ATLANTA – Two years ago, with the national title game slipping away and Alabama on the cusp of defensive desperation, Nick Saban made one of the boldest coaching decisions in modern college football history. Nearly five minutes into the fourth quarter of Alabama’s first title game matchup with Clemson, Saban decided the Crimson Tide defense couldn’t stop Deshaun Watson. So he called an onside kick to steal a possession, the defining moment of turning a tie game into a Crimson Tide victory.

On Monday night in Atlanta, Saban managed to make an even bigger gamble to steal another national title victory for the Crimson Tide. With quarterback Jalen Hurts sputtering through the first half, Saban inserted true freshman Tua Tagovailoa into the game to start the second half. He’d never started a game and never faced a moment close to the breadth of this one.

Saban’s decision jumpstarted a dormant Alabama offense, allowing the Crimson Tide to turn a 13-point deficit into a 26-23 overtime victory. Tagovailoa lobbed a 41-yard touchdown to DeVonta Smith in overtime for the victory, a streak route on a play known as “Seattle.”

The victory secured Saban’s fifth national championship at Alabama, his sixth as a collegiate head coach and further etches his reputational immortality in the annals of the sport. And this one had Saban’s fingerprints all over it, as his halftime adjustment changed the tenor of the game.

Alabama’s Nick Saban celebrates after winning the CFP National Championship at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 8, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Getty) More

Saban now has tied the record for most national championships with Alabama legend Bear Bryant, as he nudges past Woody Hayes (Ohio State), Howard Jones (Yale and USC) and Bernie Bierman (Minnesota) on the all-time list.

“If you look at the greatest coaches of all time, Coach Bryant is always a major part of that conversation,” said Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne. “Coach Saban is certainly a part of that conversation as well. We’re fortunate they are both part of the University of Alabama.”

Saban was unemotional when asked about walking arm-in-arm in history with the Bear, staying forever locked in on the precious present. But Saban did express his happiness for his players before declaring: “I’ve never been happier in my life. Never!”

Alabama trailed 13-0 at halftime and mustered just four first downs and 94 yards on 24 plays through the game’s first 30 minutes. Meanwhile, an aggressive offensive gameplan from Georgia let quarterback Jake Fromm rip, as he threw ball 23 times in the first half. To move up to the highest echelon in collegiate coaching history, it took a move that was gutsy in real-time and obvious in retrospect. After a three-and-out to open the half, Tagovailoa jumpstarted the Alabama offense with a spin move run for nine yards on third-and-7. Tagovailoa Houdini-ed himself away from three Bulldog tacklers and the Crimson Tide never stopped running.

He completed four straight passes, hit Henry Ruggs for a six-yard touchdown and the Crimson Tide offense found a confidence and identity.

Tagovailoa finished the game completing 14-of-24 passes for 166 yards and three touchdowns. He did throw an interception, but was only replaced for the final offensive snap of regulation when Hurts scrambled to the center of the field to set up a field goal attempt. Alabama’s Andy Pappanastos duck-hooked from 36 yards, setting up Tagovailoa’s overtime heroics.

And with that, Saban has found himself in conversations of whether he or Bryant, the man Alabama’s home stadium is named after, is the greatest coach in the history of college football. The question isn’t simple, as it involves comparing different eras, as the sport has transformed itself with scholarships restrictions, an influx of money, conference championship games and a three-game playoff to determine the sport’s biggest winners.