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.
Most nonchalant fumble recovery of all-time. #CFP pic.twitter.com/dXGkf3v3rN
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) January 11, 2022
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.
Bryce Young avoids the pressure and throws a go-ahead touchdown pass for Alabama! #CFP pic.twitter.com/DQoUllYKFJ
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) January 11, 2022
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.
only Alabama could accidentally make the biggest play of the college football season
— Rodger Sherman (@rodger) January 11, 2022
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
If Georgia loses this game there are going to be people devoting their entire lives to breaking down that fumble like the Kennedy assassination. There's going to be a whole community, somebody's going to self-publish a book about it.
— Matt Hinton (@MattRHinton) January 11, 2022
Fumble, sorry 🤷🏼♂️ pic.twitter.com/QwIzTNmjdj
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) January 11, 2022
The most casual fumble recovery ever
— Colton Pouncy (@colton_pouncy) January 11, 2022
This guy definitely didn’t understand the fumble call. pic.twitter.com/4WuiUhVg5o
— Andrew Perloff (@andrewperloff) January 11, 2022
"Look at this guy!" pic.twitter.com/E6Hut9CHtJ
— Timothy Burke (@bubbaprog) 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.
