INDIANAPOLIS — If this is a new era of college football, with its sandlot schemes, pyrotechnic offensives and analytics dictating that fourth down isn’t for punts or field goals, the sport was dragged back to an earlier time on Monday night.
Back to football’s prehistoric age, when championships were won with chin-strap busting defenses, offenses content to collect 3 yards with their cloud of dust, and coaches who cherished a reliable kicker.
Georgia vanquished its old nemesis before a supportive capacity crowd on Monday night at Lucas Oil Stadium, rallying past Alabama, 33-18, in a bare-knuckler-turned-white-knuckler of a game that wasn’t secure until Kelee Ringo returned an interception 79 yards for a touchdown in the final minute.