Alabama QB Tua Tagovailoa was the hero of the National Championship for the Crimson Tide against Georgia, stepping into the game in place of QB Jalen Hurts and leading Bama to a comeback victory over the Bulldogs. Now, Tagovailoa is in contention for the starting job, and seems to be the favorite to get the job in Tuscaloosa.
The most interesting thing? Alabama would have lost more than the national championship game had Saban not decided to make one of the gutsiest calls in CFB history by making the switch at QB. Former Bama OC Lane Kiffin made news on the Dan Patrick show months ago following the championship game for saying that Tagovailoa would have transferred if he hadn't played in the title game. Tagovailoa confirmed that sentiment Thursday to HawaiiNewsNow.com:
"Even throughout my football season, I wasn't the starter. I wanted to leave the school. So I told myself if I didn't play in the last game, which was the national championship game, I would transfer out. If I gave in, I don't think I would have seen the end blessing of where I am now." - Tagovailoa via HawaiiNewsNow.com
Saban's decision didn't just secure another ring for Bama, it also secured them their QB of the foreseeable future, and a more diverse offense than would be provided with Hurts.