2018 NCG · Alabama 26, Georgia 23 (OT)

Down 13-0 at halftime to a Kirby Smart Georgia team in Atlanta, Saban benched the starter who had taken the program to back-to-back national title games and went to Tua. The second-half line — 166 passing yards, three touchdowns, the second-and-26 deep ball to DeVonta Smith in overtime — is the founding text of the modern Alabama passing-game identity. Saban's record after halftime Heisman-vote-worthy quarterback decisions sat at one-of-one for the rest of his Tuscaloosa career. Georgia would spend the next four seasons rebuilding the defense around the loss; Alabama would spend the next two recruiting cycles drafting receivers Tua could throw to. Every CFP-era statement about offensive arms-races in the SEC starts here.