Alabama is getting ready for a Saturday night that could feel like it has a little bit of everything thrown at it.
No. 6 Alabama and No.
2 Georgia are already bringing the kind of top-10 matchup that pulls the entire college football world in. Add President Donald Trump in attendance, Nick Saban and ESPN’s College GameDay on the quad, and that’s plenty of extra noise around Bryant-Denny Stadium.
But the biggest wild card may be the one nobody can control: tropical storm Isaias, which is expected to come near the stadium over the weekend and could bring heavy rain and wind.
Inside Alabama’s building, though, the message sounds simple enough. Be ready for whatever shows up.
"I know the centers have," Lloyd said on Tuesday when asked if the team is practicing with a wet ball. "I've seen them getting the balls wet.
We're going to be ready for storms. If it rains, whatever.
We're going to be ready for anything that might come our way.
"It doesn't really affect me too much. Rain or shine, I'm doing the same thing no matter what. Plus we get to run the ball more, so that's always nice."
That same attitude was there from cornerback Zabien Brown, one of Alabama’s captains and the player who intercepted the game-sealing pass the last time Georgia came to Tuscaloosa.
"We're not worried about external factors," Brown said. "Everything in our building stays in our building. We have our routine, our system, and that's what we're rolling on.
"I don't think we're motivated at all by [College GameDay coming to Tuscaloosa]. I feel like all of our motivation comes from internal factors.
It's us vs. everybody. That's our mentality."
The football part of this game is just as loud as everything circling it. Alabama and Georgia rank first and second nationally in points per game through five weeks. Georgia’s defense has been just as imposing, allowing the 12th-fewest points per game and ranking in the top 25 percent nationally in sacks, tackles for loss, third-down conversions and a long list of other categories.
For Alabama, that means the test up front is going to be as real as it gets.
"Obviously, they're going to be super good," Lloyd said of Georgia's defensive line. "It's going to be a super good test for us.
We're excited for it. Excited to go out there and compete.
They can do it all - they're big, strong, physical - but we're excited to go out there and play... They're all legit."
The history between these teams adds another layer. Alabama leads the all-time series 45-27-4, with the first meeting coming on Nov. 2, 1895, and the latest on Dec.
6, 2025. The Crimson Tide owns a 24-13-4 record at home against Georgia and has won eight of the last 10 meetings overall.
The last time these teams met was a rough one for Alabama, which was beaten 28-7 by Georgia in the 2025-26 SEC Championship Game. The Crimson Tide finished that game with -3 rushing yards and was missing multiple key players.
Now the teams meet again with both unbeaten: No. 6 Alabama is 5-0 and 3-0 in the SEC, while No.
2 Georgia is also 5-0 and 3-0 in conference play. Kickoff is set for Saturday, Oct. 10, at 6:30 p.m. on ABC.
In Other News...
Ole Miss Faces A Real Offensive Question Before Vanderbilt
Ole Miss heads into its matchup with Vanderbilt with a little more to sort through than a typical SEC Saturday, even with the Rebels carrying the stronger recent history in the series. The kickoff time has shifted, but the bigger adjustment may be on offense, where this years group is being measured against last seasons unit with TeamRankings data showing a mix of familiar strengths and some notable changes in how the Rebels are moving the ball.
Kewan Lacys limited availability in recent games has added another layer to the conversation, especially with the rushing game not producing at the same level. For a team that has leaned on offensive consistency to set the tone, the question is whether Ole Miss can clean that up quickly enough to avoid carrying an unfinished feel into a conference game that still matters beyond the standings. [Read more 🡒]
Vanderbilt Gets A Massive Jared Curtis Boost For Ole Miss
A big piece of Vanderbilts game plan is back on the table for Saturdays matchup with No. 9 Ole Miss. Five-star freshman quarterback Jared Curtis is expected to return after missing the previous game with an injury, giving the Commodores a dual-threat presence they have leaned on early in the season. Curtis has already shown why he arrived with so much hype, even if the first stretch of his college career has come with the usual growing pains in decision-making.
For Vanderbilt, the timing matters. Ole Miss brings a defense that will be tested differently with Curtis under center, especially if the Commodores can pair his return with a steady run game and keep the Rebels from dictating the terms of the matchup. It gives Vanderbilt a better chance to stress Ole Miss in ways it could not the last time out, and it makes this one a little more interesting than a routine SEC trip. [Read more 🡒]
Ole Miss Has A Finishing Problem It Must Fix At Vanderbilt
Ole Miss has spent the last two games reminding everyone that a comfortable lead is not the same thing as a finished product. Against Louisville and LSU, the Rebels built enough cushion to control the flow, then had to lean on late offensive work to make sure those wins stayed in the column. After a two-week stretch to sort through the details, the issue now shifts from hindsight to urgency, because the next chance to prove it comes on the road at Vanderbilt.
That trip brings a different kind of pressure for a team trying to show it can close. Conference games have a way of tightening when the fourth quarter arrives, and Ole Miss has already shown it cannot afford to let chances linger. The Rebels do not need a style change so much as cleaner execution when the game should already be in hand, and Vanderbilt offers another test of whether they have actually solved that problem. [Read more 🡒]