Tide Tops Bulldogs to Win SEC Title, 27-24
Following the win, Alabama punched their ticket to the College Football Playoff
By: Dave in Tuscaloosa
Nick Saban and defensive lineman James Smith spreading the word that “Bama’s Back!”
Well, they did it again.
On the shoulders of a strong defensive performance and fueled by an optimistic offense that continues to produce, 8th ranked Alabama defeated top ranked Georgia 27-24 in the SEC Championship game in Atlanta. It was the Tide’s 7th title in the last 10 years. In addition, Dawg coach Kirby Smart has conquered all…except Bama and his mentor, Nick Saban. Smart fell to 1-4 against Alabama and Saban, including 0-3 in SEC title games. As the time ticked off the clock on Saturday, the pain was evident for Bulldog Nation as not only did they see their 29 game win streak snapped, but also their hopes of an unprecedented third straight national championship were dashed as well. Meanwhile, it was back to business as usual for Alabama as the Tide returns to the College Football Playoff after a one year absence and is in contention for their first title since 2020.
In one of the most physical games in recent memory, the Tide and Dawgs showed why both programs are at the apex of college football. Both teams are built for one another as the Tide offensive and defensive lines won the day. Given the Tide’s struggles on the offensive line earlier in the year, Bama’s edge was a bit of a surprise as game MVP quarterback Jalen Milroe and backs Roydell Williams and Jam Miller sliced through the talented Dawg defense, picking up key gains that helped tip the scale in Alabama’s favor. In addition, the Tide front seven limited the potent Georgia offense to only 78 yards on the ground. Alabama’s secondary also had a solid day, and even though Dawg quarterback Carson Beck threw for 243 yards, he did not throw a touchdown strike and down the field opportunities were limited due to a tremendous effort from the Tide secondary. Star receiver Ladd McConkey and tight end Brock Bowers were both limited by injuries and amassed 38 and 53 yards, respectively.
The game did not start off well for Alabama, as the Tide went three and out on their first possession. On their first possession, the Dawgs marched 83 yards in 10 plays. Kendall Milton’s 17 yard burst put Georgia up quickly, 7-0. Bama’s next possession was another three and out, and if Georgia went down and scored again it could have turned this one into a rout in the first quarter. However, like they did much of the day, the Bama defense stepped up and forced Beck and the Dawgs into a three and out back on their own 10 yard line. Bama got the ball on their own 49, picked up their first three first downs of the contest, yet Milroe to this point had not completed a pass (0-4) and the drive died on the Georgia 25. Will Reichard became college football’s all-time leading scorer when he hit his first field goal of the day from 43 yards out to cut the Georgia lead to 7-3. The Tide defense held Georgia to another three and out, and opened the second quarter with a methodic 10 play, 92 yard drive that culminated when Milroe, who completed 3 of 4 passes on the drive, found back Jam Miller on a wheel route out of the backfield and the sophomore ran it in from 28 yards to put the Tide up, 10-7 at the 12:04 mark of the second quarter. Georgia responded with a nice drive of their own that was halted at the Tide 26. After a critical false start penalty against the Dawgs, placekicker Peyton Woodring hit the right upright from 50 yards out to keep the score at 10-7. It would not stay that way for long as Milroe and Bama responded with a 9 play, 69 yard drive. Milroe found Iron Bowl hero Isaiah Bond for a critical 22 yard gain on a 4th and 4 from the UGA 37 to set up Milroe’s second touchdown pass on the day, a 15 yard strike to Georgia transfer Jermaine Burton in the back of the endzone to put the Tide up 17-7 at half.
Both squads have proven to be second half teams, so this one was set for a classic finish. After exchanging punts, Georgia was the first to draw blood in the second half with a 34 yard Woodling field goal to cut the Tide lead to 17-10 at the 8:51 mark of the third quarter. On the drive, Beck would connect with Arian Smith for 51 yards. This would be the only large chunk pass play of the day for the Dawgs. Bama responded by reaching the Georgia 45 yard line before punting the ball back to the Dawgs. Tide punter James Burnip, who is having a terrific year, pinned UGA back on their own 6 yard line. After picking up a first down, Georgia committed the only turnover of the day when an end around handoff was dropped and the Tide’s Trezmen Marshall, another Georgia transfer, recovered on the Dawg 11. Georgia’s stout defense held, and Reichard’s 28 yard field goal put the Tide up 20-10.
Entering the fourth quarter, the teams exchanged punts and Dawg Anthony Evans brought a Bama punt back 28 yards and set up Georgia at the Tide 35 yard line. UGA cut the Bama lead to 20-17 when Beck dove over from a yard out with 10:16 to play and they seemed poised to take over the game. Milroe and company had different plans. In perhaps their most impressive drive of the year, Bama marched 75 yards in 9 plays where Milroe completed 4 passes, all to Isaiah Bond, and Roydell Williams finished off the drive from a yard out to stretch the Bama lead to 27-17 with 5:47 left to play. Georgia did not allow Alabama Nation to get comfortable as they used 2:55 to go 75 yards, ending with Milton’s second touchdown of the day, this time from a yard out, to trim Bama’s advantage to 27-24 with 2:52 left in the contest. Armed with two timeouts, a Dawgs squib kick put Alabama at their own 25. Needing two first downs to ice the game, offensive coordinator Tommy Reese put the ball in Milroe’s hands. The sophomore quarterback sliced through the UGA defense on first down for 30 yards and a first down. After a Georgia time out, Bama faced a 2nd and 8 with 1:57 remaining. Milroe faked a pitch and kept to himself, gaining 9 yards and getting the final first down needed to ice the game. On the day, Georgia would outgain Alabama 321 to 306 yards, and the Tide had a slight 20 to 19 edge in first downs.
With the win, Alabama reestablished itself as the king of the conference and, at the same time, quieted all those that have been claiming throughout the last two seasons that the Bama dynasty is dead. Those making noise could not be blamed, as the Tide started the 2023 campaign with a tough home loss to Texas and struggled mightily the next week on the road against outmatched South Florida. All Alabama has done is improve each and every week, and they currently ride an 11 game winning streak into the semifinals against Big Ten champions and top seeded MIchigan Wolverines. The Tide now enter the end of the semester with key wins in their back pocket and a dream to return to the top of the mountain of the college football world. With the way Bama is playing, that return would not be a major surprise.
