Nick Saban didn’t waste Friday afternoon with soft-pedal talk about Alabama’s next opponent. Asked about the Crimson Tide’s showdown with Georgia, the longtime Alabama coach made it clear he sees the Bulldogs as a problem in every phase.
“I think Georgia is one of the most complete teams in the country.” Saban said.
“I know they haven’t been tested, but they haven’t been behind, they’ve dominated the competition. Which you know, that’s hard to do sometimes when you’re supposed to go out and win like you’re supposed to.
So how they’ll fare against better competition, look. I think teams that have had success and have won championships, they’re never going to say die.
They are going to compete in the game for 60 minutes, there may be some adversity for them in the game but they are going to keep playing and whoever is going to beat them is going to have to play them with the same temperament and attitude to play a complete game.”
That assessment comes with plenty on the line. No. 6 Alabama and Georgia both enter Saturday night at 5-0, and the matchup is shaping up to carry major weight in the SEC race and the CFP picture.
The Tide are trying to keep building on a strong start, but Georgia already has the kind of result that sticks in the mind. The Bulldogs beat Alabama 28-7 in the SEC Championship, the second meeting between the two programs during the 2025 season.
Saban’s message was simple: Georgia has looked dominant, and if Alabama wants to hand the Bulldogs their first real setback, it will have to match that level for four quarters.
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 🡒]
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 🡒]
Alabama Could Get A Needed Offensive Boost For Georgia
Josh Fords return would give Alabama a welcome option at tight end heading into the Georgia game, especially after the arm injury that required surgery forced him to sit out. The encouraging sign for the Crimson Tide is that he practiced during the week, and Kalen DeBoer sounded optimistic about where Ford stands as kickoff approaches.
For Alabama, any added help in the passing game and as a blocker matters in a matchup where depth can tilt the margins. Georgia is getting running back Nate Frazier back from bruised ribs, while Chauney Bowens is out, and the broader SEC injury picture also includes Florida receiver Vernell Brown III as a game-time decision and Tennessee turning to George MacIntyre after the injury to Faizon Brandon. [Read more 🡒]