The College Football Playoff National Championship between the Alabama Crimson Tide and Georgia Bulldogs was a battle of field goals in the first half. However, both teams have started scoring touchdowns in the second half. For Alabama, their touchdown score came after one of the wildest fumble recoveries of the whole season.
Down 13-9 in the fourth quarter and in need of a big break, Alabama defenders swarmed on Georgia QB Stetson Bennett and forced him to try to get rid of the ball deep in Bulldogs territory. However, by the time the ball left his hand, he was in the grasp of Tide defender Christion Harris and instead of throwing the ball it appears to go flying wildly. The ball flew towards the sideline where Brian Branch casually caught it as he stepped out of bounds. While even Branch assumed it was an incomplete pass, it was ruled a fumble and Alabama ball.
Hilarious, crucial fumble recovery by Alabama. #CFP pic.twitter.com/iCwGMelsZm
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) January 11, 2022
Sure enough, upon review, you can see Branch gain control of the ball literally just before he steps out of bounds.
The ruling on the field stood.
And with that, the Tide scored their first touchdown of the evening to take an 18-13 lead. They were unable to convert the two-point conversion and that lead stuck.
As you might imagine, the fumble call left a lot of people confused, mad, or possibly both. And they shared those feelings on social media.
That was pretty clearly a fumble? I didn't think it was that close, nor was Young's being incomplete on the first Bama drive. This just sucks immensely for Georgia
— Alex Kirshner (@alex_kirshner) January 11, 2022
Fumble, sorry
pic.twitter.com/QwIzTNmjdj — RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) January 11, 2022
This guy definitely didn’t understand the fumble call. pic.twitter.com/4WuiUhVg5o
— Andrew Perloff (@andrewperloff) January 11, 2022
Georgia has since recaptured the lead on another touchdown of their own. We’ll see if this fumble call ends up being the difference or if the Bulldogs can put it behind them and slay the mighty Tide.
About Sean Keeley
Along with writing for Awful Announcing and The Comeback, Sean is the Managing Editor for Comeback Media. Previously, he created the Syracuse blog Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician and wrote 'How To Grow An Orange: The Right Way to Brainwash Your Child Into Rooting for Syracuse.' He has also written non-Syracuse-related things for SB Nation, Curbed, and other outlets. He currently lives in Seattle where he is complaining about bagels. Send tips/comments/complaints to sean@thecomeback.com.