tide were down a touchdown late in the fourth quarter Tua capped off an amazing game-tying drive with a beautiful pass to Calvin Ridley on 4th down.
TUA TO RIDLEY ON 4TH DOWN…CLUTCH pic.twitter.com/zKDXjz2nxO
— Gifdsports (@gifdsports) January 9, 2018
This is the type of throw that you only see in movies. My God pic.twitter.com/zPkafDAv2W
— Gifdsports (@gifdsports) January 9, 2018
And then we have this absolutely gorgeous throw by Tua in overtime to give Bama and Nick Saban another national championship trophy.
BAMA WINS. TUA CONFIRMED GOAT pic.twitter.com/O3KkQtolbv
— Gifdsports (@gifdsports) January 9, 2018
The freshman from Hawaii had played in seven games this season, completing 35 of his 53 passes for eight touchdowns and one interception.
Before the start of the season Tagovailoa wasn’t worried about competing for the starting job with Jalen Hurts.
“Anywhere you go, you’re gonna have to compete,” he said as a recruit. “In life, you’re gonna go get a job. You’re gonna have to compete with the next person” to move up.
Hurts is going to have look for another school to play for because Bama is Tua’s team from here on out.