Tua Tagovailoa supports Alabama QB Jalen Hurts, saying he ‘led us to the National Championship’

It’s been just three days since Alabama beat Georgia in the National Championship 26-23 on Monday night, but the hype hasn’t died down surrounding true freshman quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. The Hawaiian started for the Tide in the second half and orchestrated the comeback, including the game-winning TD in overtime.

With Tagovailoa winning the game instead of a benched Jalen Hurts, there are questions regarding Hurts’ future, which isn’t too surprising. But on Thursday, Tagovailoa called out those who may be dismissing Hurts, who is 26-2 as a Bama starter, after Tag’s performance.

While it’s obvious to assume that Tagovailoa will be the starter next season, that doesn’t mean Hurts wasn’t instrumental to getting the Tide to back-to-back national title appearances. Even during the game, Hurts was incredibly supportive on the sidelines

Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

The two were in good spirits after the victory, too.

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Here’s what Tide head coach Nick Saban had to say after the game about the dynamic between the two.

“Well, I don’t know that you can balance, Saban said. “I think you do show your appreciation for it. I mean, one of the first things that I said to Jalen was we wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for you. You put us in a position by the plays that you made and the way you played all year long, but it just seems to me like, if we’re going to have the best chance to win this game, that we may need to do it in a different way. I think he understood that. Sure, he didn’t -- any competitor would not accept that willingly, but as a team player, he was very supportive of Tua in the second half. I think he helped him in every way. I think Tua’s done that for him all year long.”

At the end of the day, you have to love the mutual support from both of these guys for one another. After all, that’s what being a teammate is all about.