Alabama Football: 3 takeaways from 2022 College Football Championship Game loss

It was a field goal contest for most of Monday’s national championship game between Georgia and Alabama football, but it had a photo finish.

Monday night’s national championship game between Georgia and Alabama football looked like it was going to be a field goal contest and a snoozer. It turns out, it was anything but.

The Crimson Tide and Bulldogs were scoring only field goals through the first half, but the second half was very different — especially late in the third and throughout the fourth quarter. Georgia scored the game’s first touchdown in the third to take a 13-9 lead and then Alabama scored a field goal and added a touchdown shortly after on a Bryce Young pass to make it 18-13.

Georgia struck right back with a touchdown on a free play to make it 19-18 and it was pretty clear that this was going to be one of the best finishes in recent memory.

In the end, it was Georgia that was able to come away with the win, shocking Alabama by two scores. What’d we learn?

3. Receiver depth was tested

Things were looking good for the Alabama offense early on as Jameson Williams had three catches for 25 yards and then went deep to catch a 40-yard pass to put the Tide in prime position to score. Unfortunately, when he caught the ball and tried to make a move, he crumbled to the ground, holding his knee.

Williams couldn’t put any weight on his knee and everyone knew it was the worst possible scenario for the Tide as he never re-entered the game.

Down John Metchie and Williams, the Tide were missing two go-to targets and the receiver depth was immediately tested on the biggest possible stage. Some young guys like Agiye Hall, Traeshon Holden, and Ja’Corey Brooks all stepped up, but it was clear that the team was missing its top dogs as Young was having a tough time completing passes with the defense in his face all night.

Not being able to rely on Williams hurt Young and Alabama’s chances as the game progressed.