Midway through the third quarter with the Florida Gators staring at the end zone, Austin Appleby locked eyes on DeAndre Goolsby in the corner of the end zone.

The No. 15 Gators, trailing by 17 points in the third quarter of the Southeastern Conference Championship against top-ranked Alabama, had just marched 64 yards into the Crimson Tide’s red zone before having to face a fourth and goal from the 2.

Appleby rolled to his right and fired a pass to his tight end.

Alabama closed the game with three straight touchdown drives — including back-to-back possessions of at least 90 yards — to break down Florida’s defense and roll to a 54-16 win in front of an announced crowd of 74,632 inside Atlanta’s Georgia Dome. Alabama’s 54 points are the third-most in the 25-year history of the SEC Championship game and its 38-point margin of victory is the second-highest in the conference title game.

After holding Alabama to 162 yards of offense, the Gators gave up 210 yards on those three touchdown drives.

The win was just another testament to Alabama head coach Nick Saban’s success. The Crimson Tide has won 25 straight games, four of the last five SEC Championships and now has the chance to win its fifth national title since 2009.

Meanwhile, the Gators have now lost six straight games against Alabama and dropped to 2-7 against ranked opponents in two years under Jim McElwain.

Even former UF coach Steve Spurrier and Heisman trophy winner Tim Tebow — the last UF quarterback to defeat Alabama — had their reservations heading into the game.

Hours before kickoff, Spurrier said Alabama would have to play poorly while UF would need to play “one of our best games ever” for a chance to win.

The day before the game, Tebow said “a lot has to go right” for the Gators to have a chance to pull off the upset.

Despite the criticism, the doubt, the Gators (8-4) turned heads to open the game and showed an occasional glimmer of hope to its fans.

Appleby opened the game by marching Florida down the field on a 10-play, 64-yard drive capped by a 5-yard touchdown pass to Antonio Callaway — the first touchdown Alabama (13-0) has given up since Oct. 22.

The Gators closed the first half with a 25-yard touchdown from Appleby to Goolsby to cap a 10-play, 92-yard drive.

Sandwiched between those drives, however, was pure bedlam.

Appleby threw two interceptions in a three-pass span, the latter of which Alabama linebacker Minkah Fitzpatrick returned 44-yards for a touchdown. Appleby ended the game with three interceptions and completed 26 of his 39 passes for 261 yards.

One drive after the pick-six, Derrick Gore blocked a Johnny Townsend punt and Josh Jacobs returned it 27 yards for a touchdown.

And then, as Alabama kicker Adam Griffith went to attempt the point-after, UF redshirt freshman Jabari Zuniga blocked the kick and David Reese took it 98 yards to the opposite end zone for two points.

It was 16-9 Alabama after one quarter, just 10 of the 25 points being produced by either offense and Alabama having negative 7 yards on offense.

But after the theatrics of the opening 15 minutes came to a close, Alabama began to pull away.

The Crimson Tide took a 33-16 halftime lead and held UF scoreless the rest of the way.

The Gators, who entered the game ranked 114th in total offense, managed just 70 yards in the second half. </s> Alabama won its third straight SEC Championship Saturday night in the Georgia Dome.

The Crimson Tide beat Florida in the title game for a second straight year in a less than perfect performance miles better than what the rest of the conference has to offer.

After running only six plays for -7 yards in the first quarter, Alabama (13-0; 9-0 SEC) managed to set a SEC Championship game record with 33 points in the half.

Alabama returned an interception and punt block for touchdowns to add to the program’s FBS-leading 12 non-offensive touchdowns this season.

Alabama’s 54-16 win breaks a 4-4 series tie in the SEC Championship game between the programs.

Foster anchored Alabama’s impressive defensive performance with 11 tackles and two sacks.

Florida threatened to score one time in the second half, but couldn’t punch the ball into the end zone with a fresh set of downs from the 2-yard line.

Alabama’s defense had the game well in hand by the time starting running back Bo Scarbrough got involved.

Scarbrough didn’t carry the ball in the first quarter, but scored a pair of touchdowns in the second half on the way to a game-high 91 yards.

Florida (8-4, 6-3 SEC) stunned the sold out Georgia Dome crowd early in the game with a 10-play, 64-yard scoring drive to take a 7-0 lead on the game’s opening possession.

Quarterback Austin Appleby, playing for an injured Luke Del Rio, went 6 of 7 for 67 yards. Appleby hit Antonio Callaway for a 5-yard touchdown with 9:51 to go in the first quarter.

Last year, Callaway returned a punt 85-yards in the SEC Championship game to give Florida an early 7-2 lead.

Callaway caught three passes on the opening drive Saturday, two of them on third-and-long situations to keep the drive alive.

The opening salvo from Appleby and the rest of Florida’s offense turned out to be an aberration.

Alabama scored 16 points off the Purdue graduate transfer’s three first-half interceptions.

Safety Minkah Fitzpatrick returned the second interception 44-yards for a touchdown. It was the Crimson Tide’s FBS-leading 10th defensive touchdown this season.

Florida’s went three-and-out on the four drives that didn’t end with a turnover or score in the half.

Alabama also blocked a punt with the Gators backed up by their own end zone. Backup running back Josh Jacobs returned the block 27-yards for a touchdown.

Freshman quarterback Jalen Hurts struggled throughout the half, but managed to orchestrate a pair of scoring drives before halftime. He hit Calvin Ridley for a 52-yard gain to help set up his lone touchdown, a 6-yard touchdown pass to tight end Gehrig Dieter. </s> No. 1 Alabama did what it has done all season: dominate. The Tide crushed No. 15 Florida 54-16 in the Georgia Dome on Saturday afternoon to collect the SEC title for the third year in a row and lock in their spot as the top seed for the 2016 College Football Playoff.

The game got off to a strange start as Florida marched down the field on the opening drive for a touchdown to take an early 7-0 lead. Alabama's offense failed to gain positive yards in the first quarter, finishing the quarter with -7 yards. However, a pair of interceptions (including a pick-six by Minkah Fitzpatrick) and a blocked punt for a touchdown gave the Tide a 16-9 lead going to the second quarter -- Florida picked up two points by blocking an extra point and returning it for a score.

Alabama took a 33-16 lead into halftime, and in the third quarter, it looked like the Gators would pull to within one score again with a great drive that put them in a third-and-goal situation on the 1-yard line. Alabama's defense stuffed Florida on the next two plays to force a turnover on downs and then promptly marched the ball 98 yards down the field to take a 40-16 lead and crush any hopes the Gators still had of an upset.

Two more late touchdowns, including one by fourth string walk-on running back Derrick Gore, gave Alabama 54 points, the second most in SEC Championship Game history (2010 Auburn). The win makes Alabama the only undefeated Power Five team in the nation, and also cements the Tide as the only SEC team with fewer than four losses on the season.

The 54-16 win is Alabama's fifth win by 38 or more points on the season (USC, Tennessee, Kent State, Mississippi State and Florida). It was also the second time this season that Alabama scored in all three phases of the game (Tennessee).

It was a perfect summation of the Alabama season. When the offense looked bad in the first quarter, the defense and special teams picked them up to lead to 16 points. Eventually, Alabama's offense found its stride and wore down the Florida defense with the rushing attack, finishing with 234 yards on the ground.

Alabama's defense did exactly what it's done all season, which is create turnovers and points while dominating the opponent's efforts in the running game. Florida finished the game with more turnovers (three) than rushing yards (0). The Gators had success through the air with 267 yards and a pair of touchdown passes from Austin Appleby, but Alabama's pass defense also hauled in three interceptions.

This was a game where early on Alabama looked vulnerable, and yet the Tide never trailed at the end of any quarter and won 54-16.

The @aflacduck stumped a few people with this #AflacTrivia about No. 1 teams. pic.twitter.com/wDUkL5mKJX — CBS Sports (@CBSSports) December 3, 2016

If you cannot view the live blog below, please click here.

Thanks for stopping by. </s> ATLANTA – Alabama showed off all its weapons in the Southeastern Conference championship game.

Now, the Crimson Tide can expect a return trip to Atlanta for the College Football Playoff.

The nation's No. 1 team scored off a blocked punt and an interception return Saturday before wearing down No. 15 Florida in the second half with a dominant running game. The result was a 54-16 rout that positioned Alabama to go for its second straight national title and its fifth crown in the last nine years under coach Nick Saban.

Next up: a likely semifinal game at the Georgia Dome on Dec. 31.

"You don't always get what you want in life, but you mostly get what you deserve," said Alabama's Nick Saban, who already has five national titles and is one away from tying Bear Bryant for the most by any coach. "These guys have done fantastic job all year long to win 13 games and the SEC."

The Crimson Tide (13-0, No. 1 CFP) bolted to a 16-9 lead in the first quarter, despite being held to minus-7 yards and no first downs. They scored one touchdown off a blocked punt, another off an interception return. A field goal was set up by another pick – one of three thrown by Florida quarterback Austin Appleby in the first half.

The Tide led 33-16 at halftime and iced the victory with scoring drives of 98 and 91 yards, sparked by a goal-line stand that finished off the last gasp by the Gators (8-4, No. 15 CFP).

Alabama finished with the second-most points ever scored on the Gators, topped only by Florida's 62-24 loss to Nebraska for the national title in the 1996 Fiesta Bowl.

A 24-point underdog, Florida had a few shining moments against the nation's only unbeaten Power Five team. The Gators marched the length of the field on the opening possession, the first touchdown given up by the Tide in more than 17 quarters. They had another long TD drive near the end of the first half to give themselves a glimmer of hope.

After Alabama went three-and-out to start the second half, Florida drove to the Crimson Tide 1. Jordan Scarlett attempted to leap over the line on third-and-goal, but he never even got off the ground; Rashaan Evans blew by his blocker and slammed the running back for a 1-yard loss. Appleby threw incomplete in the back of the end zone on fourth down, giving the Tide all the momentum.

Damien Harris broke off a 23-yard run, Jalen Hurts completed a 31-yard pass to ArDarius Stewart on third-and-19, and bruising Bo Scarbrough finished things off with a 34-yard run and a 2-yard touchdown.

The Tide went nearly as far on its next possession, driving from its own 9 for another touchdown that sent most of the Florida fans heading for the exit early in the fourth quarter. Scarbrough carried it six times, including a 1-yard plunge into the end zone.

Florida coach Jim McElwain said Saban's latest powerhouse is "the best team, from top to bottom, that he's had since he's been there."

Alabama: The offense struggled in the first half against Florida's highly ranked defense, and the defense surrendered a couple of long scoring drives. It may be a bit of nitpicking, but for one half at least the Tide didn't look quite as a dominant as it did leading up to the SEC championship game. Of course, Alabama dominated the second half, rushing for 174 yards.

Florida: The Gators must address their offensive woes after another shaky performance, which included those three backbreaking interceptions in the first half. There's no reason for a team with Florida's resources, recruiting base and history to wind up with a unit that ranked No. 114 nationally in total yards before playing the Crimson Tide.

During a wild sequence in the first quarter, each team scored off blocked kicks on back-to-back plays.

Derrick Gore got a hand on a Florida punt, and Josh Jacobs scooped up the loose ball for a 27-yard touchdown return that gave Alabama a 16-7 lead. But Adam Griffith's extra-point attempt was swatted down by Jabari Zuniga, David Reese picked it up and took off the length of the field to give the Gators a 2-point conversion.

Alabama will remain No. 1 in The Associated Press poll, as well as the College Football Playoff rankings. Florida can expect to drop four or five spots.

Alabama: Heads to the College Football Playoff for the third year in a row. The Tide will probably meet the No. 4-ranked team in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl on New Year's Eve.

Florida: The Gators could still wind up with a major bowl bid as the SEC's representative at the Sugar Bowl. But two straight ugly losses will likely keep the Gators closer to home at either the Citrus (Orlando) or Outback (Tampa).

Follow Paul Newberry on Twitter at www.twitter.com/pnewberry1963 . His work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/paul-newberry . </s> ATLANTA (AP) — The Latest on the College Football Playoff national football championship game on Monday night (all times local):

Alabama freshman quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has been named offensive player of the College Football Playoff championship game after leading the Crimson Tide to a come-from-behind 26-23 overtime win over Georgia.

Tagovailoa replaced an ineffective Jalen Hurts to start the second half and led the Tide back from deficits of 13-0 at half and 20-7 in the middle of the third quarter. He completed 14 of 24 passes for 166 yards and three touchdowns, including the winning 41-yarder in overtime. The former prep star from Hawaii also ran 12 times for 27 yards.

Alabama defensive lineman Da’Ron Payne was defensive player of the game. Payne had six tackles and was part of an Alabama defensive front that shut down Georgia’s running game in the second half. Payne also intercepted a tipped pass, helping to set up a field goal.

Alabama’s 26-23 thriller over Georgia was the first national championship game to go to overtime since 2003.

That’s the year Ohio State outlasted Miami 31-24 in double overtime at the Fiesta Bowl in a game that settled the BCS Championship.

There have been some close games since, including the 41-38 Rose Bowl classic in 2006 when Texas beat Southern California. Two years ago, Alabama beat Clemson 45-40 and then the Tigers returned the favor last season with a 35-31 win decided on a last-second touchdown pass.

This year’s OT game was settled on a 41-yard TD pass from Tua Tagovailoa to DeVonta Smith.

Alabama has beaten Georgia 26-23 in overtime to win its fifth national championship since 2009 under Nick Saban.

Freshman quarterback Tua Tagovailoa threw a 41-yard touchdown pass to DeVonta Smith after getting sacked on Alabama’s opening play of the extra session. Georgia had the ball first in overtime, and Rodrigo Blankenship kicked a 51-yard field goal.

Alabama’s Andy Pappanastos missed what would have been the winning 36-yard field goal as time ran out in regulation.

Tagovailoa took over for an ineffective Jalen Hurts to start the second half and led the Crimson Tide to two touchdowns and two field goals as they erased deficits of 13-0 at half and 20-7 in the middle of the third quarter.

It’s the 11th national title for the Crimson Tide. Georgia was seeking its second title after winning it all in 1980.

Alabama and Georgia are going to overtime in the national championship game, tied at 20-20.

The Crimson Tide has stormed back from a 13-0 halftime deficit and was in position to win it with 3 seconds to go. But Andy Pappanastos missed a field goal try from 36 yards.

Freshman Tua Tagovailoa has led the Alabama comeback after replacing Jalen Hurts to start the second half. He tied it 20-all on a 7-yard pass to Calvin Ridley, and then Alabama’s defense forced a three-and-out to set up Pappanastos’ try.

Pappanastos missed far to the left. He missed earlier from 40 yards on his first field-goal try of the game. He has connected from 43 and 30 yards.

The national championship game is tied at 20-all late in the fourth quarter.

Freshman Tua Tagovailoa threw a 7-yard touchdown to Calvin Ridley on a fourth-and-4 play with 3:49 left. The play came after Georgia’s Roquan Smith and Trenton Thompson stuffed Damien Harris for a 1-yard loss on third down.

Tagovailoa replaced Jalen Hurts to start the second half and has led Alabama to two touchdowns and two field goals to bring the Crimson Tide back from a 13-0 halftime deficit.

Alabama has closed to 20-13 in the fourth quarter of the national championship game against Georgia.

Andy Pappanastos kicked his second field goal of the game, a 30-yarder with 9:24 left. The score came one play after Georgia’s Dominick Sanders nearly picked off Tua Tagovailoa’s overthrown pass in the end zone.

Georgia is trying to win its first national title since 1980.

Georgia went into the fourth quarter of the national championship game with a 20-10 lead over Alabama.

Georgia freshman Jake Fromm has thrown for 225 yards and a touchdown, with two interceptions, and Sony Michel has run for 84 yards on 12 carries. Georgia’s Mecole Hardman has scored twice, the first time on a 1-yard run when he took a direct snap and the second on an 80-yard pass.

Alabama freshman Tua Tagovailoa, who replaced quarterback Jalen Hurts to start the second half, is 7 for 13 for 54 yards and a touchdown.

Alabama has pulled within 20-10 of Georgia with 5:15 left in the third quarter of the national championship game.

Andy Pappanastos, who missed a 40-yard field-goal attempt in the first quarter, connected from 43 yards six plays after the Crimson Tide got their second interception in two games by a defensive lineman.

Raekwon Davis picked off a Jake Fromm pass that bounced off the helmet of fellow defensive lineman Da’Shawn Hand.

Alabama got an interception from Da’Ron Payne in the playoff semifinal win over Clemson.

After having three touchdowns all season, Georgia’s Mecole Hardman has two touchdowns in the national championship game against Alabama, including an 80-yarder that included some fancy footwork along the sideline.

After Alabama staged an impressive drive for its first touchdown, cutting the Bulldogs’ lead to 13-7 in the third quarter, Georgia answered quickly with Jake Fromm’s bomb to Hardman.

A review confirmed Hardman stayed in bounds after making contact with Alabama defensive back Tony Brown. Hardman’s first score came on a 1-yard touchdown run late in the first half on a direct snap.

Jake Fromm has thrown an 80-yard touchdown pass to Mecole Hardman to give Georgia a 20-7 lead over Alabama with 6:52 left in the third quarter of the national championship game.

The touchdown stood after a video review to see if Hardman stepped out of bounds at about the Alabama 20-yard line.

The Bulldogs got the ball back when Deandre Baker intercepted freshman Tua Tagovailoa, who had led Alabama to its first touchdown after starting the second half in place of Jalen Hurts. But the Crimson Tide got an interception of its own when a Fromm pass was tipped at the line.

Alabama has pulled within 13-7 at Georgia in the third quarter of the national championship game.

Freshman Tua Tagovailoa replaced Jalen Hurts to start the second half and hit Henry Ruggs III with a 6-yard touchdown pass to finish a seven-play, 56-yard drive.

Tagovailoa completed 4 of 5 passes, but he used his legs to make the biggest play. Under pressure after he dropped back to pass, he split two Georgia defenders and made a third miss as he scrambled for 9 yards on a third-and-7.

The Tide went three-and-out on their first series with Tagovailoa under center.

Alabama is playing the second half without offensive tackle Jonah Williams. The third-team All-American was replaced by Alex Leatherwood.

President Donald Trump attended the first half of the game and was on the field during the national anthem. He had left by the time things got rolling in the third quarter.

Trailing 13-0, Alabama has started freshman Tua Tagovailoa at quarterback in the second half of the national championship game against Georgia.

Tagovailoa replaced a struggling Jalen Hurts coming out of the locker room. Hurts was just 3-of-8 passing for 21 yards in the first half while running for 47 yards.

Tagovailoa, a five-star recruit from Hawaii, played in eight games this season. He completed 35 of 53 passes for 470 yards with eight touchdowns against one interception, mostly in mop-up duty. Hurts was the Southeastern Conference offensive player of the year as a freshman last season.

Alabama hadn’t been held scoreless in the first half since last season. It was also the first time since the 2012 national title game that a team failed to score in the first half. Alabama shut out Notre Dame going into the half en route to a 42-14 win.

Alabama trails Georgia 13-0 at halftime of the national title game.

The Crimson Tide had not been held scoreless in the first half since a 10-0 victory over LSU last season. All 10 of the Tide’s points came in the fourth quarter.

Alabama had outscored opponents 270-56 before the half this season coming into the game against its SEC rival.

Georgia’s Jake Fromm is 11 of 23 for 126 yards, and Sony Michel has run eight times for 61 yards.

Georgia holds a 13-0 lead over Alabama at halftime of the national championship game in Atlanta.

Jake Fromm led the Bulldogs on a 69-yard touchdown drive in the last 2 minutes. Wide receiver Mecole Hardman took a direct snap and ran 1 yard into the end zone with 7 seconds left.

Rodrigo Blankenship kicked field goals of 41 and 27 yards, and the Bulldogs’ defense held the Crimson Tide in check.

Alabama totaled just 95 yards on five possessions, and Jalen Hurts took a knee to end the half. The Tide punted four straight times after Andy Pappanastos missed a 40-yard field goal on the Tide’s first possession.

Georgia got the ball back with 1:19 left in the half. Fromm threw passes of 10 and 16 yards and ran for 14 on Georgia’s way to the touchdown.

Fromm is 11 of 23 for 126 yards, and Sony Michel has run eight times for 61 yards.

Hurts is 3 for 8 for 21 yards and he’s run six times for 47.

Georgia wide receiver Riley Ridley is flourishing in his opportunity to emerge from the shadow cast by his older brother, Alabama star Calvin Ridley.

Ridley has four catches for 62 yards in the first half of Monday night’s national championship game. He already has moved to within range of his career-high totals of five catches for 67 yards against Vanderbilt in 2016.

While Calvin Ridley, a junior, is second in Alabama history with 220 career receptions, including a team-high 59 this season, Riley Ridley has had a quiet season for Georgia with only eight catches before the championship game.

Georgia led Alabama 6-0 late in the second quarter.

Rodrigo Blankenship has kicked his second field goal, this one from 27 yards, to give Georgia a 6-0 lead over Alabama with about 6 minutes left until halftime of the national championship game.

Georgia’s defense limited Alabama to 57 yards and forced two straight three-and-outs before quarterback Jalen Hurts broke loose for 31 yards. Hurts has completed only 2 of his first 6 passes for 17 yards and the Crimson Tide has punted three times.

Bulldogs freshman Jake Fromm is 8 of 16 for 84 yards.

Georgia receiver Riley Ridley has outplayed his older brother, Alabama All-SEC receiver Calvin Ridley, in the early going. Ridley has two catches for 36 yards, including a 23-yarder to convert a third-and-8 and keep the Bulldogs’ second scoring drive alive. Calvin Ridley has one catch for 9 yards.

Georgia has taken a 3-0 lead in the College Football Playoff championship game, with Rodrigo Blankenship kicking a 41-yard field goal on the second play of the second quarter.

The Bulldogs got into position after moving from their 21 to the Alabama 24 in 14 plays.

The big play on the drive was Sony Michel’s 26-yard run to the Alabama 26 on a third-and-20 after Anthony Averett crashed through from the left side to sack Jake Fromm.

Michel’s run was reviewed to see if he stepped out of bounds before the 26, but the Big Ten officiating crew’s spot was upheld.

Alabama had a chance to take the lead in the first quarter, but Andy Pappanastos missed a 40-yard field goal.

Georgia turned over the ball on its opening possession of the national championship game but came away unscathed after Alabama missed a field goal.

Tony Brown wrestled a long pass away from Georgia’s Javon Wims to set up the Crimson Tide at their 36.

But Alabama failed to come away with points. Andy Pappanastos’ 35-yard field goal was nullified by a false start, and he pulled his second attempt from 40 yards wide left.

The Crimson Tide forced Georgia to punt on its second possession with 9:04 left in the first quarter.

The College Football Playoff national championship game between Alabama (12-1) and Georgia (13-1) is under way at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

Frank Beamer, Mack Brown and Matt Stinchcomb — named to the 2018 College Football Hall of Fame on Monday — were on the field for the coin toss along with honorary captains O.J. Howard of Alabama and Herschel Walker of Georgia.

Alabama called tails and won the toss and deferred until the second half. They picked off Georgia on the third play from scrimmage.

This is the 68th all-time meeting between the Southeastern Conference rivals and first since 2015, when Alabama won 38-10 in the regular season.

Alabama is in the title game for the third year in a row and seeking its fifth national title under Saban since 2009. Georgia, led by second-year coach and former Saban assistant Kirby Smart, is looking for its first championship since 1980.

The Crimson Tide reached the title game with a 24-6 Sugar Bowl win over Clemson. The Bulldogs advanced with a 54-48 double-overtime win over Oklahoma in the Rose Bowl.

President Donald Trump is in attendance and was on the field during the national anthem.

President Donald Trump was on the field for the national anthem before the College Football Playoff national title game.

Trump walked onto the field accompanied by the ROTC units from Georgia and Alabama. He was greeted by mostly cheers from the crowd on hand to watch the game between Alabama and Georgia.

Trump waved to the crowd before the Zac Brown Band sang the anthem. Hand placed over his heart, Trump appeared to sing along at times.

No players were on the field yet. That’s unlike the NFL, where some players this season protested racial injustice by kneeling during the anthem — often drawing Trump’s ire.

Mercedes-Benz Stadium has a bit of water dripping on to the sideline, seemingly coming from high above the field.

Around the 20-yard line on Alabama’s side of the field, but off the playing field, a few drops could be spotted falling on to the green artificial turf.

A stadium security worker wearing a blue shirt was standing where the water was landing and had wets spots on his shirt.

There have been issues with the stadium’s signature retractable roof since construction began on the facility. The roof has only been opened once for football since the stadium opened in August.

The crowd is trickling into Mercedes-Benz Stadium with the kickoff for Monday night’s College Football Playoff national championship game about an hour away.

Alabama native and former NFL star Terrell Owens is among the crowd that navigated the consistent chilly drizzle outside the stadium and security lines to get into the building.

Owens, from Alexander City, Alabama, wore a wool knit Crimson Tide cap and talked with the SEC Network before the contest, telling host Paul Finebaum that his dream growing up wasn’t the NFL, it was to play for Alabama.

If he had, the Crimson Tide might have had another national crown or two in their trophy case.

Owens instead played at Chattanooga and was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in 1996. He had 1,078 catches in 15 seasons with five NFL teams.

Alabama radio play-by-play announcer Eli Gold says he has been told that President Trump will be on the Alabama Radio Network during the College Football Playoff national championship game between the Crimson Tide and Georgia.

Gold says network officials reached out to the White House through the Alabama governor’s office last week to request an interview with the president and heard back in the last day or so that Trump agreed to come.

Gold says nothing is definitive but if Trump comes on it would like be after the first quarter.

Georgia won’t be at full strength at tight end in its national championship game against Alabama.

Sophomore Charlie Woerner, who set a career high with three catches in the Bulldogs’ Rose Bowl playoff win over Oklahoma last week, was on crutches when the team entered Mercedes-Benz Stadium for Monday night’s game.

Coach Kirby Smart said Sunday Woerner’s status was doubtful after the sophomore suffered a leg injury in last week’s win, so the crutches were not a big surprise.

Woerner, listed with Isaac Nauta behind starting tight end Jeb Blazevich, had nine catches for 100 yards this season.

Woerner is the nephew of former Georgia defensive back and return specialist Scott Woerner, a member of the College Football Hall of Fame. Scott Woerner was a standout on Georgia’s 1980 national championship team.

No. 4 Alabama faces No. 3 Georgia in an all-Southeastern Conference College Football Playoff national championship game Monday night.

Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban tries to tie former Alabama coach Bear Bryant’s record six major poll national championships. Saban has led the Tide to four national championships since 2009, and the last three national championship games.

Georgia, coached by former Saban assistant Kirby Smart, is looking for its first national championship since 1980.

The Bulldogs feature the most prolific running back combination in college football in senior Sony Michel and Nick Chubb. They combined for six touchdowns in the Bulldogs semifinal victory against Oklahoma in the Rose Bowl.

Alabama has to No. 1 rushing defense in the country and smothered Clemson in the Sugar Bowl semifinal to get here.

This story has been corrected to show winning TD throw was 41 yards. </s> The Alabama Crimson Tide defeated the Georgia Bulldogs in overtime, 26-23, on Monday night in the college football national championship game.

Freshman quarterback Tua Tagovailoa led the charge for Alabama after starter Jalen Hurts struggled throughout the first half. Alabama fell behind 20-7 in the second half before scoring 16 unanswered points to tie the game.

With 3 seconds left in regulation, Andy Pappanastos missed a 36-yard field goal that would have won it.

Rodrigo Blankenship took the lead back for Georgia in the first overtime by drilling a 51-yard field goal.

But Alabama answered with a touchdown on the second play of its possession to take the crown.

Georgia, meanwhile, fell short of a storybook ending. The Bulldogs reached the championship game after losing five games last season.

The game pitted two Southeastern Conference brethren with very different national title track records as of late.

While Saban's Crimson Tide were playing in their third straight CFP title game, Kirby Smart's Georgia Bulldogs were seeking the school's first national title since the Herschel Walker-led 1980 squad.

No. 3 Georgia was the higher ranked of the two teams, the deck was stacked against them, if only because of Saban's record against his previous assistants.

Saban went into the game 11-0 against his former disciples -- a group that includes Smart, who coached under Saban both at LSU and for nine seasons at Alabama before leaving for Georgia at the end of the 2015 season.

The fourth-ranked Crimson Tide had to quiet doubters of their own after a 26-14 loss to Auburn in the Iron Bowl left them with a 11-1 regular-season record and shut out of the SEC Championship Game. Instead, the semifinals saw them dominate defending national champ Clemson with a 24-6 Sugar Bowl victory that served as a rematch of last year's title game.

Meanwhile, the Bulldogs edged out the No. 2 Oklahoma Sooners in their own semifinal game, rallying to win 54-48 in double-overtime at the Rose Bowl to improve to 13-1 on the season.

Monday night's game marked the first time in the four years of the College Football Playoff that the national championship game matched two teams from the same conference. Alabama also was involved that last time that happened, when the Crimson Tide beat LSU 21-0 in the 2012 BCS title game. </s> ATLANTA (AP) — Talk about a mismatch. Alabama’s defense is the best in the nation. Florida’s offense looks like one of the worst.

They’ll face off Saturday in the Southeastern Conference championships game, with the top-ranked Crimson Tide (12-0, 8-0 SEC) heavily favored to lock up its third straight trip to the College Football Playoff with a victory over the No. 15 Gators (8-3, 6-2).

Alabama has not given up a defensive touchdown in 17 quarters, a span that covers its entire November schedule. The Tide leads the nation in three major categories, giving up the fewest points, rushing yards and total yards.

“When we go out there Saturday, we just try to dominate,” defensive lineman Jonathan Allen said. “Just do your job and just dominate the opposing offense. That’s the legacy.”

Florida will get a jarring reminder of its high-scoring legacy when former coach Steve Spurrier helps with the coin toss before the game.

These Gators are certainly a long way from the Fun ‘n’ Gun days.

Over its last 10 quarters, Florida has scored just one offensive touchdown — a 98-yard pass from Austin Appleby to Tyrie Cleveland that sparked an SEC East-clinching win over LSU. The Gators rank No. 114 nationally in total yards, ahead of only six other Power Five schools, and they haven’t shown much ability to move the ball either running or passing.

Now, this offensively challenged team must contend with the stingiest defense in the land.

Coach Jim McElwain joked that it might be best to skip the filmwork this week, just so his players wouldn’t realize what they’re up against.

Then he turned serious.

“The thing you point out is really how close you are from a consistency standpoint,” McElwain said, doing his best to put a positive spin on such a dire predicament. “We had our opportunities last couple games, yet the mindset of finishing is something we have to do.”

Good luck with that against the Tide, which has given up 10 points or less in eight games.

“Obviously with these guys that we’re playing, the thing that really stands out is how short the explosive play reel is when you look at it,” McElwain said. “They don’t give a lot of big plays up. You’ve got to go earn it.”

Under coach Nick Saban, Alabama has certainly earned the right to be called one of college football’s greatest dynasties. Since the beginning of the 2008 season, the Tide is 110-12 with four national championships.

Saban has won five national titles during his career, leaving him one shy of the record held by Bear Bryant.

Of course, Saban is merely focused on the next one.

“Can’t really fall in love with what we’ve done in the past,” he said.

Some things to watch for Saturday at the Georgia Dome:

HURTS BLOSSOMS: While defense is always the name of the game at Alabama, the development of freshman quarterback Jalen Hurts has been a major part of the Tide’s success. He took over the starting job in Week 2 and gave the offense a dual threat, throwing for 2,454 yards and 21 touchdowns and running for 840 yards and 12 TDs. Saban is most impressed with his maturity. “He really has a resiliency just to come back and focus on the next play,” the coach said.

LOCKDOWN CORNERS: Hurts will have to contend with two of the country’s best cornerbacks. Teez Tabor has four interceptions, Quincy Wilson has three, and both have returned a pick for a touchdown. If the Gators are to have any chance against Alabama, it’s likely that either Tabor and Wilson will have to come up with a game-changing play.

KIFFIN’S FUTURE: There’s plenty of speculation about how much longer Lane Kiffin will be Alabama’s offensive coordinator. He’s been mentioned for head coach openings at Oregon and Houston, and LSU new coach, Ed Orgeron, reportedly wants Kiffin as his offensive coordinator. “I know nothing about it,” Saban said. “He’s never mentioned it to me. I’m sure he would if there was something out there.”

DAVIS RETURNS: Florida linebacker Jarrad Davis, the team’s defensive leader and second-leading tackler, returned to practice this week after missing three games with ankle injuries. He’s a senior and Georgia native who desperately wants to play in the title game. “If you can give the team one play, whatever that play might be, that’s what it’s all about,” McElwain said.

STORIED RIVALS: It’s only appropriate that Alabama and Florida meet in the SEC’s 25th annual championship game. They played in the first three contests, and this will be their ninth meeting overall with the title on the line. In a nod to the inaugural game in 1992, the coin toss will be conducted by Spurrier, former Alabama coach Gene Stallings and Roy Kramer, who was SEC commissioner at the time. “It’s two storied programs, two programs that year in and year out expect to be in Atlanta,” McElwain said.

Follow Paul Newberry on Twitter at www.twitter.com/pnewberry1963 . His work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/paul-newberry . </s> Walk-off: Alabama beats Georgia in OT for national title Alabama's Tua Tagovailoa holds up the championship trophy after overtime of the NCAA college football playoff championship game against Georgia Monday, Jan. 8, 2018, in Atlanta. Alabama won 26-23. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

ATLANTA (AP) -- To add another championship to the greatest dynasty college football has ever seen, Alabama turned to its quarterback of the future, and Tua Tagovailoa proved that his time is now.

The freshman quarterback, who had played mostly mop-up duty this season, came off the bench to spark a comeback and threw a 41-yard touchdown to DeVonta Smith that gave No. 4 Alabama a 26-23 overtime victory against No. 3 Georgia on Monday night for the College Football Playoff national championship.

Tagovailoa entered the game at halftime, replacing a struggling Jalen Hurts, and threw three touchdown passes to give the Crimson Tide its fifth national championship since 2009 under coach Nick Saban.

''He just stepped in and did his thing,'' Hurts said. ''He's built for stuff like this. I'm so happy for him.'' The Tide might have a quarterback controversy ahead, but first Alabama will celebrate another title.

For the third straight season, Alabama played a classic CFP final. The Tide split two with Clemson, losing last season on a touchdown with a second left.

What was Saban thinking as the winning pass soared this time?

''I could not believe it,'' he said. ''There's lots of highs and lows. Last year we lost on the last play of the game and this year we won on the last play of the game. These kids really responded the right way. We said last year, 'Don't waste the feeling.' They sure didn't, the way they played tonight.''

Smith streaked into the end zone and moments later confetti rained and even Saban seemed almost giddy after watching maybe the most improbable victory of his unmatched career. A few hours later, Alabama was voted No. 1 in the final AP college football poll for the 11th time, three more than any other program.

After Alabama kicker Andy Pappanastos missed a 36-yard field goal that would have won it for the Tide (13-1) in the final seconds of regulation , Georgia (13-2) took the lead with a 51-yard field goal from Rodrigo Blankenship in overtime.

Tagovailoa took a terrible sack on Alabama's first play, losing 16 yards. On the next he found Smith, another freshman, and hit him in stride for the national championship.

Tagovailoa was brilliant at times, though he had a few freshman moments. He threw an interception when he tried to pass on a running play and all his receivers were blocking. He also darted away from pass rushers and made some impeccable throws, showing poise of a veteran. Facing fourth-and-goal from the 7, down seven, the left-hander moved to his left and zipped a pass through traffic that hit Calvin Ridley in the numbers for the tying score with 3:49 left in the fourth quarter.

He finished 14 for 24 for 166 yards. The winning play was, basically, four receivers going deep.

''After the sack, we just got up and took it to the next play,'' Tagovailoa said. ''I looked back out, and he was wide open. Smitty was wide open.'' Freshmen were everywhere for the Alabama offense in the second half: Najee Harris at running back; Henry Ruggs III at receiver; Alex Leatherwood at left tackle after All-American Jonah Williams was hurt. It's a testament to the relentless machine Saban has built.

But this game will be remembered most for his decision to change quarterbacks trailing 13-0.

''I just thought we had to throw the ball, and I felt he could do it better, and he did,'' Saban said Tagovailoa. ''He did a good job, made some plays in the passing game. Just a great win. I'm so happy for Alabama fans. Great for our players. Unbelievable.''

Saban now has six major poll national championships, including one at LSU, matching the record set by the man who led Alabama's last dynasty, coach Paul Bear Bryant.

This was nothing like the others.

With President Trump in attendance, the all-Southeastern Conference matchup was all Georgia in the first half before Saban pulled Hurts and the five-star recruit from Hawaii entered. The president watched the second half from Air Force One.

''I don't know how Coach Saban found me all the way in Hawaii from Alabama,'' Tagovailoa said. ''Thank God he found me and we're here right now.''

The Tide trailed 20-7 in the third quarter after Georgia's freshman quarterback, Jake Fromm, hit Mecole Hardman for an 80-yard touchdown pass that had the Georgia fans feeling good about ending a national title drought that dates back to 1980.

Fromm threw for 232 yards and for a while it looked as if he was going to be the freshman star of the game, the first to true freshman to lead his team to a national title season since Jamelle Holieway for Oklahoma in 1985.

''I mean, if you want to find out about Jake Fromm, go ask those guys on the other side of the ball, and they'll tell you because that's a really good defense he just went against,'' Georgia coach Smart said.

A little less than a year after the Atlanta Falcons blew a 25-point lead and lost in overtime to the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl, there was more pain for many of the local fans. Two years ago, Georgia brought in Smart, Saban's top lieutenant, to bring to his alma mater a dose of Alabama's Process.

Smart, who spent 11 seasons with Saban - eight as defensive coordinator in Tuscaloosa - quickly built 'Bama East. It was Georgia that won the SEC this season. Alabama had to slip into the playoff without even winning its division.

With the title game being played 70 miles from Georgia's campus in Athens, Dawgs fans packed Mercedes-Benz Stadium, but it turned out to be sweet home for Alabama. Now Saban is 12-0 against his former assistants.

But not without angst.

Alabama drove into the red zone in the final minute and Saban started playing for a winning field goal to end the game. A nervous quiet gripped the crowd of 77,430 as 'Bama burned the clock. With the ball spotted in the middle of the field, Pappanastos lined up for a kick to win the national championship. The snap and hold looked fine, but the kicked missed badly to the left.

For the second straight week, Georgia was going to overtime. The Bulldogs beat Oklahoma in a wild Rose Bowl in double overtime to get here, and after Jonathan Ledbetter and Davin Bellamy sacked Tagovailoa for a big loss on the first play, Alabama was in trouble - second-and-26.

Not for long. Tagovailoa looked off the safety and threw the biggest touchdown pass in the history of Alabama football. </s> The Clemson Tigers have avenged last year’s loss, defeating the Alabama Crimson Tide 35-31 to win the College Football Playoff National Championship.
Alabama defeats Florida, 54-16, to win their seventh Southeastern Conference championship game.