Alabama stuns No. 1 Georgia to win SEC Championship Game: Full reaction and analysis

Alabama beats Georgia 27-24 in Atlanta. Check back for analysis.

Kennington Smith III, Seth Emerson and The Athletic College Football staff

December 2, 2023 at 11:53 PM EST Alabama stuns No. 1 Georgia to win SEC Championship Game: Full reaction and analysis

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Committee has to leave out SEC

Georgia and Alabama are clearly two of the four best teams in America.

But neither can be included in the College Football Playoff.

If we want to deal with results and realities and not hypotheticals — no matter how easy those hypotheticals are to accept — the sport will have to grapple with uncharted territory: A CFP without the SEC.

Nick Saban’s program can still set the standard

A caravan of Alabama players began to make their way through the tunnel, and the celebration was on. The shirts said it all: 2023 SEC champions. Some players were holding up newspapers with the headline “BAMA IS BACK!” and almost every player held up their hands for the team motto LANK (“Let All Naysayers Know”). Before long, the smell of cigar smoke started to fill the floor-level hallways of Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Georgia's loss came to the wrong team in the wrong season

The day started with Greg Sankey quoting a Sesame Street feature, which seemed like comical desperation and appropriate foreshadowing for the situation the SEC and Georgia find themselves in today.

Don’t look at those minor imperfections on our resume. Look at our championship history. Look at who we are. Look at what you KNOW will happen if we played ANY of those lesser beings from other conferences.

“Let’s go back to like Sesame Street — one of these things is not like the other,” the SEC’s commissioner said, daring others to compare his conference to others, like Godzilla staring down a field of sheep.

Michigan becomes favorite to win national title

With Georgia's loss, Michigan is now the favorite to win the national title on BetMGM. The Wolverines are +145, far from a dominant favorite. Alabama, despite not seeming like a lock to even make the College Football Playoff at this point, is second in the odds at +230. Washington (+550) and Texas (+600), which both already won their conference title games and appear likely to make the CFP, are next. With the loss, Georgia is a 12-to-1 (+1200) longshot.

Florida State is the last team on the board at +2000 (20-to-1) despite still being undefeated. Not only do the Seminoles have to win tonight, but the sportsbooks don't have much faith in FSU winning two CFP games without Jordan Travis.

Kirby Smart on Georgia's chances of making the CFP

(Photo: Brett Davis / USA Today)

Kirby Smart when asked about the Playoff makes his case by citing the eye test:

“Bill Hancock (CFP chairman) said it’s not the four most deserving. It’s the four best. If you’re in that committee room, and you’re telling me that that’s not one of the four best teams, then you’re in the wrong profession.”

Alabama still owns Atlanta

How have AP No. 1 teams fared in their conference title games?

AP No. 1 teams have won 10 of their past 12 conference title games. The only losses were both by Georgia to Alabama.

Alabama has won each of its past nine SEC title game appearances after losing its first under Nick Saban in 2008

Georgia is 0-4 against Bama in the SEC title game

New first down clock rule plays a big part

It ain't over 'til it's over

Georgia drives down the field to trim the lead down to three. Brock Bowers nearly doubled his receptions on the day with two clutch catches: the first for nine yards to start the drive and the second a massive 19-yard acrobatic snag to get the Bulldogs within the ten-yard line. Kendall Milton punched it in on fourth-and-goal from the one, and the score is now 27-24, Alabama.

The concern? The existential threat for every man: a lack of time. The drive took up 2:55 and Georgia had to burn a timeout. The Dawgs defense will have to get a stop quickly for Georgia to have a chance to complete the comeback.

Milroe goes 5-for-5 on TD drive

Crimson Tide responds

Isaiah Bond was the security blanket of Jalen Milroe on the touchdown drive for Alabama. Four targets for 57 yards, Bond was operating primarily underneath the Georgia defense, allowing Milroe to check down to him. The final completion put Alabama about half-a-yard shy of the goal line.

Roydell Williams punched in the touchdown on second down, putting Alabama up 27-17, and putting the pressure on Georgia's offense once again. The Bulldogs only have 5:47 left to work with, down ten in the fourth quarter.

Dawgs back in the fight

And just like that, Georgia is squarely back in it: Its defense has given it a chance, and then its special teams provided the spark: Freshman Anthony Evans, returning a punt for the first time this season, brought it back to the 35. Five plays later Georgia was in the end zone.

It feels like the offense is figuring things out. Can the Bulldogs' defense keep things going?

Everything going wrong for Georgia's offense

Carson Beck hasn't had the time to throw he usually does, his receivers aren't getting separation like they usually do and Beck has made some uncharacteristic poor decisions. Just a lot of things going wrong for Georgia's offense, which has all of three points to show for its last eight drives.

It could've been worse for Georgia

(Photo: Gary A. Vasquez / USA Today)

It could've been worse for Georgia, but the game's first turnover still leads to it being a two-possession game again: The muffed end-around put Alabama at the Georgia 11, but the Tide couldn't punch it in, with Javon Bullard executing a great knockaway from Jermaine Burton in the end zone.

A little reminiscent of Bullard saving Georgia here last year — in the same end zone — by knocking Ohio State WR Marvin Harrison Jr.

Tide capitalize on fumble to extend lead

Oh and disaster for the Dawgs. The hand-off from Carson Beck to Daijun Edwards was misplayed, putting the ball on the ground where it was recovered by Alabama. To add insult to injury? The recovery was made by Trezmen Marshall, who transferred from Georgia to Alabama after four years with the Dawgs.

The Tide recover in the red zone, and though they don't get a touchdown, they do have a successful field goal to get the lead back to double digits. Bama up 20-10.

Can Dawgs get some offensive momentum going after Milroe ruled down?

Not since Paris hit Achilles with the arrow has a calf muscle been more significant. (Hyperbole? yes. But let's have fun.) Jalen Milroe nearly made a miraculous escape from the arms of Jalon Walker to scamper for a first down, but the referees correctly ruled him down due to his calf muscle brushing the ground. Burnip punts, Georgia has the ball (though quite a few Dawgs are limping).

Can Georgia get some offensive momentum going to tie the game?

Alabama holds Georgia to a FG, maintains a 17-10 lead

Georgia goes after backup cornerback Trey Amos on his first play in a matchup with Brock Bowers. Amos wins with a pass breakup. Alabama holds Georgia to a field goal and maintains a 17-10 lead with 8:51 left in the third quarter.

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