Alabama 26, Georgia 23 in overtime: Nick Saban said “I just thought we had to throw the ball”

“I just thought we had to throw the ball,” Nick Saban said. “This team’s not going anywhere,” Kirby Smart said.

Published Jan 8, 2018.

The record

Result, per the Associated Press
Alabama 26, Georgia 23, in overtimeThe Oxford Eagle, Jan 8, 2018
Played, per the Associated Press
Monday, January 8, 2018The Oxford Eagle, Jan 8, 2018

What was said

Alabama’s side

Nick Saban, Alabama head coach

I just thought we had to throw the ball, and I felt he could do it better, and he did,

The Oxford Eagle, Jan 8, 2018

Associated Press, via The Oxford Eagle

Nick Saban, Alabama head coach

Just a great win. I’m so happy for Alabama fans. Great for our players. Unbelievable.

The Oxford Eagle, Jan 8, 2018

Associated Press, via The Oxford Eagle

Jalen Hurts, Alabama quarterback

He just stepped in and did his thing,

HeraldNet, Jan 8, 2018

Associated Press, via HeraldNet

Georgia’s side

Kirby Smart, Georgia head coach

I think our guys were resilient, even with the momentum change. We kept fighting back, made some big, key stops, but even with the stops, couldn’t stop them in the end when we had to, and that’s what you have to do against good teams.

Georgia Athletics, Jan 8, 2018

Kirby Smart, Georgia head coach

This team’s not going anywhere,

Georgia Athletics, Jan 8, 2018

Alabama Athletics

The Crimson Tide (13-1) won its 17th national championship after edging the Bulldogs (13-2) in just the fourth College Football Playoff.

Alabama Athletics, Jan 8, 2018

Reports

Associated Press

Tua Tagovailoa threw a 41-yard touchdown to DeVonta Smith to give No. 4 Alabama a 26-23 overtime victory against No. 3 Georgia to win the College Football Playoff national championship Monday night.

The Oxford Eagle, Jan 8, 2018

Sources