Lane Kiffin: Tagovailoa would have left Alabama if he didn't play in title game

The star of Monday night's national title game was a half away from leaving Alabama, according to Lane Kiffin.

The former Crimson Tide offensive coordinator appeared on The Dan Patrick Show on Tuesday morning and revealed that freshman quarterback Tua Tagovailoa would have left the program if he didn't play in the National Championship game.

"If this second half doesn't flip like this, and Alabama is moving the ball and doesn't change (quarterbacks), people that really know what's going on would tell you that Tua was leaving," Kiffin said. "Because Tua thought that he should be the starting quarterback and had outperformed (Jalen Hurts) in practice and coach never gave him an opportunity."

Trailing Georgia 13-0 at halftime, coach Nick Saban turned to Tagovailoa to start the second half. The true freshman went 14-for-24 for 166 yards and three touchdowns, leading the Tide to a 26-23 overtime victory.

He was named offensive MVP after throwing a game-winning, 41-yard touchdown bomb to win the championship.

"How this second half played out changes college football, because Tua is going to be one of the best quarterbacks in college football," Kiffin added.