No. 3 Alabama punched its ticket to the College Football Playoff in a 41-24 upset of No. 1 Georgia in the SEC Championship on Saturday, while Cincinnati rolled by Houston in the AAC title game to compete a perfect season.
Alabama quarterback Bryce Young passed for 421 yards and three touchdowns, leading the Crimson Tide to victory against the nation's No. 1 overall defense.
Young was the title game MVP and made Georgia's vaunted defense look like a scout team, surely bolstering his Heisman Trophy chances as he finished 26-of-44 without an interception. He rushed three times for 40 yards and a touchdown.
The Crimson Tide had been a betting favorite in 93 straight games, but was for once an underdog in the SEC title matchup, and Alabama Head Coach Nick Saban said his team relished the challenge.
'The rat poison that you put out there this week was yummy,' Saban told the media after the game. 'You guys gave us a lot of really positive rat poison.'
Alabama quarterback Bryce Young passed for 421 yards and three touchdowns, leading the Crimson Tide to victory against the nation's No. 1 overall defense
Alabama Crimson Tide linebacker Will Anderson Jr. (31), and defensive lineman Phidarian Mathis (48) lift the SEC championship trophy after their win against the Georgia Bulldogs at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday
Head coach Nick Saban of the Alabama Crimson Tide and Bryce Young #9 celebrate their win against the Georgia Bulldogs
Ryan Royer #35 of the Cincinnati Bearcats celebrates with fans after their 35-20 win over the Houston Cougars for the 2021 American Conference Championship at Nippert Stadium on Saturday
The result secures Alabama's position in the four-team College Playoffs, giving Saban a shot at another national championship.
Georgia, which went undefeated in the regular season, will also likely be selected for the playoffs.
The playoff field will be announced Sunday, with the semifinals set for the Orange and Cotton bowls on December 31.
The No. 4 Cincinnati Bearcats also likely secured their playoff berth with a 35-20 win against visiting No. 21 Houston in the American Athletic Conference championship game on Saturday.
After besting Houston to go 13-0 this year, Cincinnati could now become the first school outside a Power Five conference (ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac 12 and SEC) to be selected for the playoff since its inception in 2014.
'If it's meant to be, it will be. I don't think these guys can be denied,' Cincinnati coach Luke Fickell told reporters.
After besting Houston to go 13-0 this year, Cincinnati could now become the first school outside a Power Five conference (ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac
