Alabama and Georgia set up all-SEC college football title game

The universities of Alabama and Georgia prevailed in the College Football Playoff semifinals Monday, setting up an all–Southeastern Conference (SEC) title game next week. Third-ranked Georgia outlasted No. 2 Oklahoma 54-48 in a double overtime thriller that featured more than 1,000 yards of total offense. It was the highest-scoring Rose Bowl game ever and propelled the Bulldogs to the College Football Playoff National Championship game next Monday in Atlanta. A few hours later, the No. 4 Alabama Crimson Tide suffocated the top-ranked Clemson Tigers 24-6. This was the third year in a row Alabama faced Clemson in the College Football Playoff; the last two meetings were in the championship game. The Tide won in 2016 and lost to the Tigers last year. The Tide spent most of the season as the No. 1 team but lost its final regular season game against in-state rival Auburn. After Georgia beat Auburn in the SEC championship last month, Alabama squeaked in as the last team to qualify for the College Football Playoff. Alabama is seeking its fifth national championship victory in nine years—the Bulldogs have not claimed the title since 1980.