When Alabama and Georgia matchup on Saturday night, the talent level of the two teams will be nearly equal, as it often has been since Kirby Smart took over in Athens. What serves to make the difference in the game isn't likely to be ability; it's probably going to be mentally.
And it's there that Georgia has its biggest advantage over Alabama.
The Bulldogs have already proven their mental resolve. They could have laid down a couple of weeks ago in Knoxville against Tennessee. The Vols punched them in the mouth repeatedly, building a 21-7 advantage and holding an eight-point lead with under three minutes to go.
Facing a 4th down with the game on the line, Georgia QB Gunner Stockton delivered a perfect pass to London Humphreys for a 28-yard touchdown. The subsequent two-point conversion tied the game, and Georgia prevailed in overtime.
It was yet another example of a Kirby Smart-coached team being mentally tough. That has been the earmark of his tenure there, and it was the earmark of Alabama for a long time under Nick Saban.
It's the biggest question mark facing Kalen DeBoer and this Crimson Tide team moving forward.
Georgia faced adversity once this season and stared it right in the face and didn't blink. Alabama faced adversity once this season and immediately folded.
Alabama looked outstanding against UL Monroe and Wisconsin since the loss to Florida State. But neither one of those teams was good enough to cause the Crimson Tide any kind of nervousness. Alabama was at a significant advantage in terms of personnel.
That will change in Athens. Georgia can match Alabama blue-chip for blue-chip. And the Bulldogs will cause the Crimson Tide to face adversity for the first time since Week 1. How Alabama responds to it will not only serve to determine the outcome of Saturday night's game in Athens, but the direction this team - and perhaps the entire DeBoer tenure - heads from there.
Can Alabama overcome its struggles on the road?
Kalen DeBoer is a perfect 9-0 in games played at Bryant-Denny Stadium in just over a year as the Tide's head coach. But he's just 2-4 in true road games.
Alabama lost on the road to Vanderbilt, Tennessee, and Oklahoma last season. This year, the Crimson Tide is quickly 0-1 on the road after the loss in Tallahassee.
DeBoer's Alabama teams have not responded well to adversity in road environments. The two wins - at Wisconsin and LSU in 2024 - came in blowout fashion. They didn't face any tense moments in those games.
They won't be able to rely on a blowout against Georgia. The Bulldogs are too good - and too mentally strong - to get beaten that soundly. Even when you have them down, they will battle back. DeBoer and Alabama learned that a year ago. Alabama broke out to a 28-0 lead over Georgia in Tuscaloosa and still found themselves trailing in the fourth quarter, needing a miraculous play by Ryan Williams in order to avoid a monumental collapse.
Championship-level teams aren't just physically talented. They are mentally strong as well. When Alabama and Georgia face off this weekend, only one of the teams has proven to have championship mettle. And it's not the Crimson Tide.
It's time to change that.