We are one quarter away from crowning a national champion for the 2021 college football season. We head to the fourth quarter in Indianapolis on Monday night with No. 3 Georgia leading No. 1 Alabama 13-9 in the rematch of their SEC Championship Game showdown which took place on Dec. 4, with the Crimson Tide emerging successful.
Alabama took a 9-6 lead into the half in what has, to this point, been quite the defensive battle between the two SEC powers. Late in the fourth quarter, however, the Bulldogs offense finally struck. Running back Zamir White scored from 1-yard out to cap a four-play, 80-yard drive, giving Georgia its first lead of the game and eyes on securing the program's first national title since 1980.
CBS Sports will be with you Monday night with live coverage of Alabama vs. Georgia for the national championship. Follow along for score updates, analysis and highlights from the CFP National Championship.
How to watch national championship 2022
Game: 2022 College Football Playoff National Championship
Date: Monday, Jan. 10 | Time: 8 p.m. ET
Location: Lucas Oil Stadium -- Indianapolis, Indiana
TV: ESPN | Live stream: fuboTV (Try for free)
Alabama vs. Georgia: Alternate viewing options
- Coaches Film Room -- ESPN2, fuboTV (Try for free)
- Command Center -- ESPNU, fuboTV (Try for free)
- Skycast -- ESPNEWS, fuboTV (Try for free)
- Hometown radio (Alabama 1H, Georgia 2H) -- SEC Network, fuboTV (Try for free)
- All-22, halftime band performances and more available via ESPN's app
Alabama vs. Georgia storylines
Alabama: Alabama established the tone against Cincinnati with some bully ball on its opening possession, running on 10 straight plays before going to the air for the game's first touchdown. For a team that did not have an elite rushing attack for much of the season, it was quite a statement. Alabama totaled 301 yards rushing in the game, and if it can bring some of the momentum generated on the ground into this game, it'll do wonders.
Alabama used an all-out aerial assault to win the SEC title over Georgia, but leading receiver John Metchie III was lost to a knee injury in that game. Expect the Bulldogs to adjust and make life harder on Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Bryce Young and his top target, Jameson Williams. Crimson Tide running backs Brian Robinson Jr. and Trey Sanders totaled just 76 yards rushing on 22 carries in the first meeting. If Alabama can bring the multi-dimensional prowess it showed against the Bearcats to this matchup, it'll have a chance to neutralize Georgia's defense yet again.
Georgia: Astonishingly, Georgia failed to sack Young in the first meeting, but the Bulldogs were effective at disrupting him when they sent blitzes. Young was just 8 of 20 passing for 104 yards when the Bulldogs sent five or more pass rushers, according to TruMedia data. Expect defensive coordinator Dan Lanning to dial up plenty of pressure in his final game before he devotes his full attention to his new job as Oregon's coach.
Offensively, quarterback Stetson Bennett appeared to squash the questions over whether his job may be in jeopardy during the Orange Bowl as he completed 20 of 30 passes for 313 yards and three touchdowns without an interception. The Bulldogs moved the ball effectively against Alabama in the last meeting, but Bennett's two interceptions hampered their chances of getting back in the game. Bennett is 0-2 against Alabama as Georgia's starting quarterback and leading UGA to a landmark national title would be the ultimate validation for the undersized former walk-on who has been doubted his entire career.
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Alabama vs. Georgia prediction, pick
Alabama's back was against the wall when these teams met on Dec. 4 in the SEC Championship Game, and it showed. The Crimson Tide turned in a second quarter for the ages and raced to a 41-24 victory that de-legitimized Georgia's accomplishments during a dominant regular season. The nature of that loss -- with the Crimson Tide dissecting UGA's celebrated defense -- will motivate the Bulldogs, who will use what they learned to play much better defensively in the rematch. This time, it's Georgia playing with a chip on its shoulder, and that will show as the Bulldogs finally breakthrough for the program's first national championship in over four decades. Pick: Georgia -2.5 | Georgia 38, Alabama 20