Georgia 6-9 Alabama, 12:46, 3rd quarter

Bolden makes a fair catch of Camarda’s punt at the Alabama 7. That’s a lot of ground to make up on a day where big passing plays have been hard to come by.

Georgia 6-9 Alabama, 12:46, 3rd quarter

An intentional grounding call on Bennett crushes the Georgia drive before it even gets a chance to begin. Cook picks up 11 yards to reduce a 2^nd & 19 to a 3^rd & 8 but Bennett’s pass is incomplete.

We’re going punting again!

Georgia 6-9 Alabama, 14:33, 3rd quarter

Georgia is starting at their own 25, where White picks up 11 yards on first down and then 18 yards on the next first down.

Georgia 6-9 Alabama, 15:00, 3rd quarter

And our second half starts with… a touchback. Par for the course.

The science teacher roommate has peaced-out, not entirely unreasonably given that first half, so it’s just you and me for this second half, which should be kicking off shortly.

Nevermind this is actually kind of a banger. I am a Swiftie and feel no pleasure in saying this.

We are now being subjected to the world premiere of a Katy Perry video for reasons that will forever remain a mystery to me.

Last night was the first time as a US sports fan that I ever rooted for a tie in my life and you know what? It changed my life. Maybe it’s time I started to look into the other kind of football as well.

Halftime thoughts

Well, the game really turned on the Jameson Williams injury. He will be out for the entire game, which anyone watching pretty much could have been guessed the second the injury occurred in real time.

The other news has been the combination of offensive struggles/defensive excellence that has led this to be a showcase to the two kicking teams. One imagines that this will change in the second half, but who could have predicted that the first half would have been this free from fireworks?

Halftime!

And we have a 6-9 game where there hasn’t been a single touchdown. Just what one expected from the best two teams in college football, right?

Georgia 6-9 Alabama, end of the first half.

Great punt there from Alabama, which is a weird thing to type. White picks up 4 yards as the clock continues to tick. White picks up another yard and it looks like Georgia is playing this conservatively. Alabama calls a timeout with 22 seconds left in the half.

When play resumes, it’s a 3^rd & 5 situation. White manages to pick up a first down but there’s not much time left here to do anything and everybody just waits around until the end of the first half.

Given the score, that feels like an appropriate way to end the first two quarters of play.

Georgia 6-9 Alabama, 1:40, 2^nd quarter

It’s a 3^rd and 5 situation and it feels like a crucial one here as halftime looms. Young uncorks a rather great throw that Bolden nearly completes for a catch. Game of inches. Here comes the punt team again. Jackson makes a fair catch at the Georgia 10.

Georgia 6-9 Alabama, 1:45, 2^nd quarter

Young throws to Agiye Hall who makes the catch and then smartly eludes the defense for a 24 yard gain that takes Alabama to the Georgia 43.

Given a fresh set of downs, Robinson Jr. picks up two yards. 2^nd & 8. Young throws incomplete. Just like that, we get another third-down situation and… our first timeout of the game. This one’s courtesy of Georgia.

Georgia 6-9 Alabama, 2:39, 2^nd quarter

After a touchback, Alabama starts at their own 25. Brian Robinson Jr. gets the ball first and he picks up three yards. 2^nd & 7. Young throws incomplete. 3^rd & 7. On the next play, an offsides penalty on Georgia turns it into a more manageable 3^rd & 2 situation.

Georgia 6-9 Alabama, 3:09, 2^nd quarter

Dallas Turner sacks Bennett for a four-yard loss. Just like that, 1^st and 10 has become 2^nd & 14.

Make that 3^rd and 14 after Bennett’s next throw lands incomplete. Bennett finds Kearis Jackson for an eight-yard gain that at least gives Georgia a chance for (you’ll never believe this) a field goal attempt. Podlesny’s 49-yarder looks like it’s going to curve away but it manages to hit the uprights to cut the Alabama lead to three.

Georgia 3-9 Alabama, 5:11, 2^nd quarter

Bennett throws incomplete to Adonai Mitchell on 1^st & 10. 2^nd & 10, Bennett finds Bowers, who drags several defensive players with him, until he can get six yards. 3^rd & 4, Bennett finds Mitchell who picks up 11 yards. Georgia’s at the Alabama 34.

Georgia 3-9 Alabama, 6:23, 2^nd quarter

Georgia has to feel good about its defense limiting Alabama to field goals, but it won’t matter if they can’t score themselves. Reichard’s kickoff isn’t great, it goes for 56 yards. They will start at their own 35. James Cook gets the first touch on this drive, picking up four yards.

On the next down, Bennett connects with McIntosh for ten yards which means, obviously, a first down. Solid start, this.

Georgia 3-9 Alabama, 7:07, 2^nd quarter

Robinson Jr gets it to the Georgia 6. Alabama is threatening for the game’s first touchdown… except Young throws incomplete and then gets sacked for a massive loss. 13 yards! Georgia holds Alabama to yet another field goal attempt. Reichard’s 37-yarder is good and Alabama at least pad their lead.

Georgia 3-6 Alabama, 8:49, 2^nd quarter

Slade Bolden catches, fumbles and returns the resulting punt. Alabama start at their own 26. Young finds Ja’Corey Brooks for a five-yard gain. On the next play, Young finds Cameron Latu who just goes off and very nearly takes it all the way to the end zone before being brought down at the Georgia 8.

Georgia 3-6 Alabama, 10:36, 2^nd quarter

After a false start penalty, Bennett throws incomplete to Pickens in a 1^st & 15 situation. Bennett throws complete to the wonderfully named Ladd McConkey for a three-yard gain. Bennett finds Cook, who gets 3 yards on 3^rd down. Georgia, however, needed 12. Punt time, again.

Georgia 3-6 Alabama, 11:12, 2^nd quarter

A penalty takes back yards on what would otherwise have been a huge return from Georgia, a 30-yard run from McIntosh. They will instead start at their own 20.

Georgia 3-6 Alabama, 11:46, 2^nd quarter

It’s hard to concentrate on the game after seeing something like that. Young finds Bolden for nine yards. Young throws incomplete on the next play. 3^rd & 1.

Nope, false start on Alabama and that’s a five-yard penalty. 3^rd & 6. Young finds Bolden, but not for enough yards to get that first down. So, it’s time for another field goal. Reichard’s 45-yard attempt is good and Alabama takes the lead.

Please please do not show that injury replay again, ESPN.

They do, but at least it’s not a close-up.

Georgia 3-3 Alabama, 12:28, 2^nd quarter

Camarda’s kickoff puts them at their own 25. Jameson Williams makes a huge first down catch on the 35 but immediately goes down on his own with a leg injury before being brought down. My science teacher roommate caught it on replay and her diagnosis is not great. Injury time-out, obviously.

Georgia 3-3 Alabama, 12:35, 2^nd quarter

On 1^st and goal, Cook gets pushed back a yard. On 2^nd & goal, Bennett throws incomplete. 3^rd & goal, Bennett runs for himself… and only picks up four yards. Nope, we will not be getting a touchdown here.

Jack Podlesny’s 24-yard field goal is good and we’re tied at 3-3. Just like we all imagined we would be at this point in the game.

Georgia 0-3 Alabama, 14:14, 2^nd quarter

On 2^nd & 14, Bennett finds Bowers for an additional five yards. Huge 3^rd & 9 situation here for both teams. Bennett finds Jermaine Burton for eight yards and we’re in a first-and-goal situation. May we actually have a touchdown in the first half here?

Georgia 0-3 Alabama, end of the first quarter

Well, that’s not super-great. Georgia gets a false start penalty to push them back to the 24-yard line. For the last play of the first quarter, White picks up a single yard. One quarter down, Alabama has a slim lead but the Bulldogs are seriously threatening.

Georgia 0-3 Alabama, 1:06, 1st quarter

FINALLY a big play. Bennett goes way downfield to find George Pickens all the way at the Alabama 29. That’s a 59-yard play. Bennett might be feeling it now, as he sees Brock Bowers for a third straight first down, a ten-yard completion that takes them to the Alabama 19.

Georgia 0-3 Alabama, 2:29, 1st quarter

Burnip’s punt is rather effective, pinning Georgia to its own eight-yard line. Zamir White gets four yards. That’s good. And then Georgia gets penalized for a facemask that pushes them back to their own four.

On 1^st & 14, White runs for six yards. 2^nd & 8, Bennett finds Darnell Washington for nine yards, and hey that’s good for Georgia’s first down of the entire game.

Georgia 0-3 Alabama, 3:33, 1st quarter

Trey Sanders runs for four yards. So we have another 3^rd down situation and… Young throws another one incomplete, meant for Jahleel Billingsley. I can’t believe we’re seeing the punt team yet again.

Georgia 0-3 Alabama, 4:02, 1st quarter

Alabama has its best field position of the game so far as they will start on their on their own 45. On first down, Young seems a bit confounded and throws it away.

Georgia 0-3 Alabama, 4:18, 1st quarter

Bennett hands it off on first down. James Cook gets a single yard. 2^nd & 9. Kenny McIntosh gets the ball next and he almost immediately gets tackled. 3^rd & 9. Georgia doesn’t want another three-and-out here, but that’s what they get here. Bennett runs for a bit, throws under duress and watches as the ball hits the ground. We’re getting yet another punt here.

And there’s a flag on the punt… fair catch interference on Georgia that gives Alabama an additional 15 yards.

Georgia 0-3 Alabama, 5:46, 1st quarter

Kearis Jackson makes a fair catch of James Burnip’s punt and Georgia’s second chance will start at their own 25 on the other side of another slate of commercials.

Georgia 0-3 Alabama, 6:28, 1st quarter

Young finds Bolden on second down for a six-yard gain but on 3^rd & 3, Bolden gets tackled for a loss and there’s a three-and-out for Alabama. Here comes the punting team.

Georgia 0-3 Alabama, 7:49, 1st quarter

Young finds Williamson but for nada. On 2^nd & 10, however, Williams gets himself open for a 14-yard catch and a first down.

Georgia 0-3 Alabama, 8:19, 1st quarter

Bennett runs on the next play and just flat out drops the ball. Somehow nobody on Alabama’s defense manages to pick it up. There’s another delay of game penalty, this is on Georgia. Bennett’s next pass is incomplete and that will do it for Georgia’s first possession of the game. Jake Camarda comes in to punt, which is caught by Bolden at the Alabama 20.

Georgia 0-3 Alabama, 9:09, 1st quarter

Reichard’s kickoff hits the end zone for a touchback. Georgia start at their own 25 and… Alabama’s Christian Harris immediately sacks Georgia’s Stetson Bennett for a huge 14-yard loss. However, a delay-of-game penalty on the defense gives them an additional five yards.

Still second down, however.

Frank A. James offers some much-appreciated encouragement via email here:

Play almost by play is good. Thank you. UGA ‘61

So far, an “almost play” was the most exciting one.

Georgia 0-3 Alabama, 9:55, 1st quarter

On 1^st & 10, Young’s throw is incomplete. Odd not to go to a running back there. Young throws again here, to Ja’Corey Brooks, which is good for five yards. However, the Alabama drive ends there at the Georgia 19 yard line. Decent job to hold Alabama to a field goal. Will Reichard’s 37-yard attempt is good and, hey, being up three is better than being down by at least six so that counts as a successful opening drive for them all things considered.

Georgia 0-0 Alabama, 11:06, 1st quarter

Young finds Bolden for another big gain, this one’s almost good for yet another first down. Trey Sanders runs to just pick it up.

Georgia 0-0 Alabama, 11:37, 1st quarter

Young throws incomplete to Cameron Latu on first down and targets him again in second down, a completion good for nine yards. They just need a single yard so Young hands it to Robinson Jr who gets two. Alabama’s at the Georgia 25.

Georgia 0-0 Alabama, 13:18, 1st quarter

Big break for Alabama. On 2^nd & 10, Young hands it off to Jameson Williams for 11 more yards and a first down.

Georgia 0-0 Alabama, 13:23, 1st quarter

Alabama QB Bryce Young connects with Slade Bolden for a 11 yard gain and a first down. On the next play, Young gets taken to the ground and it looks like Georgia recovers and takes it for a touchdown but the officials are going to double-check whether it was an incomplete pass or not.

They rule… and it’s just an incomplete pass so there’s no touchdown and it’s just second down.

Georgia 0-0 Alabama, 14:34, 1st quarter

Alabama starts at their own 25 after the opening kick. Brian Robinson Jr. gets the ball for the first two carries which takes them to their 33.

Coin toss

Georgia calls tails. It’s tails. Georgia gets to decide, they decide to defer and get the ball to start the second half.

As a Patriots fan, I must say that this is the right choice.

National anthem

Gospel singer Natalie Grant gives a country-tinged version of the Star-Spangled Banner that is way, way, way too showboat-y for my personal tastes. 4/10.

Space Force flag sighting at the presentation of the flags!

OK, we’re getting close to when opening kick is scheduled (the game is being broadcast on ESPN, for those wondering). In fact, we’re at the opening montage time here. We get a… marching band version of Men Without Hats’ “Safety Dance” here from what I can tell.

That song does *not* mention the Crimson Tide to my knowledge.

When we mention the changed playoff system, the NCAA adopted the four-game system just back in 2014. Already, however, there’s some talk about expanding the field to include 12 teams, but the sides are far apart in coming to an agreement. Given the way of all sports, it’s probably all but inevitable.

Predictions

Okay, the preamble probably tipped my hand just a tad bit. I believe that Alabama win this one but (because we have to make this interesting) Georgia will manage to at least temporarily take a lead relatively late in the game. My random stab at a final score: Alabama 30-27 Georgia.

That’s just this take from someone who has admittingly been paying far more attention to the NFL than the college game over the last few months. I more than welcome your predictions, which you can email to hunter.felt.freelance@theguardian.com or tweet to @HunterFelt.

These two teams are, um, not exactly fan favorites but then again, the schools that tend to make it to the championship game rarely are.

The inevitable Steely Dan connection

Have you ever wondered how exactly Steely Dan’s “Deacon Blues” came to mention the Alabama football team? Well, Mel Magazine’s Tim Grierson is here to tell you exactly how Donald Fagen and Walter Becker snuck in the “they call Alabama the Crimson Tide” line in one of their more despairing songs and how it then became an unlikely marching band staple in Alabama.

Preamble

Hello, welcome to the 2022 College Football Playoff national championship game between third-ranked Georgia and top-ranked Alabama. Longtime NCAA football fans will not be surprised that these are the final two teams standing. The two teams have a long-standing rivalry, although a mostly one-sided one. The last time Georgia beat Alabama was back in 2007 which was much longer ago than your brain probably thinks it was.

So, Nick Saban’s Crimson Tide should be considered favorites here. Heck, as The Ringer’s Rodger Sherman points out, the Bulldogs’ Alabama envy even caused them to go out of their way to pluck from the Saban coaching tree, with Georgia head coach Kirby Smart being Saban’s former defensive coordinator. It’s tricky to shake the feeling that Georgia is stuck perennially playing catchup to modern college football’s juggernaut.

Alabama already beat Georgia in the SEC championship game, a 41-24 shellacking of the highest order. The naysayers can point this out as a point towards Alabama, but the Bulldogs rallied back from that with a 34-11 win in the Orange Bowl and should be extra motivated. Meanwhile, the Crimson Tide indeed did roll over Cincinnati, 27-6.

Georgia isn’t just playing for its first championship in over 40 years, they last won it all back in 1980, they are playing to get an extremely massive monkey off its back. Alabama, meanwhile, is here to prove that they’re still the most dominant team in the nation and win the first back-to-back championships in the current playoff era.

If you’d like to participate in this live blog, feel free to send us your commentary. You can do so either via email (to hunter.felt.freelance@theguardian.com) or on Twitter (to @HunterFelt). Our game is scheduled to start at 8:00 pm EST, but we’ll be back with additional commentary before then heading up to opening kickoff. It’s the 2022 College Football Championship between Georgia and Alabama at Lucas Oil Stadium!