No. 2 Georgia and No.
6 Alabama meet Saturday night in Tuscaloosa with both teams sitting at 5-0 and both still unbeaten in SEC play. It’s the kind of heavyweight game that can reshape the race for a College Football Playoff spot in one night.
Georgia has looked every bit like a top contender through five games. The Bulldogs have topped 38 points in every outing and held each opponent to 20 points or fewer, a clean run that has them rolling into Bryant-Denny Stadium with a 5-0 record. Gunnar Stockton has settled in nicely in his second season as the starter, and Nate Frazier has given Georgia a real finishing punch on the ground with five rushing touchdowns already.
Alabama brings its own surge into the matchup. In Kalen DeBoer’s third season, the Crimson Tide are back in the national championship conversation, and quarterback Keelon Russell has been a major reason why.
The first-year starter has piled up 15 total touchdowns, through the air and on the ground, and has given Alabama a dangerous dual-threat look. The Tide are 5-0 as well and join Georgia as the only 3-0 teams in the SEC so far.
The stakes are straightforward. The winner takes a major step toward locking in a College Football Playoff berth. The loser won’t be out of the picture, but the path gets a little tighter.
Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, Oct. 10, from Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa.
ABC will carry the broadcast, with Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit on the call. Fans can also stream the game on Fubo, DIRECTV, or the ESPN app.
Alabama’s next games after Georgia are at Tennessee on Oct. 17, home against Texas A&M on Oct. 24, at LSU on Nov. 7, at Vanderbilt on Nov. 14, home against Chattanooga on Nov. 21, and home against Auburn on Nov. 28.
Georgia’s remaining regular-season slate after this trip includes Auburn on Oct. 17, Florida on Oct. 31, at Ole Miss on Nov.
7, Missouri on Nov. 14, at South Carolina on Nov. 21, and Georgia Tech on Nov. 28.
In Other News...
Georgia Is No. 1 But The Real Test Starts Now
Georgias rise to No. 1 in the latest AP Poll came on the heels of a statement win over Alabama and Texas loss to Oklahoma, a combination that pushed the Bulldogs to the top of the rankings with 66 of 70 first-place votes. Notre Dame, Miami and Indiana picked up the other votes, even without the same kind of marquee wins on their rsums, but Georgias spot at the summit comes with a familiar catch: being the target is usually harder than getting there.
The Bulldogs are still the SECs last unbeaten team, and the calendar is not about to make things easier with five conference games left. The road ahead includes a trip to Ole Miss and a home date with Missouri, matchups that could shape Georgias path to the SEC Championship Game and determine how long the No. 1 label stays on the teams chest. [Read more 🡒]
Georgia Defense Just Sent A Clear Message In The Alabama Win
Georgias win over Alabama had the feel of a statement game from the start, but the defense made sure it stayed that way. The Bulldogs came away with a 20-17 victory after keeping the Crimson Tide to 17 points, a sharp turn from the explosive pace Alabama had shown earlier this season. Linebacker Chris Cole and safety Khalil Barnes pointed to the physical edge of Georgias preparation and the units defensive focus as big reasons the group looked so locked in when it mattered most.
The second half is where Georgia really separated itself, allowing only three points after halftime and nothing at all in the final quarter. Barnes said the defense was ready because of the way the team practiced during the week, and the performance backed that up on Saturday. For Georgia, it was more than just getting a win over a heavyweight opponent. It was a reminder that this defense can still set the tone when the stakes rise. [Read more 🡒]
Georgia Just Took A Huge Step Back Toward The Top
Georgias win over Alabama did more than add another marquee result to the rsum. It also reshuffled the top of the college football picture, with Texas losing to Oklahoma and South Carolina knocking off Florida, creating the kind of weekend that can send a team surging straight to the front of the AP Top 25 discussion.
For Kirby Smarts program, the timing matters almost as much as the victory itself. The Bulldogs are positioned for a return to the top of the poll after building the kind of profile that gets rewarded in October, and the ripple effects from around the country only strengthened that case as the latest rankings take shape. [Read more 🡒]