Georgia and Alabama will meet again on Dec. 2 in the SEC Championship game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, with the winner likely going on to the College Football Playoff next month.
These teams last met in the 2022 College Football Playoff national championship game at Indianapolis, where the Bulldogs defeated the Crimson Tide 33-18, winning their first title since 1980.
So, it’s safe to say this game will mean a lot to Alabama’s Nick Saban and Georgia’s Kirby Smart.
“It’s an opportunity earned by our team and this program. I know our players are certainly excited about the opportunity,” UGA head coach Smart said. “I tell them all the time it’s one of the best venues, best atmospheres in all of sports. I’ve been very fortunate to be a part of it many times and I know our guys are excited about the opportunity. We’ll have their full attention preparing for Alabama this week.”
The Bulldogs enter the conference championship game at No. 1 in the CFP rankings, with the Crimson Tide at No. 8. Obviously, this is the biggest game of the season for both teams this year.
After losing to No. 7 Texas on Sept. 10, Alabama has won 10 straight games heading into this week.
According to Smart, Saban has done a great job of keeping his team motivated after an early loss.
“Yeah, tremendous job,” Smart said. “Year in, year out he does it with different formats of teams. I think just like us, every team has a different identity. This one for him, I mean, without seeing much more than two games, it’s a different identity than previous years.
“They certainly have talented players. They have talented players all over the place on the offense and defensive line. Their line of scrimmages is big and physical, which always is an identity of an Alabama team, but this one has been very unique. They play hard. They play well together. They respond to each other. They’ve been in some tight ball games and made some big-time comebacks.”
Alabama has found its identity on offense as quarterback Jalen Milroe is playing well and has progressed as the year went on. He’s passed for 2,528 yards and 11 touchdowns this season. The redshirt sophomore quarterback also has rushed for 439 yards and a team-high 12 scores.
Alabama averages 35.8 points per game, ranking No. 17 nationally in scoring offense. However, the Tide will face a team in Georgia with the nation’s sixth-best scoring defense at 15.8 points per game.
“Their players are wellcoached. They play with really good discipline,” Saban said of the Bulldogs. “They’re focused on doing their job. They do it the right way.”
Defensively, Alabama is led by Dallas Turner, a potential 2024 NFL first-round pick. The junior is an elite pass-rusher for a Crimson Tide defense that gives up an average of 17.8 points per game. He definitely has Georgia’s attention as Turner has team-highs in tackles for loss (13.5) and sacks (9.5).
“The best you can do is not put yourself in bad down-anddistance situations, to try to stay ahead of the sticks. You got to stay on schedule and stay ahead of the sticks,” Smart said. “(Turner has) speed, talent, ability. He’s improved so much throughout his career. He’s gotten bigger, and much more impactful on the run game. He’s an every-down player, and still elite on the pass-rush side of things.”
Alabama has to stop Georgia’s offensive attack, which ranks sixth and eighth in total offense and scoring offense, respectively. The Bulldogs’ offense is peaking at the right time of the year.
“Offensively, they’re running the ball very effectively. A lot of squeeze formations,” Smart said. “Have a great play-action passing game off of that to go with the running game. Obviously, with the quarterback and the receivers they have, they have an excellent passing game as well. I don’t see the tremendous difference, but they certainly do a great job at utilizing the players that they have.”
Georgia and Alabama are set to kick off at 4 p.m. Saturday.