New coach, same result: Alabama beats Georgia in a thriller, again: 3 takeaways

No Nick Saban, no problem. Alabama found a way to rip Georgia's hearts out once again.

Alabama came out and hit Georgia in the mouth from the opening kickoff, scoring touchdowns on its first four offensive possessions and running out to a 28-0 lead that left Georgia, and the rest of the country watching at home, completely stunned.

Georgia rallied, and Alabama fell asleep at the wheel, allowing the Bulldogs to erase a 30-7 halftime deficit and eventually take a 34-33 lead on a 67 yard touchdown pass from Carson Beck to Dillon Bell.

One play later, and Alabama hit a 75-yard touchdown from Jalen Milroe to Ryan Williams and then converted a two-pointer to go up 41-34, a lead that would ultimately hold with the Tide's defense finally getting a second-half stop to win the game.

Georgia had won 42 straight regular season games heading into Saturday night's matchup with Alabama, but the Crimson Tide put yet another Bulldogs streak to bed.

3 Takeaways

3. Kalen DeBoer will need to answer some clock management questions

Throughout the second half, it felt like Kalen DeBoer and Alabama just never had an eye on the game clock. Routinely snapping the ball with 20+ seconds on the play clock, which ultimately aided Georgia in roaring back into the football game.

Leading 33-21, Alabama ran six plays before punting that only took a little over two minutes off of the game clock. Alabama snapped the ball with 20-seconds on the play clock on second and third down before punting, for reasons I can't figure out.

After a Georgia tuchdown to cut the lead to five, Alabama still had no interest in running clock. Again punting after just five plays and running a little over two minutes of clock.

I'm happy to get the win like the next guy, but there's some clock management stuff that needs to get sorted out moving forward.

At the end of the day, thought, it's a huge win for momentum with a ton of recruits in attendance and people wondering if Alabama is still Alabama. It wasn't a vintage Tide performance, but getting out of there with a win is all that matters.

2. Jalen Milroe is the Heisman front runner

Georgia's defense adjusted and did a good job in the second half, but Jalen Milroe did whatever he watned in the first half. He started the game with a big pass play to Emmanuel Henderson, and then ran in a 7-yard touchdown himself.

Drive two and he hit Jam Miller on a beautifully designed wheel route for a 16-yard touchdown on a perfectly placed ball.

After a Germie Bernard touchdown on a designed jet sweep, Milroe scored his third touchdown on Alabama's fourth possession, on a read-option keeper on a 4th-and-1 that went 36-yards to the house.

After struggling to move the football consistently in the second half, and seeing the big lead erased and trailing for the first time all night, Milroe was calm, cool, and collected hitting a 75-yard touchdown to Ryan Williams that proved to be the game winner.

Against what might be the best defense in the country, Milroe put together 491 yards of total offense and had his fouth straight game with at least two passing and two rushing touchdows. It was Milroe's first game with 400+ yards of total offense, and was very close to his first 500+ yard game.

1. The kids are all right

With Alabama's back against the wall, having blown a 28-point lead, it was a pair of Alabama freshmen that made the plays that decided the game.

Following a deflating Georgia touchown that gave Georgia a 34-33 lead, it took one play for the Crimson Tide to erase their first deficit of the night.

Milroe said after the game that it's all about "finding the matchups" and spoke about he trusted Ryan Williams to make a play. Williams is 17-years-old, if the broadcasts haven't hammered that fact home enough for you.

The should-be high school senior has become the go-to offensive weapon for a team with national championship aspirations. Williams had his best game to-date, catching 6-passes for 177-yards, and the game-winning touchdown.

Milroe delivered the ball, but Williams makes the catch at the Georgia 46-yard-line, and then makes two Bulldogs defenders miss and races to the endzone to get the lead back.

Georgia still had an opportunity after the quick touchdown, but Alabama forced the fourth turnover of the night on the Bulldogs, with another true freshman making a huge play. Carson Beck threw up a 1-on-1 ball for Colbie Young, but Alabama's Zabien Brown showed why he was one of the most highly recruited defensive backs in the country last season with the game sealing interception.