Instant classic.

That was the best way to describe Monday’s College Football Playoff National Championship Game in Atlanta. It was one for the ages — a game filled with agony and ecstasy for both teams.

The first half saw the Georgia Bulldogs dominate the Alabama Crimson Tide in all three phases of the game and build a 13-0 halftime lead. Then came the second half that saw Alabama bench its struggling starting quarterback for a true freshman, a young man who somehow rallied his team to tie the game, and then set up a chip shot game-winning field goal at the end of regulation.

Then the Crimson Tide placekicker missed the kick, Georgia’s kicker then booted a kick 51 yards in overtime, and then came an untimely sack taken by Alabama’s backup that appeared to have sealed the fate of the Tide. The very next play, though, was the game-winning 41-yard touchdown pass. 

Tide players and fans rejoiced after winning their fifth national title in nine seasons, while Bulldogs players and fans were devastated by falling just short of winning their first since 1980. Alabama head coach Nick Saban, meanwhile, tied Paul “Bear” Bryant’s all-time record of six national titles — with the first of course coming at LSU more than a decade ago. 

The thrilling contest had a slew of storylines but none were more important than the example of sportsmanship displayed by a pair of Alabama players — both bad and good.

The bad was epitomized by Alabama backup linebacker Mekhi Brown.

During the second half, Brown drew a penalty flag for unsportsmanlike conduct for punching a Georgia player on special teams. That type of behavior was more than enough for Brown to be ejected from the contest, yet he wasn’t by the Big 10 officiating crew. Still wondering why that was.

Instead of being thankful that he wasn’t thrown out of the game, Brown decided to continue to show a lack of class and disrespect towards the uniform he was fortunate enough to be wearing, his teammates and the game when he decided to lose his mind on the sideline.

After being scolded by Saban, the redshirt sophomore apparently didn’t like what one of his own assistant coaches, director of player development Kerry Stevenson, had to say to him and then decided to lunge after him on the sideline, too. Brown had to be restrained by teammate Keith Holcombe and was forced to go sit on the end of the bench. 

Brown told Yahoo Sports afterwards, “I really felt like a jerk. That’s not how I am. I wanted to win, that’s what it was. I did something stupid. I could have cost us the game.”

I can appreciate that Brown expressed regret afterward but during the game he failed not only himself, but his teammates and his coaches. His actions deserve a suspension and if Saban truly wants to maintain a certain level of discipline inside the program then he and his staff will do just that.

The Crimson Tide also had the epitome of good sportsmanship in the young man who wears No. 2 — quarterback Jalen Hurts.

The true sophomore has now led Alabama to a 26-2 overall record and back-to-back national title games. The 2016 SEC Offensive Player of the Year had improved his passing this season, throwing only one interception, but many fans and some analysts were frustrated by the fact that he doesn’t make good decisions when pressured or his lack of stepping up in the pocket to make throws. 

The calls for his backup, true freshman Tua Tagovailoa, have been loud since the Hawaii native and top recruit arrived on campus last January.

In Monday’s game, Hurts had the worst first half he could have possibly had while throwing for a mere 21 yards on eight pass attempts and rushing for 47 yards with not a single scoring drive. At halftime, Saban and his staff inserted Tagovailoa into the game and Hurts was forced to stand on the sideline as his teammate rallied the team to the title.

Hurts, though, showed nothing but class as during every time out he was seen there in the huddle giving encouragement to his backup or clapping every successful play Tagovailoa made. He didn’t lose his mind, go after a coach or sit on the end of the bench pouting about being benched. The class Hurts showed was crystallized in a postgame interview with ESPN’s Tom Rindali.

When asked about his halftime demotion, Hurts replied with a smile on his face, “I knew he was going to step in and do his thing. We have a lot of guys in the QB room that play really well, he just stepped in and did his thing … did his thing for the team. 

Hurts also said when asked what he told his teammate between offensive series, “Ball.”

“Play your game. He’s good for stuff like this and he has the ‘it’ factor. I’m so happy for him and so happy for the team,” he said.

Hurts was benched on the biggest stage of his career and may very well have lost his starting job for next season. Yet Hurts, who is the same age as Brown, still supported his teammate and his team. He showed poise, class and what a teammate truly is.

Every high school or collegiate football player should look to Hurts as the example of what true sportsmanship is — and that includes his own teammate Brown.

RAYMOND PARSTCH III is the managing editor of The Daily Iberian.