▁T ide ▁would ▁win ▁its ▁ 1 7 th ▁national ▁championship ▁by ▁defe ating ▁Georgia ▁ 2 6 – 2 3 ▁in ▁over time . ▁With ▁Alabama ▁trailing ▁ 1 3 – 0 ▁at ▁hal ft ime , ▁a ▁change ▁was ▁made ▁at ▁quarter back ▁with ▁fresh man ▁T ua ▁Tag ov ail oa ▁replacing ▁a ▁struggling ▁J alen ▁Hur ts . ▁Tag av ail oa ▁went ▁ 1 4 ▁of ▁ 2 4 ▁passing ▁for ▁ 1 6 6 ▁yards ▁and ▁three ▁touch down s , ▁including ▁the ▁game - win ning ▁touch down ▁pass ▁to ▁fresh man ▁wide ▁receiver , ▁De V ont a ▁Smith ▁in ▁over time . ▁The ▁ 2 0 1 7 ▁national ▁title ▁was ▁the ▁sixth ▁for ▁head ▁coach ▁Nick ▁S aban , ▁and ▁his ▁fifth ▁at ▁the ▁Cap stone . ▁This ▁accomplish ment ▁tied ▁coach ▁S aban ▁with ▁icon ic ▁Alabama ▁head ▁coach , ▁Paul ▁W . ▁Bry ant , ▁who ▁also ▁won ▁six ▁national ▁titles ▁in ▁his ▁stor ied ▁career . ▁▁ 2 0 1 8 ▁Season ▁ ▁Alabama ▁entered ▁the ▁ 2 0 1 8 ▁season ▁as ▁the ▁reign ing ▁national ▁champions ▁and ▁ranked ▁No .   1 ▁in ▁the ▁nation ▁once ▁again . ▁Alabama ▁opened ▁the ▁season ▁with ▁a ▁domin ating ▁win ▁over ▁Louis ville , ▁ 5 1 – 1 4 ▁in ▁the ▁Camp ing ▁World ▁K ick off ▁in ▁Or lando , ▁Florida . ▁T ua ▁Tag ov ail oa ▁had ▁won ▁the ▁starting ▁Q B ▁job ▁in ▁the ▁off ▁season