That was a lot of fun.
What else do you need?
There were great offensive plays, a huge comeback, a lot of heart from both teams, and two heavyweights swapping big punches in Alabama’s 41–34 win over Georgia. The game had a little bit of everything.
The instant hit left me with five important ideas, thoughts, and things to remember.
Alabama 41, Georgia 34
5. Well THAT was fun, Georgia and Alabama. Let’s do it again …
Once more.
Really? Did adding 12 teams to the College Football Playoff make this any less fun? No, it was still unique.
Even if the CFP had not been widened, these two teams could play each other again. They could play each other in the SEC Championship. Then there is a chance to meet again in this new, bigger CFP.
Just so you know, I am still not sure about Texas and Tennessee, but that is a story for another day.
From here on out, Alabama will be favored by more than 10 points over every team except Tennessee, which they will play on the road on October 19.
Georgia’s schedule is harder, with games at Texas and Ole Miss, Tennessee at home, and a rivalry game against Georgia Tech, but…
Let us get more of this, sure.
4. Carson Beck showed why he’s just that good (after showing why there’s still some concern)
Everybody has bad days sometimes, and Georgia quarterback Carson Beck had a bad first 40 minutes of this game.
His mistake was not the only one. It looked like Alabama had 13 defenders on the field, and the pass rush jumped all over Beck’s head. He kept his cool and kept throwing. In the end, he threw for 439 yards and three scores to help the Dawgs get back in the game.
There were three errors, with the last one being the worst. That is why NFL scouts are so excited about his potential, though.
And…
3. If that wasn’t Jalen Milroe’s Heisman performance ….
It was not all him, but he did a great job against a Georgia defense full of NFL ability. Despite all the attention and pressure, he not only lived up to the task, but he also pulled it off in the most important moments late in the game.
Yes, Zavien Brown’s pick helped with that, and I will talk more about the other No. 2 in a moment. He completed 27 out of 33 passes for 374 yards and two touchdowns while throwing one interception. He also ran 16 times for 117 yards and two touchdowns.
And beating Georgia 41–34. Down one in the last two minutes, the 75-yard touchdown pass to an…
2. Ryan Williams is very good at playing football
To use Kip Winger’s words, he is only 17.
The great Georgia defense was giving Alabama rookie wide receiver Ryan Williams a tough game. But then he made one of the most famous plays in Crimson Tide history.
He fought hard for the ball, got just the right amount of pushoff, jumped to grab it, and then… he was gone.
Alabama survived and moved forward after one play that went 75 yards, and…
1. Kalen DeBoer got his first SEC win
There you have it, the best DeBoer attack.
Could the attack that worked so well at Washington and helped the team win the national title last year immediately work at Alabama? How long would it take to learn?
But it is more than that; it is the way the Crimson Tide will play from now on.
Attack, attack, attack.
There are some things Alabama could have done to kill time late in the game, and the running backs should have had more chances to run, but again, this is how the game works when it matters most.
Do not fear.
That was possible for Michael Penix Jr., and it is clear that Jalen Milroe does not mind the pressure.
Focus on how the offense slowed down in the second half, and worry about how Alabama let Georgia get back into the game. But 547 yards is not bad against Georgia.
That was the last time someone ran for more than 400 yards against Georgia. That was in the 2022 SEC Championship, when LSU ran for 549.
