The Alabama Crimson Tide are SEC Champions once again after taking down the 2x defending national champion Georgia Bulldogs 27-24 and putting the Dawgs’ 29 game win streak to an end in Atlanta this afternoon.
It looked dicey early for the Tide, with Georgia winning the coin toss and electing to defer to the second half which resulted in a quick three-and-out followed by a dominant 8-play, 83 yard Georgia scoring drive capped off by a Kendall Milton 17-yard score:
https://twitter.com/TheAthletic/status/1731062253644812421
Alabama went three-and-out once again on the following drive, but were able to force a Bulldog three-and-out of their own which led to a Will Reichard field goal to bring the score to 7-3.
After another stop, Jalen Milroe led his first touchdown drive of the game with a 10-play, 92 yard possession capped off by a beautiful wheel route from Jamarion Miller for a 28-yard touchdown. Miller played a huge role in the absence of the injured Jase McClellan:
https://twitter.com/AlabamaFTBL/status/1731070988996022565
What happened on Georgia’s following drive would prove to be one of the most consequential sequences of the entire game. With the Bulldogs facing second and ten from the 19, Deontae Lawson made a stop for a loss of two followed by a Dallas Turner sack on 3rd down.
On the ensuing field goal attempt, Georgia took a false start penalty, pushing a 45-yard attempt to 50 yards which freshman kicker Peyton Woodring would hit the post and miss.
https://twitter.com/TSV__1/status/1731074754541699414
Alabama took the ball from there and went right down the field and scored again on a Jalen Milroe 15-yard strike to Jermaine Burton which brought the game to halftime at 17-7.
https://twitter.com/AlabamaFTBL/status/1731078329757745337
The second half started much slower than the first, with the only scores being each team converting a field goal to keep Alabama’s lead at ten entering the fourth. The Crimson Tide did let a gift from Georgia go after a Bulldog fumble placed the Tide at the 11, but only got a field goal out of it.
https://twitter.com/CBSSportsCFB/status/1731094420466855983
After punts from both teams, a great Georgia return placed them in Alabama territory, where the Dawgs were able to make it a 20-17 ballgame with 10 minutes left.
Alabama answered this with perhaps the best and most clutch drive of its entire season, going 75 yards and capping it off with a Roydell Williams score from the one to take a ten point lead with just under six minutes left:
Train comin’ through 🚂@RoydellW_6
📺 CBS pic.twitter.com/FDMBM5SIEe
— Alabama Football (@AlabamaFTBL) December 3, 2023
Georgia would not go away, with another 75-yard touchdown drive highlighted by a spectacular catch from Brock Bowers get down to the six yard line and eventually get it to 27-24 with just under three minutes left:
https://twitter.com/BenBrownPL/status/1731104150966915390
Alabama was able to ice the game with the legs of Jalen Milroe, who carried the ball for first downs twice and allowed the Tide to kneel it out and finish the game off.
Milroe finished 13/23 for 192 yards and two passing touchdowns along with 29 rushing yards after being sacked four times. He was named MVP of the game.
Alabama now will await their College Football Playoff fate as Florida State and Michigan play with spots still up for grabs. But beating the number one team in the country is as good of a statement as can possibly be made at this stage of the season.
Michael Brauner is a Senior Sports Analyst and Contributing Writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @MBraunerWNSP