Georgia, Alabama clash again for SEC crown

By Chris Marler

Two familiar foes meet once again in Atlanta, stepping into a setting, and a stage, they know all too well.

Alabama and Georgia will meet for the SEC Championship game in a building that’s been a home away from home for one team and a house of horrors at times for the other. 

It’s the fifth time these two have met with the SEC title on the line and the fourth time in the last eight years. Alabama has won every one of the previous meetings. Can Kirby Smart finally get over the hump on a stage that has become one of the biggest spectacles in the sport on Championship weekend? To do so he’ll need to flip the script that he’s followed the last two times they’ve met. 

Everyone knows the struggles Kirby Smart and Georgia have had historically with Alabama, but most assumed that would fall by the wayside when Nick Saban retired. Fast forward two years and his replacement Kalen DeBoer is 2–0 against Georgia. 

What carried Alabama in both games was the opening onslaught. In 2024, the Tide stormed ahead 28–0 and took a 30–7 lead into halftime. This year in Athens, they jumped ahead 14–0 and led 24–14 at the break. Georgia’s halftime adjustments closed the gap each time, but Alabama’s second-half performances couldn’t match their early dominance.

Across those two meetings, Georgia has outscored Alabama by a combined 23 points after halftime. That stretch includes shutting the Tide out in this year’s game and allowing just one total second-half touchdown between both matchups.

The Key for Alabama – Win the trenches 

This is going to be a tough test for Alabama who has struggled to run the ball all year. They rank 13th in the SEC in rush yards per game, and their 158 yards on 38 attempts against Auburn was the first time all season they had over 150 yards rushing over a Power 4 opponent. They will be down to their third string running back in this game. 

How will they manufacture yards without throwing? That’s a great question.  

Play of the Game right here

Take a bow, LT Overton. Chalk that one up to just relentless effort and a desire to win pic.twitter.com/jTXpjXLeYk

— Nick Perkins (@NickyPerkss) September 28, 2025

However, it’s not just the offensive line that Alabama has to worry about. Georgia ran for 227 yards and 6.9 yards per carry when these two met in September. Alabama’s defense has been great this season, but mainly in the back end and passing defense. They’re eighth in the conference in rush yards per game allowed, and tenth in yards per carry at 3.88 yards per rush. Their starting center is out for this game, but Alabama’s best defensive lineman LT Overton is also out.

Georgia has outscored Alabama by a combined 23 points in the second halves of those two games, holding the Tide scoreless this year and allowing just one touchdown across those four quarters.

The Key for Georgia – Glenn Schumann

Schumann has been one of the best coordinators in America the last few years at Georgia. However, he’s been abysmal against Kalen DeBoer offenses. Allowing 54 combined first half points in those two games against Alabama has ultimately been what beat them. 

Schumann’s defense was especially bad on third downs in this year’s game. Alabama finished that game 13-of-19 on third down for a 68.4% conversion rate. That included being 8-of-11 in the first half alone. 

Alabama QB Ty Simpson vs Georgia:

🐘 24/38
🐘 276 YDS
🐘 3 Total TDS
🐘 0 INTS@AlabamaFTBL pic.twitter.com/XQFwfYJykq

— PFF College (@PFF_College) September 28, 2025

If Georgia is going to win they’re gonna need to get off the field early and often and allow their offense to take a lead in this game for a change. 

X Factor for Alabama – WR Ryan Williams 

That may seem obvious, but Williams is coming off an Iron Bowl performance where he didn’t have a single target. He’s been huge in both games he’s played against Georgia, catching 11 passes for 220 yards, including the memorable game winner from the 2024 matchup. Germie Bernard and Isaiah Horton have been phenomenal this season, but Alabama will need their biggest playmaker if they want to win this game or in the playoff after. 

ABSOLUTE SCENES IN TUSCALOOSA!!!

RYAN WILLIAMS WITH A 75-YARD TD TO RETAKE THE LEAD! pic.twitter.com/pvc9ML7E7G

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) September 29, 2024

Also keep an eye out for freshman running back AK Dear. He hasn’t played much this year, but with Alabama being down their first and second string backs, he may see more action. 

X Factor for Georgia – RB Chauncey Bowens 

The combination of Bowens and Nate Frazier this season has been awesome. Bowens hasn’t played the last two games, but earlier this year he ran for a game high 119 yards against Alabama. He did that on just 12 carries. I would expect the game plan to be less screen passes from Gunner Stockton and more “let’s line up, buckle your chin strap and play grown man football” mentality from offensive coordinator Mike Bobo.

Also keep an eye on WR Dillon Bell. He hasn’t had a great year this year, and didn’t have a single catch in their first meeting in September, but he’s been huge for Georgia in some of their biggest games, including last year’s trip to Tuscaloosa where he had five catches for 100 yards and two touchdowns. 

Prediction 

It’s hard to beat a team twice in a season. It’s especially hard to do that when it feels like Alabama snuck out of Athens with a very fortunate win the first time around. I don’t like going against two decades worth of history and shortcomings from Georgia in this rivalry. But, with the players out at key spots for Alabama, and the way they’ve trended in the final month of the season in comparison to Georgia, I would be shocked to see Alabama get yet another win over the Dawgs. 

Georgia 28, Alabama 20