Alabama beats Clemson, will take on Georgia in the National Championship game

Alabama football

Monday night Alabama’s Crimson Tide beat the Clemson Tigers 24-6 in the Sugar Bowl just hours after the Georgia Bulldogs bested the Oklahoma Sooners 54-48 in an exciting double-overtime in the Rose Bowl, advancing both teams to the 2018 College Football Playoff National Championship next Monday night. For the second time in seven seasons, two teams from the Southeastern Conference (SEC) will go head-to-head for a national title. Alabama will be playing in its sixth championship game in nine seasons, while Georgia is aiming for its first title since 1980. Here’s what you need to know: Who: Alabama vs. Georgia What: College Football Playoff championship When: Monday, Jan. 8, 2018 Where: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta Time: 7 p.m. CT TV: ESPN Livestream: WatchESPN

This fall, Jeb Bush bridges two great American institutions: politics and football

As fall arrives, so does two all-American traditions — football and politics. And with the 2016 presidential race in full swing, candidates are beginning to stake ground in both fields. On Saturday, Republican candidate Jeb Bush takes his White House ambitions to Athens, Georgia for the game between the Carolina Gamecocks and the Georgia Bulldogs. Bush will attend a tailgate party hosted by the College Republicans of the University of Georgia. The Gamecocks, underdogs at 1-1, have the added benefit of coming from South Carolina, a key early primary state. The Bulldogs are undefeated at 2-0. On his campaign website, Bush rolled out a schedule of four football-related appearances, as well as the formation of a ten-member Southeastern Conference Advisory Committee. The committee is part of an effort “bring some fun” to the process and drum up grassroots support ahead of the March 15 “SEC primary.” ABC News reports that Right to Rise, the super PAC behind Bush, has been looking into advertising rates for many of the SEC primary states, including Ohio, Missouri and Florida. As governor, Bush also led Florida, another SEC state. “Come meet Jeb on the field,” Bush’s website says, “learn how you can get involved and maybe even take a few selfies.” On Oct. 10, Bush will be at the Tennessee vs. UGA game in Knoxville; he will then go Tuscaloosa, Alabama for the LSU and Alabama Crimson Tide rivalry Nov. 7. Later in the month, Bush will be at the Ole Miss Rebels vs. Mississippi State Bulldogs on November 28 in Starkville, Mississippi. Of course, Bush is not the only one linking football and politics. Four Republican candidates — Donald Trump, Scott Walker, Marco Rubio and Rand Paul — attended a Sept. 12 GOP tailgate event for the Iowa vs. Iowa State match-up, an attempt boost their ground game by appealing to the everyday American football fan/voter.