Bulldogs Dominate Crimson Tide in SEC Championship
The Bulldogs showcased their prowess on Saturday, both in a figurative and literal sense.
In a commanding 28-7 win against the Crimson Tide at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia’s players were relentless. Following the game, a bunch of bulldogs surrounded junior defensive lineman Kristen Miller, who humorously acted out hitting the Crimson Tide with a belt.
Georgia State (12-1), which ranked No. 3, took down No. 9 Alabama (10-3), who was aiming for back-to-back SEC titles. Interestingly, Alabama didn’t seem to suffer much from this defeat, maintaining their ninth position in the College Football Playoff rankings while defeating Notre Dame to secure a playoff spot.
Until this game, Bulldogs had never claimed victory over Alabama in a conference championship. They managed to shut out the Crimson Tide for three quarters, holding them to an astonishing minus-3 rushing yards throughout the contest—yes, that’s right, minus.
Quarterback Gunner Stockton of Georgia completed 20 out of 26 passes for 156 yards, scoring three touchdowns without any interceptions, earning him MVP accolades for the game.
“We treated it like any big game; we didn’t overthink it,” Stockton remarked post-game.
This matchup was a chance for revenge for the Bulldogs, having previously lost to Alabama earlier in the season. Under head coach Kirby Smart, Georgia improved to 4-0 in these second-chance games, which now includes a memorable comeback in the 2021 National Championship game against Alabama.
Stockton emphasized the team’s resilience: “We never quit. That’s shown every game. It’s probably one of the strongest attributes of our team.”
Alabama has claimed three national championships in the four-team CFP format with their legendary coach Nick Saban, who announced his retirement prior to the 2024 season. The team will face off against No. 8 Oklahoma in the playoffs.
Despite their impressive win, the Bulldogs remained at No. 3 in the CFP rankings but moved up to No. 2 in the latest Associated Press Top 25 poll, following Indiana’s victory over Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship, which propelled them to the top spot.
