ATLANTA – No. 8 Alabama defeated No. 1 Georgia in the SEC championship game on Saturday, picking up a 27-24 win and vaulting into the College Football Playoff a day before the four-seed was announced. The Crimson Tide (12-1, 9-0 SEC) won the day defensively, while the previously explosive Bulldogs (12-1, 8-1 SEC) posted their lowest point total of the season.
Alabama coach Nick Saban improved to 3-0 with nine straight wins in the SEC title game against Georgia coach Kirby Smart and the conference championship was on the line. The Tide also improved to 5-0 against No. 1 teams in the CFP rankings.
With the loss, the Dawgs’ 29-game winning streak ended – the third-longest in FBS history since 1973 – and their chances of a third straight national championship were likely gone as well.
The Alabama offense did its part with a nine-play, 75-yard touchdown drive to take a 27-17 lead with 5:47 left. Quarterback Jalen Milroe started 0-for-4 passing but settled in well and finished with two passing touchdowns against a Georgia defense that saw few such dynamic QBs in the regular season.
Two-time reigning champion Georgia initially appeared destined to continue its unbeaten march with an opening touchdown, but failed to score on its next five possessions as Alabama asserted itself on defense. The Tide’s defensive improvement coincided with the offense scoring three straight possessions to close out the first half.
- Alabama wide receiver Isaiah Bond led both teams with five receptions for 79 yards, four of which resulted in a game-winning score for the Tide in the second half.
- The SEC West improved to 13-2 in SEC championship games over the last 15 seasons. This was the final year of the SEC’s divisional format.
- Georgia had won four straight contests in its 29-game streak while trailing by at least 10+ points.
- The Dawgs’ 78 yards rushing were their fewest since 2020 (in Cincinnati).
- Georgia is 1-2 against Alabama and 40-0 against every other team it has faced since 2021.
Read below to learn how Alabama beats Georgia for the 2023 SEC Championship.