After No. 3 Georgia closed an 11-1 regular season with its eighth consecutive win over in-state foe Georgia Tech last week, head coach Kirby Smart was asked about his senior class dominating its top rivals through four seasons.
Smart replied with a reminder that Georgia Tech, Florida, Auburn and Tennessee do not form a complete list of the Bulldogs’ biggest rivals.
“You know, there [are] different ones on the market we haven’t beat,” he mentioned.
Sensible did not point out No. 10 Alabama. He did not must. Georgia gamers perceive there’s unfinished enterprise ready in Saturday’s SEC Championship Recreation. A win over Alabama (10-2, No. 9 CFP) is the evident omission from the Georgia seniors’ four-year 50-5 report that features the 2022 nationwide championship and two SEC titles.
“Everyone is aware of the historical past of Georgia-Alabama,” mentioned Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton. “I imply, it’s there.”
Certainly, there are reminders in all places. Even within the pregame media notes ready by Georgia (No. 3 CFP), there’s a recap of the sequence entitled “The Elephant In The Room.”
Large Al casts a shadow Georgia has struggled to flee.
“Like, the crew is fairly conscious,” linebacker Raylen Wilson mentioned.
With every crew making an attempt to enhance its nationwide championship hopes in addition to declare the SEC title, there’s extra on the road than simply the sequence historical past between the convention powers.
“It’s positively going to be an important battle, one for the centuries — prefer it at all times is when Alabama and Georgia play,” Alabama nostril sort out Tim Keenan mentioned.
Alabama shall be taking part in for its first title with head coach Kalen DeBoer. Alabama beat Georgia for its seventh SEC championship in 2023 with former coach Nick Saban.
Georgia fell to 1-7 towards Alabama below Sensible with a 24-21 loss on Sept. 27. It was the Bulldogs’ first house loss in six years. The Bulldogs are 0-3 within the sequence within the final 4 years, together with a 27-24 loss within the 2023 SEC championship recreation when Georgia was No. 1, undefeated and coming off back-to-back nationwide championships.
Who runs the state?
A win Saturday would give Alabama a two-game sweep of the Bulldogs this season, with each video games within the state of Georgia.
“We’re not even nervous about having bragging rights or something,” Alabama linebacker Deontae Lawson mentioned. “We simply know that is one other steppingstone on our approach to get to the place we wish to go. That’s actually our important focus.”
Georgia has not topped the Crimson Tide since a 33-18 win within the 2021 nationwide championship recreation for its first title in 41 years.
CFP implications
Every crew enters Saturday’s recreation at Mercedes-Benz Stadium motivated to enhance its probabilities on this 12 months’s Faculty Soccer Playoff. Georgia shall be taking part in to guard its place for a first-round bye.
Alabama desires to keep away from a 3rd loss that might endanger its spot within the 12-team area. The Crimson Tide’s transfer up one spot on this week’s CFP rating could imply Alabama will make the playoff area even with a loss to Georgia, however why make the committee make that decision?
“Man, I really feel like truthfully we’ve sort of had that mindset ever since our first loss,” Lawson mentioned. “I don’t actually suppose something would change in our mindset or something. We all know that we don’t wish to put it in nobody else’s fingers. Simply management what we are able to management, and that’s doing our greatest to win the sport, depart nothing up for probability.”
Defending champs
Georgia shall be taking part in for its fourth SEC championship below Sensible after final 12 months’s 22-19 extra time win over Texas in Atlanta. The Bulldogs have an eight-game profitable streak because the early-season house loss to Alabama.
Harm replace
Sensible mentioned Thursday heart Drew Bobo (foot, ankle) will miss the sport and mentioned his standing for the playoff is unsure. Choices at heart embrace Cortez Smith, Malachi Toliver and Dontrell Glover.
DeBoer mentioned beginning defensive finish LT Overton will miss the sport and operating again Jam Miller (decrease leg) is questionable. DeBoer earlier mentioned he didn’t anticipate tight finish Josh Cuevas to be obtainable.
New dean of SEC coaches
Sensible, in his tenth season, moved up because the SEC coach with the longest energetic tenure with Kentucky’s determination to fireplace Mark Stoops.
“I’ve an important program, nice administration, nice supporting solid right here, and it’s allowed us to achieve success,” Sensible mentioned. “I discuss it on a regular basis. In case you have good gamers, you coach them the precise means, coach them onerous, you could be profitable and we’ve been profitable. It’s onerous to maintain something and keep constant, particularly on this league the place it’s actually aggressive.”
Reporting by The Related Press.
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