The No. 2 Georgia Bulldogs versus the No. 4 Alabama Crimson Tide, a matchup that proved to be worth the hype in Week 5 of college football action. Kirby Smart’s Bulldogs entered the game on a 42 game regular season winning streak. Having captured two of the last three national championships, Georgia was considered a narrow favorite entering the game against first-year Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer and the undefeated Crimson Tide.
But Alabama’s strength at home in Bryant-Denny Stadium proved to be too much for the Bulldogs, especially in the first half. Star quarterback Jalen Milroe accounted for four touchdowns in the first 30 minutes. Alabama also added a safety to secure a 30-7 lead at halftime. Surprisingly, Georgia’s vaunted defense had no answer for Milroe’s ability as a passer and a ball carrier despite two weeks to prepare. After all, the Bulldogs had faced Milroe, albeit under Nick Saban, in the 2023 SEC Championship Game. After a 27-24 loss to Alabama in that matchup, it seemed like Georgia would approach this year’s game with a nuanced approach.
Despite the talent on UGA’s defensive roster, including two-time All-American Malaki Starks, Georgia struggled to keep Milroe and company in check. The Bulldogs’ effort in the second half couldn’t overcome the lead that Alabama built in the first two quarters. UGA ultimately jumped out to a 34-33 lead before Milroe connected with true freshman receiver Ryan Williams for a 75-yard touchdown to win the game in Tuscaloosa.
Smart described the attempt to defend Milroe following the matchup. “He’s really hard to defend,” Smart said. So you have to pick your poison. Do you want the guy to take off and beat you running? Do you want him to play loose coverage and try to keep eyes on him so he doesn’t take off? He ran the ball well on the perimeter, and we lost contain and then he also threw the ball well, which made it really tough.” The Bulldogs had not allowed a single touchdown on the season ahead of the first quarter in Tuscaloosa. Alabama made quick work of that record, and Milroe was at the center of the effort. The second half was an entirely different story, though, as the Tide’s offense scored only once thanks to the monumental touchdown pass to Williams with two minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.
Smart and co-defensive coordinators Glenn Schumann and Travaris Robinson made adjustments coming out of halftime. “In the second half, we played some tighter coverage, we made some stops, and we possessed the ball in offense,” Smart said, “When you make stops, you give yourself a chance.” Georgia (3-1) dropped to No. 5 in the AP Poll following its first regular season loss since 2020. The slate only gets tougher, including matchups against No. 2 Texas (Oct. 19), No. 12 Ole Miss (Nov. 9.) and No. 4 Tennessee (Nov. 16). The Bulldogs will need to be much better in the first half for them to contend in the SEC title and College Football Playoff race.
