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WATCH: Bill O'Brien with animated, furious response to Georgia stopping Alabama

SimonGibbs_UserImageby: Simon Gibbs01/11/22SimonGibbs26
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Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images.

Alabama offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien was furious after the Georgia Bulldogs held the Crimson Tide in check on the first drive of the national championship game.

Alabama, which lost the coin toss and received the opening kick when Georgia deferred, put together a nice drive to start the game. However, the Crimson Tide, which normally run a uptempo offense under O’Brien, were forced to slow down as a result of Georgia’s substitutions. The Bulldogs merely jogged off the field, perhaps throwing off quarterback Bryce Young. In the end, though, despite a 14-play, 56-yard effort, Young was unable to complete a third-and-5 pass attempt to Jahleel Billingsley, ending the drive at the Georgia 19-yard line.

Alabama made it all that way and was forced to settle for a 37-yard field goal from Will Reichard — and O’Brien, who called the plays from the booth, was livid that the Crimson Tide didn’t turn it into six.

Alabama, O’Brien avoid disaster after controversial cal.

Alabama had a near-scare in the beginning of the drive — Georgia defensive lineman Jordan Davis appeared to force a fumble while sacking quarterback Bryce Young, and Nakobe Dean took the fumble back for a touchdown. The initial call on the field was in fact a touchdown; however, after further review, it was overturned. The referees ruled that Young’s hand was moving forward, deeming it an incomplete pass, and Georgia’s tremendous early-game momentum was mitigated.

So instead of a 6-0 Bulldogs lead, O’Brien and Alabama had second-and-10 from its own 44-yard line. The Crimson Tide ended up settling for a field goal to take a 3-0 lead.

It would’ve been quite a way for Georgia to get momentum to start the game. The Bulldogs won the coin toss and elected to defer, giving Young and the potent Crimson Tide offense the ball first.

The CFP national championship between Georgia and Alabama just getting started on ESPN. It’s a rematch of last month’s SEC Championship — a 41-24 Crimson Tide victory.