Report: Paul Finebaum Reveals Favorite Moment Since Joining SEC Network 10 Years Ago with Alabama always a standout

The Southeastern Conference (SEC) boasts six of the last 10 national champions in college football, offering a plethora of memorable moments. However, one moment stands out for ESPN’s Paul Finebaum. To celebrate the SEC Network’s 10-year anniversary, Finebaum highlighted his favorite SEC moment of the past decade: Alabama’s thrilling overtime victory against Georgia in the 2017 national championship game.

Georgia had reached its first College Football Playoff under second-year head coach Kirby Smart by defeating Auburn in the SEC Championship Game. Alabama, despite finishing second in the SEC West, clinched the No. 4 spot in the final rankings and made the playoff.

After Georgia’s dramatic overtime win over Oklahoma in what many consider the greatest Rose Bowl ever, it seemed destined to be the Bulldogs’ year. But Alabama, coming off a dominant win over Clemson, wasn’t ready to concede.

Finebaum described the 2017 national championship as one of the greatest moments in college football history. “It was the walk-off national championship in 2017 in Atlanta,” Finebaum said. “You had Tua to DeVonta Smith. It was simply unbelievable in overtime to win the national championship.”

Georgia led by 13 points after halftime, but Alabama’s offense came alive when head coach Nick Saban replaced starting quarterback Jalen Hurts with true freshman Tua Tagovailoa. Tagovailoa rallied the Crimson Tide, tying the game at 20 by the end of regulation.

In overtime, Georgia kicked a field goal, putting Alabama in a do-or-die situation on second-and-26. Tagovailoa then made history by connecting with wide receiver DeVonta Smith, who would later win the 2020 Heisman Trophy, for the game-winning touchdown, securing Alabama’s national title and igniting a fierce rivalry between Saban and his former assistant, Smart.