No. 3 Bulldogs overwhelm No. 9 Crimson Tide with suffocating defense, clutch quarterback play, and major special teams momentum to secure back-to-back SEC titles and a Playoff berth.
ATLANTA | One of college football’s fiercest rivalries added a new chapter Saturday night — and this time it belonged entirely to the Bulldogs. In front of 77,247 fans at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, No. 3 Georgia (12–1) dominated long stretches of the game and overwhelmed No. 9 Alabama (10–3), powering to a 28–7 victory to capture the 2024 SEC Championship and avenge a heartbreaking September loss.
With the win, Georgia claimed its 16th SEC title, secured its second straight conference crown, and locked in a spot in the College Football Playoff for the fourth time in five years.
Bulldogs Flip the Script from September Clash
When the Crimson Tide edged Georgia 24–21 in Athens earlier this season, the Bulldogs failed to overcome a slow start. That wasn’t the case Saturday.
Georgia’s defense set the tone early, holding Alabama scoreless for three full quarters and limiting the Tide to just 70 first-half yards and 209 total yards overall — with minus-3 rushing yards on 16 attempts. Alabama hadn’t scored fewer than 17 points all season, but the Bulldogs shut down everything.
Quarterback Gunner Stockton, poised and unflappable, went 20-of-26 for 156 yards and 3 touchdowns, avoiding turnovers while guiding an offense that controlled the clock and field position.
Special Teams Spark the First Strike
The turning point came early. Midway through the opening quarter, linebacker Cole Speer broke free and blocked Alabama’s punt, with Justin Williams recovering and returning it to the Tide's 21-yard line. Four plays later, Stockton rolled right and found Roderick Robinson II for a touchdown — Robinson’s first since 2023 — putting Georgia up 7–0.
It was the kind of special teams jolt that championship teams capitalize on, and Georgia never looked back.
Defense Takes Over — Again and Again
At halftime, the Bulldogs led 14–0, had run nearly twice as many plays, and had controlled the ball for 20 of the first 30 minutes. It also marked 11 straight quarters without allowing a touchdown — stretching back to Nov. 15 vs. Texas.
Safety JaCorey Thomas (six tackles, one sack) led a defense that hounded Tide quarterback Ty Simpson (19-of-39, 212 yards, 1 INT), sacking him three times and forcing hurried throws all night.
Georgia Breaks It Open in the Third
Alabama finally crossed 100 total yards on the final play of the third quarter. Still, by then the Bulldogs were up 21–0 after running back Nate Frazier capped a short-field drive with a 9-yard touchdown run following a 24-yard punt return from Zachariah Branch.
Alabama managed a late spark in the fourth, scoring on a 23-yard throw from Simpson to Germie Bernard, ending the Bulldogs’ five-plus quarter defensive shutout streak. But Georgia slammed the door minutes later.
Facing a potential field goal that might have kept Alabama alive, Stockton dumped a short pass left to Branch, who burst through traffic for a 13-yard touchdown, pushing the lead to 28–7 with 6:51 remaining.
From there, Georgia’s defense forced another turnover on downs and the Bulldogs ran out the clock, celebrating their second consecutive SEC Championship — and perhaps their most satisfying win of the season.
What’s Next — Bulldogs Headed Back to the Playoff
The College Football Playoff Selection Show airs Sunday at noon ET on ESPN, when Georgia will learn its opening opponent in the expanded 12-team field.
With Saturday’s emphatic win, the Bulldogs have positioned themselves as one of the tournament’s most dangerous contenders — again.
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-- By James W. Thomas
Sarah Darden contributed to this report
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