College Football

Top Plays: Alabama cruises past Cincy, Georgia crushes Michigan

Updated Dec. 31, 2021 11:17 p.m. ET

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It's official: The national title game will be a rematch of the SEC Championship.

In the first College Football Playoff semifinal, No. 1 Alabama outclassed No. 4 Cincinnati in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl, cruising to a 27-6 victory.

The Crimson Tide are headed to their ninth national championship game since 2009.

Then on Friday evening, No. 2 Michigan was no match for  No. 3 Georgia in the Capital One Orange Bowl, with the Bulldogs winning 34-11. 

Here are the top plays from Friday's national semifinal games.

Capital One Orange Bowl –– No. 3 Georgia 34, No. 2 Michigan 11

Bowers bruising

Georgia's opening drive was the Brock Bowers showcase, with the freshman tight end having his hands in multiple key plays.

First, he hauled in a 35-yard reception to put Georgia into scoring position, before finishing the drive with a touchdown reception to give the Bulldogs a 7-0 lead.

Two for two

Georgia made the most of its first two possessions of the game, scoring touchdowns on each.

After Bowers' early game dominance, the Bulldogs reached deep into their bag of tricks for their second touchdown, which was a pass from running back Kenny McIntosh to Adonai Mitchell for an 18-yard score to take a 14-0 lead.

Breaking it open

The first half was all Georgia, evidenced by this 57-yard touchdown pass from Stetson Bennett to Jermaine Burton to take a 27-3 lead into the half.

Halting momentum

Georgia's defense opened the second half in dominant fashion, recording its second interception to stop a promising Michigan drive.

Finishing touches

From the opening kickoff, this game was never in doubt, and Georgia added more distance between itself and Michigan in the fourth quarter with this 53-yard James Cook receiving touchdown to extend the lead to 34-3.

The Bulldogs would go on to win 34-11.

Goodyear Cotton Bowl –– No. 1 Alabama 27, No. 4 Cincinnati 6

Rushing Tide

Cincinnati won the coin toss and decided to defer, meaning Alabama's offense took the field first –– and it didn't go well for the Bearcats, as the Crimson Tide marched down the field and scored on their first possession. 

Alabama rushed the ball 10 times on the 11-play, 75-yard drive, capping it off with an 8-yard touchdown pass from Bryce Young to Slade Bolden.

Young now has the record for most passing TDs in a single season in Alabama history (43), passing Tua Tagovailoa.

Dicing 'em up 

The Heisman Trophy winner continued his offensive masterclass in the second quarter. 

He fit a number of balls through tight windows throughout the quarter, before going over the top to Ja'Corey Brooks with under two minutes remaining in the half. The touchdown gave the Tide a 17-3 halftime advantage.

Interception!

The Cincinnati defense showed tried to do its part, and in the third quarter, safety Bryan Cook intercepted Young.

Creating separation

The Cotton Bowl was far from Young's best performance, but he made plays when it mattered most. 

His third passing touchdown of the game gave the Crimson Tide a 24-6 lead to give them a comfortable 18-point lead.

From there on out, Alabama would go into cruise control to secure a 27-6 win and return to the national title game in hopes of repeating as champions.

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College Football

Alabama Crimson Tide

Cincinnati Bearcats

Michigan Wolverines

Georgia Bulldogs

CFB - Cotton Bowl - 12/31/2021

CFB - Orange Bowl - 01/01/2022