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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Caroline Darney

Alabama’s Brian Branch came up with the most casual fumble recovery ever

The Alabama Crimson Tide got a huge break midway through the fourth quarter in the College Football Playoff National Championship game as Christian Harris tracked down Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett IV for a sack. On the play, Bennett lost the ball, sending it haplessly to the turf and careening towards the sideline.

Alabama defensive back Brian Branch casually grabbed the ball, seemingly out of bounds, as it looked like the Bulldogs would have to punt the ball away with a 13-12 lead.

The play, however, was ruled a fumble with a recovery by the defense. Upon replay, it was close as to whether or not Bennett’s arms was moving forward.

But was Branch in bounds? When we tell you it’s the closest it could possibly be to a recovery, we mean it came down to blades of grass.

He. Was. In.

Alabama would take advantage of the extra possession, scoring the team’s first touchdown of the game on a reception by Cameron Latu from a Bryce Young pass to make it 18-13 in favor of Alabama in the fourth quarter.

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