Like it or not, the college footballl universe still revolves around Alabama

Everyone wanted to know - would Alabama still be Alabama without Nick Saban? Most people outside of the state of Alabama assumed no. The retirement of the greatest coach of all time had to be the end of the dynasty, mercifully.

Alabama has ruled college football with an iron fist. Everyone was sick of it, and the Tide's downfall has been hoped and prayed for. Numerous media members have written premature obituaries over the years at any sign of adversity.

Those obits were in full force in January when Saban decided to call it a career. The chinks in the armor had been noticable, they said. Alabama hasn't won a national title now in three full seasons, the only program ever to be held to a standard that not winning a national title for three seasons in a row would be considered a failure.

The scribes were ready, the hyenna's waiting, ready to pounce. An Alabama loss on Saturday night would be proof of concept. The dynasty was dead, and the Crimson Tide should take a backseat to Georgia, Texas, and even Tennessee in the SEC race.

Georgia had claimed the throne as the kings of the college football world. The Bulldogs won the national title in 2021 and 2022. They had put together gaudy winning-streaks, including 29-straight games prior to last season's SEC Championship Game, and 42 consecutive regular season wins, until Saturday night.

But Alabama has always been Georgia's kryptonite. Every time the Bulldogs feel like it's their turn to dominate the landscape, Alabama is there to bring them down to earth. Saturday night's 41-34 win over Georgia is the 9th win in the last 10 meetings for Alabama over Georgia. Kirby Smart is now 1-6 in seven cracks at Alabama.

Georgia fans were convinced that their problem was with Nick Saban, not Alabama. Kalen DeBoer rudely stomped all over that notion. Georgia's problem is Alabama, not Nick Saban.

And Alabama is college football's problem. There's a decent chance that Alabama could find their way back to the No. 1 spot in the AP Poll this week after what will lilkely be considered the best win of the young college football season.

Beating Georgia is difficult. It's something that no program has done since 2020, unless you are Alabama. The talk of the Bulldogs being the top dog should now end. The Crimson Tide hasn't gone anywhere. The run is not over, and DeBoer seems to be fully capable of picking up where Saban left off.

Winning a football game in September has never won anyone a championship. There's a long season to go, and Alabama will face many more difficult tests. They could very well play Georgia again. Maybe even two more times.

But Saturday night's win was important for perception, and an important reminder to everyone, whether they like it or not, that the king stays the king. Alabama is still the kings of college football, and everything still revolves around Tuscaloosa.

Dread it. Run from it. Destiney arrives all the same.