There are times when one game changes everything. Alabama Football has had some of those games in Kalen DeBoer's short tenure. Until Saturday night in Athens, DeBoer's pivotal games have mostly changed perceptions of the Crimson Tide in a negative direction. Alabama's win over the Georgia Bulldogs was different.
Many in the college football world doubted Alabama's chances in Sanford Stadium. Alabama proved them wrong. At 3-1, Alabama has vaulted back into Playoff contention. The remaining schedule is still difficult, but no game should be as difficult as giving the Bulldogs their first loss in Sanford Stadium since 2019.
As always, Kirby Smart and the Bulldogs were prepared to win a war of attrition. Alabama, with good playing-calling and offensive execution orchestrated by Ty Simpson, was outstanding in the first half. The Crimson Tide's eight-play, 75-yard touchdown drive late in the second quarter gave Alabama's last points in the game. The 24 points were all the Tide needed.
Georgia gained the momentum in the contest by cutting their deficit to three points with six minutes left in the third quarter. Georgia's attrition plan appeared on track. Alabama bowed up on both sides of the ball. It is hard to win by attrition when the opponent runs 25 more plays and has 11:12 more possession time, as Alabama did against Georgia. It is also hard when a team converts just 25% of third downs, as Georgia did, while Alabama converted 63%.
Alabama Football was mentally tougher than Georgia
Georgia's second-half momentum and the loud Sanford Stadium crowd were not enough. The Crimson Tide refused to lose and willed itself to victory. Talking after the game in response to how Alabama recovered from the loss to FSU, Kalen DeBoer said, "You can back yourself in a corner, or you can fight. These guys made up their minds, they're gonna fight... We've got to make sure we don't forget what that chip on the shoulder was that got this momentum going." Fight Alabama did, and for most of the 60 minutes on Saturday night, Alabama was the mentally tougher team.
Georgia fans always blame Mike Bobo in a loss. Saturday night, additional blame was directed at Kirby Smart, particularly for not kicking a field goal that would have tied the game early in the 4th quarter. Instead, on 4th-and-1, Alabama's LT Overton tackled Cash Jones for a three-yard loss.
Much football lies ahead. Alabama won a big game, but as DeBoer said, the determination and preparation needed to beat Georgia must be maintained.
Note: Game stats provided by Stat Broadcast