ESPN’s College GameDay rolled into Tuscaloosa on Saturday morning, and when the crew wrapped up its three-hour show from Coleman Coliseum, the spotlight turned to one of the biggest questions of the week: who’s taking No. 6 Alabama and who’s riding with No. 2 Georgia?
The answer from the panel leaned Crimson Tide.
Former Alabama coach Nick Saban and guest picker Bryce Young both went with Alabama over Georgia ahead of the 6:30 p.m. CT kickoff at Bryant-Denny Stadium on ABC. Davis, the host, does not make picks, and Kirk Herbstreit also was not part of the voting since he is on the call tonight.
Saban pointed to Georgia’s overall quality, but said he liked what he’s seen from Alabama’s team chemistry.
“You know, I think Georgia's got one of the most complete teams in the country. I love Kirby, he's had a very consistent identity with his teams - tough, physical and all of that. But I really like the togetherness of Alabama's team this year, so I'm going Roll Tide, baby.”
Young echoed that same theme, while also singling out Keelon Russell as a difference-maker.
“Seeing how well a team plays together here at Bama, watching the togetherness, the secondary gelling with all of the turnovers they're creating, and I think the X-factor is Keelon Russell. Watching him develop, watching how well he's playing, watching him have command, I'm a huge fan, I think he's super special. So, of course, Roll Tide.”
Earlier in the show, Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer joined the set and explained what he believes outsiders don’t fully see when they look at this team. The Crimson Tide opened the year ranked No. 13 in the AP Top 25, but now sit at 5-0 and No. 6 in the poll.
“There’s a third field that we don’t practice as much on, but it’s where the grind happened in the offseason. And I think just the lessons learned and the things that we went through, the guys have this belief and trust because they know that everyone’s doing the work.”
That offseason work has even had its own label around Tuscaloosa. Alabama’s Practice Field 3 became a summer staple, and BamaCentral spoke with nine different Crimson Tide players about the demanding workouts that took place there.
The matchup brings a long history with it. Alabama leads the all-time series 45-27-4, with the first meeting coming on Nov.
2, 1895. The Crimson Tide is 24-13-4 at home against Georgia and has won eight of the last 10 meetings overall.
Georgia, though, got the last word in the 2025 SEC Championship Game, a 28-7 win over Alabama. The Crimson Tide finished that game with -3 rushing yards and was missing multiple key players.
It was only the second time that season Alabama’s defense did not force a turnover, with the other coming in the Oklahoma game. Alabama and Georgia had already met once in 2025 before that title-game rematch, with the Crimson Tide winning 24-21 in Athens.
In Other News...
Georgia Heads To Alabama With A New Problem On Both Sides
Georgia is heading into its matchup with Alabama still shorthanded on offense, with wide receiver Isiah Canion ruled out again as he continues to work through a leg injury. It will be his third straight missed game, and he is one of several Georgia players unavailable for the latest SEC injury report, which also includes Thomas Blackshear and Chauncey Bowens.
For Alabama, that adds another layer to a game already shaped by availability and depth, especially against a Georgia group trying to piece together its rotation on the fly. The injury report leaves the Bulldogs with multiple names off the board heading into one of the seasons most watched SEC matchups, and it is a reminder that the margin in games like this often starts well before kickoff. [Read more 🡒]
Saban Just Raised The Stakes For Alabama Against Georgia
The buildup to Alabama-Georgia already had all the ingredients of a marquee October matchup, and Nick Saban did little to cool it off this week. With both teams sitting at 5-0, the Crimson Tide and Bulldogs are headed into a game that carries the feel of an early measuring stick for the SEC and the national picture, especially with Georgia coming in as the defending standard after last seasons championship-level run.
Sabans praise for Georgia only sharpens the intrigue, since he called the Bulldogs one of the most complete teams in the country and acknowledged how dominant they have been so far. Alabama also has recent history to answer for, after Georgia beat the Tide 28-7 in the SEC Championship, so this meeting has the makings of more than just another high-end showdown. It is another chance for Alabama to show where it stands against the team that has set the tone in the conference. [Read more 🡒]
Alabama Is Sending A Clear Message About EJ Crowells Slow Start
Alabamas backfield picture has been shaped as much by health and development as by depth chart order, and EJ Crowell fits right into that story. The freshman running back has been eased in after missing significant practice time because of injuries, and offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb along with running backs coach Robert Gillespie have both stressed the same theme: patience. Crowells talent and work ethic have kept him in the conversation, even as the staff continues to manage his growth carefully.
So far, the usage has reflected that approach, with Crowell getting a limited role while Alabama sorts out how to bring him along without rushing the process. He has already flashed enough to show why the staff is encouraged, but the larger message from the coaches is that the slow start is about development, not doubt. For a player with his upside, the next step is less about forcing the issue and more about waiting for the right time to let it come together. [Read more 🡒]