Tag: Alabama

Oct 5, 2024; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Jalen Milroe (4) carries the ball in for a touchdown against the Vanderbilt Commodores during the second half at FirstBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Butch Dill-Imagn Images

No. 7 Alabama, facing South Carolina, looks to get past shock loss

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Alabama attempts to move on from an embarrassing setback when it faces South Carolina in Southeastern Conference play on Saturday in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

The then-No. 1 Crimson Tide lost 40-35 at lowly Vanderbilt last weekend, a result that sent tremors through the college football landscape.

The Commodores had never previously defeated a top-five squad, and the win was their first over Alabama since 1984.

The Crimson Tide (4-1, 1-1 SEC) fell to No. 7 in the rankings after the stunning setback.

“I had my part in there, too, where we understood what happened and that it’s not up to our standard and how we had to proceed forward,” Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer said Monday.

Crimson Tide fans were outraged by a loss that saw Vanderbilt control the ball for more than 42 minutes, outrush Alabama 166-84 and go 12 of 18 on third-down conversions.

DeBoer, in his first season after replacing the retired Nick Saban, was asked if he had an explanation for the fans.

“Oh, I’m extremely frustrated,” DeBoer said. “We all are. But we’re not gonna lose our cool over that.”

But safety Malachi Moore, a team captain, did lose his cool after Vanderbilt gained the pivotal first down to sew up the win.

Moore had an on-field tantrum while the Commodores were taking kneel-downs. After one of them, Moore kicked the football downfield, drawing a 15-yard penalty.

“I let the emotions of the game get the best of me and put myself before the team,” Moore said on social media on Monday. “As a two-time captain and fifth-year player, I understand the standard we are expected to live up to at Alabama, and I failed to do so by acting in a selfish and unacceptable manner.”

Crimson Tide quarterback Jalen Milroe topped 300 yards for the second straight game by throwing for 312 yards, one touchdown and one interception against Vanderbilt. He also rushed for a score.

Milroe has accounted for 20 touchdowns (11 passing, nine rushing) this season. Top target Ryan Williams has 19 catches for 544 yards and six touchdowns, and seven of his grabs have been for 43 or more yards.

South Carolina (3-2, 1-2) is coming off a 27-3 home loss to then-No. 12 Ole Miss.

The Gamecocks were badly hurt by coach Shane Beamer’s decision to go with a fake punt on fourth-and-1 from their own 36-yard line less than three minutes into the game.

The fake failed, and Ole Miss cashed in on the short field for a touchdown just 96 seconds later.

“Certainly wish I could have that one back,” Beamer said. “Thought we could get a yard. … I hate that we put our defense in that position.”

Quarterback LaNorris Sellers returned from a one-game absence caused by an ankle injury and passed for 162 yards and rushed for 55.

Sellers said that neither rust nor the ankle was a problem against the Rebels.

“I think I played pretty good, other than we had a turnover,” Sellers said, referring to a fourth-quarter interception he threw. “But we didn’t win, so you feel bad about it. But my health is fine, I’m good, my ankle’s good.”

The South Carolina defense that is tasked with slowing down the Milroe-Williams combination is led by edge rusher Kyle Kennard (5.5 sacks).

Alabama leads the series 13-3, but this is just the second meeting since 2010. The Crimson Tide won the most recent matchup in 2019 when Tua Tagovailoa passed for 444 yards and five touchdowns in a 47-23 road victory.

–Field Level Media

Sep 28, 2024; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide defensive lineman Jehiem Oatis (10) celebrates after defeating the Georgia Bulldogs. Mandatory Credit: Gary Cosby Jr.-Imagn Images

Alabama DT Jehiem Oatis leaves team, will transfer

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Alabama junior defensive tackle and former top 75 recruit Jehiem Oatis is taking a redshirt this season and will enter the transfer portal this winter over a lack of playing time with the No. 7 Crimson Tide.

Oatis started 13 games in his first two seasons in Tuscaloosa under former coach Nick Saban but is averaging 16 snaps per game through four games he’s played in this season, according to ESPN.

“Getting the reps and looks that I’m getting, I feel like it’s better for me to move on somewhere new,” Oatis told ESPN.

Otis came to Alabama as a four-star recruit out of Columbia, Miss., in the Class of 2022. He was the 71st best recruit in the class, according to the 247Sports composite rankings.

The 6-foot-5, 325-pound Oatis informed Alabama of his decision on Monday.

Crimson Tide defensive coordinator Kane Wommack told reporters Monday that Oatis and has “not been able to perform or produce the way that any of us would like” due to injuries.

Oatis missed spring camp due to three surgeries and was also limited in training camp, per ESPN.

–Field Level Media

Texas Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers (3) snaps the ball during the game against UTSA at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024.

Texas No. 1, Alabama falls to No. 7 in AP Top 25 poll

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After spending one week atop the AP Top 25 college football poll, Alabama tumbled to No. 7 following a monumental upset at Vanderbilt on Saturday and Texas returned to the top spot after Week 6.

Texas, which was idle this week, faces its toughest test to date on Saturday when the Longhorns (5-0, 1-0 SEC) face No. 18 Oklahoma (4-1, 1-1) in Dallas in the Red River Rivalry game. It remains to be seen whether Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers will return after missing the past 2 1/2 games with an oblique injury.

Texas received 52 first-place votes, followed by nine for No. 2 Ohio State (5-0), which moved up one spot. Oregon (5-0) and Penn State (5-0) each jumped up three spots to Nos. 3 and 4, respectively, following impressive wins.

Georgia (4-1) remained No. 5, followed by No. 6 Miami (6-0), which moved up two spots following a late 25-point comeback in a 39-38 win at Cal.

Like Alabama, Tennessee (4-1) dropped in the polls to No. 8 after an upset loss at Arkansas. Ole Miss (5-1) and Clemson (4-1) round out the Top 10, as the Rebels moved up three spots and the Tigers were elevated five spots.

At No. 15, Texas A&M (5-1) moved up 10 spots after upsetting former No. 9 Missouri (4-1), which fell 12 spots to No. 21 with a 41-10 loss.

Defending national champion Michigan (4-2) saw the biggest drop in this week’s poll, plummeting from No. 10 to No. 24 with a 27-17 loss at Washington in a rematch of last year’s national championship game.

Pitt (5-0) rejoined the poll for the first time since 2022, knocking off host North Carolina 34-24 for its first 5-0 start since 1991.

SMU (5-1) also made its season debut in the poll, upsetting former No. 22 Louisville, which dropped out of the Top 25 following SMU’s 34-27 victory. SMU last appeared in the poll at No. 22 at the end of last season.

Southern California (3-2), ranked No. 11 last week, was knocked out of the Top 25 after being upset 24-17 by host Minnesota.

The full AP Top 25 poll after Week 6:
No. 1 Texas
No. 2 Ohio State
No. 3 Oregon
No. 4 Penn State
No. 5 Georgia
No. 6 Miami
No. 7 Alabama
No. 8 Tennessee
No. 9 Ole Miss
No. 10 Clemson
No. 11 Iowa State
No. 11 Notre Dame
No. 13 LSU
No. 14 BYU
No. 15 Texas A&M
No. 16 Utah
No. 17 Boise State
No. 18 Kansas State
No. 18 Indiana
No. 18 Oklahoma
No. 21 Missouri
No. 22 Pitt
No. 23 Illinois
No. 24 Michigan
No. 25 SMU

–Field Level Media

Vanderbilt Commodores running back Sedrick Alexander (28) and quarterback Diego Pavia (2)celebrate a touchdown in the end zone against the Alabama Crimson Tide during their game at Vanderbilt Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024.

Vanderbilt jumps ahead early, never trails in stunning upset of No. 1 Alabama

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Vanderbilt’s Diego Pavia threw for 252 yards and two touchdowns as the Commodores shocked top-ranked Alabama, 40-35, at First Bank Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., on Saturday.

Pavia connected on 19 of 25 throws, with six going to tight end Eli Stowers for 113 yards.

Vanderbilt, a 23 1/2-point underdog in its own building — one populated mostly by Alabama fans — jumped out to a 13-0 lead in the game’s first 7:57 and never trailed.

Pavia’s fourth-quarter touchdown throw to Kam Johnson provided what proved to be the winning points.

Alabama’s Jalen Milroe started the second-half scoring with a 14-yard touchdown scamper over left tackle, cutting Vanderbilt’s lead to 23-21.

But with the Commodores facing fourth and a half-yard on the Alabama 35, Pavia hit a wide-open Junior Sherrill for a touchdown to answer.

On third-and-7 from the Alabama 42, Milroe hit a closely contested Ryan Williams along the left sideline at the Vanderbilt 18 and coasted into the end zone for a score, cutting the lead to 30-28.

Vanderbilt’s Brock Taylor answered with a 33-yard field goal with 10:35 left.

Alabama passed midfield quickly on its next trip, but Miles Capers blasted Milroe in the backfield and Yilanan Ouattara fell on the subsequent fumble at the Vanderbilt 47.

With a little more than 5 minutes left, Pavia faked a handoff, rolled out and hit an open Kam Johnson in the flat for a 6-yard touchdown for a 40-28 advantage.

Alabama answered on Williams’ 2-yard end-around score on a fourth-and-1 with 2:46 to play to pull within five. The Tide had all three timeouts, leaving Vanderbilt with the challenge of moving the chains.

But Pavia hit Sedrick Alexander with a 19-yard dump-off just before the two-minute warning, then Alexander scooted left for another first down on the next snap. A Pavia keeper for another first down sealed the upset.

Vanderbilt held the ball for 21:28 and outgained Alabama, 186-157, in building a 23-14 halftime lead.

The Commodores scored on their first drive on Sedrick Alexander’s 7-yard run.

Three plays later, Vanderbilt’s De’Rickey Wright tipped Milroe’s pass, Randon Fontenette grabbed it and won a race to the left pylon for a 24-yard interception return touchdown.

After Vanderbilt’s Brock Taylor missed the point-after, Alabama countered with Jam Miller’s 8-yard scoring run.

The Crimson Tide then forced a punt, but that got nullified with a duplicate number penalty that awarded Vanderbilt a first down at the ‘Tide 47.

On the drive’s 17th play — one aided by a pair of Alabama personal fouls — Alexander added a 1-yard scoring run to take a 20-7 lead midway through the second quarter.

–Field Level Media

Sep 28, 2024; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver Ryan Williams (2) bobbles then catches this pass against the Georgia Bulldogs during the third quarter at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-Imagn Images

No. 1 Alabama aims to continue dominance of Vanderbilt

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Top-ranked Alabama looks to take another step towards a league title and the College Football Playoff when it travels to Nashville, Tenn., to face Vanderbilt in Southeastern Conference play on Saturday.

It’ll be the conference home opener for the Commodores (2-2, 0-1 SEC), and the first conference road game for Alabama (4-0, 1-0).

Both teams are coming off perhaps their best performances of the season.

Alabama blew a 28-point lead, but quarterback Jalen Milroe hit Ryan Williams with a 75-yard touchdown throw with 2:18 left, providing the winning points in a 41-34 defeat of Georgia. Zabien Brown sealed the win with an interception with 43 seconds left.

On Monday, Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer spoke to how the Crimson Tide’s rocky second half could be used as a learning opportunity.

“It’s important for us to now have this. Each game provides experiences, right?” DeBoer said.

Vanderbilt rested last weekend after a 30-27, double-overtime setback at then-No. 7 Missouri on Sept. 21. Quarterback Diego Pavia threw for 178 yards and two scores and ran for 84 yards before Brock Taylor missed a 31-yard field goal on the game’s last play.

Milroe, the Heisman Trophy betting favorite after Saturday’s performance, has thrown for 964 yards, 10 touchdowns and one interception while rushing for 273 yards and eight scores.

Vanderbilt coach Clark Lea spoke to the challenge of defending Milroe.

“Certainly, every time the ball is snapped, there’s an opportunity for an explosive play,” Lea said. “Where he is particularly good — listen, if you don’t account for him on the bypassed zone reads, he’s going to pull it and out-leverage and out-run the defense. He’s shown that against the very best in the country.”

Williams has caught 16 balls for 462 yards and five touchdowns. The late touchdown came on an electrifying play during which Williams twisted in mid-air to make a catch on an under thrown ball, split two defenders with a spin move and then won a footrace to the end zone.

“He’s got some of the best balance and body control that I’ve seen,” Lea said of Williams.

Vanderbilt’s defense has allowed 5.1 yards per play and 23.3 points per game. However, the Commodores will have their hands full with Alabama’s downfield passing ability (something they’ve struggled against) as well as a power running game (Vanderbilt allowed 199 yards to Missouri’s Nate Noel last time out).

For that reason, its best defense may be a good offense. Vanderbilt is tied for the national lead with one turnover all season and will try to hold the ball and run clock as much as possible.

Pavia is the key to that. He’s thrown for 721 yards, six touchdowns and no interceptions, while rushing for 279 yards and two scores.

Alabama allows 15.0 points per game and 4.3 yards per snap and has forced eight turnovers.

Penalties have been an issue for both teams; Alabama averages 8.5 penalties for 77.3 yards while the Commodores average eight for 83.3 yards.

Alabama has dominated the series, winning the last 23 games. The last three have come by scores of 55-3 (2022), 59-0 (2017) and 34-0 (2011), the 2017 contest being the lone one in Nashville.

–Field Level Media

Sep 28, 2024; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer asks for a pass interference call against the Georgia Bulldogs during the first half at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-Imagn Images

Kalen DeBoer, No. 1 Alabama riding high after taming Georgia

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One month into the first season as Alabama head coach, Kalen DeBoer checked off a couple of bucket-list items by beating Georgia in an epic comeback that puts the Crimson Tide in the SEC driver’s seat.

DeBoer’s first SEC game was an instant classic. The Crimson Tide scored 28 points on their first 23 plays, then reclaimed the lost lead on quarterback Jalen Milroe’s second touchdown pass in the game with 2:13 left to play.

“Continue to be proud of the team, the preparation we put in,” DeBoer said Monday. “It’s inside of these guy. They want to be great. Proud of these guys.”

Alabama is the new No. 1 in college football by virtue of a 41-34 win over the Bulldogs in Tuscaloosa on Saturday night. Milroe completed 75 percent of his passes and ran for two scores. But the Crimson Tide tapped the brakes on the celebratory mood on Monday, shifting the focus to Vanderbilt (2-2).

“We’re continuing to improve. What has happened in the past has no impact on the game this Saturday,” Alabama offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan said. “There’s no carryover — yards, points completions. In this conference and in the highest level of college football we’re in, it has no impact on what the game is going to look like on Saturday. Obviously (Saturday) was a good job. We’re challenged each week in this league.”

Defensive coordinator Kane Wommack said the key to the Georgia game all week was making quarterback Carson Beck uncomfortable. But he woke up testy on Monday unsettled about blowing a 30-7 lead and failing to stop the Bulldogs on fourth down. He praised Beck for making the game closer than Alabama wanted but credited his defense with fighting through disappointment and not folding in the end.

Freshman cornerback Zabien Brown had the 10th game-changing defensive play in the game on Wommack’s scorecard.

“I told the defense, nobody in that room will ever forget that moment. High praise to (Brown) for being able to stay in the fight,” Wommack said. “Now we’ve done that together. There’s a certain level of team chemistry that comes from that.”

Vanderbilt had a bye last week to recover from a near upset of Missouri in a 30-27 two-overtime loss in Columbia. The Commodores haven’t scored a touchdown against Alabama since 2007.

Alabama has won 23 consecutive games against Vanderbilt, last losing in 1984 (30-21).

–Field Level Media

Sep 28, 2024; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver Ryan Williams (2) breaks a tackle by Georgia Bulldogs defensive back KJ Bolden (4) to score a touchdown that put Alabama ahead in the fourth quarter at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Alabama defeated Georgia 41-34. Mandatory Credit: Gary Cosby Jr.-Imagn Images

Alabama back in familiar spot atop AP Top 25 poll

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Buoyed by a dramatic come-from-ahead victory over Georgia on Saturday night, Alabama jumped three spots into the No. 1 ranking in the Associated Press Top 25 college football poll after Week 5.

The Crimson Tide had not been atop the rankings since Oct. 2, 2022, with the latest poll making 16 of 17 seasons that they have been No. 1 at some point. Alabama, under the helm this season of Kalen DeBoer following the retirement of Nick Saban, is ranked first for the 141st time, the most of any program since AP rankings started in 1936.

As a counterpoint in football rankings history, UNLV broke into the poll for the first time and is tied with Texas A&M for No. 25. The Rebels are 4-0 for the first time in their Division I history after defeating Fresno State 59-14 on Saturday with new starting quarterback Hajj-Malik Williams replacing the departed Matthew Sluka.

Alabama received 40 of 63 first-place votes, while former No. 1 Texas got 19 in slipping to the second spot after a 35-13 home win over Mississippi State.

Unbeaten Ohio State received four first-place votes and ranks third. Tennessee moved up one spot to fourth after an idle week, while Georgia dropped from second to fifth.

The Bulldogs trailed the Tide 28-0 in the first half and rallied to take a late lead, only to quickly lose it for a 41-34 victory for Alabama, which has handed Georgia its only three losses since 2021.

Ole Miss fell six spots to No. 12 after suffering its first loss, 20-17 at home against Kentucky. Utah dropped eight places to No. 18 following a 23-10 defeat to visiting Arizona.

Louisville slid seven spots to No. 22 after a 31-24 loss at Notre Dame. Illinois moved down five spots after a 21-7 defeat at Penn State.

The full AP Top 25 poll after Week 5:
No. 1 Alabama
No. 2 Texas
No. 3 Ohio State
No. 4 Tennessee
No. 5 Georgia
No. 6 Oregon
No. 7 Penn State
No. 8 Miami
No. 9 Missouri
No. 10 Michigan
No. 11 Southern California
No. 12 Ole Miss
No. 13 LSU
No. 14 Notre Dame
No. 15 Clemson
No. 16 Iowa State
No. 17 BYU
No. 18 Utah
No. 19 Oklahoma
No. 20 Kansas State
No. 21 Boise State
No. 22 Louisville
No. 23 Indiana
No. 24 Illinois
No. 25 UNLV
No. 25 Texas A&M

–Field Level Media

Sep 28, 2024; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Jalen Milroe (4) celebrates with offensive lineman Parker Brailsford (72) after scoring a touchdown during the first quarter against the Georgia Bulldogs at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-Imagn Images

No. 4 Alabama ends No. 2 Georgia’s 42-game win streak

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Jalen Milroe passed for two touchdowns and rushed for two more and Zabien Brown made a game-saving interception as No. 4 Alabama recorded a wild 41-34 victory over No. 2 Georgia on Saturday night in a Southeastern Conference showdown at Tuscaloosa, Ala.

Alabama blew a 28-point second-quarter lead and fell behind late before notching the winning points on Milroe’s 75-yard touchdown pass to Ryan Williams with 2:18 remaining. Brown’s interception of Carson Beck in the end zone with 43 seconds left secured the Crimson Tide’s ninth win in the past 10 meetings with the Bulldogs.

Milroe completed 27 of 33 passes for 374 yards and one interception and rushed for 117 yards on 16 attempts to fuel the Crimson Tide (4-0, 1-0 SEC), who led 28-0 before the game was 18 minutes old.

Williams caught six passes for 177 yards, Germie Bernard rushed for a touchdown and Jamarion Miller caught one for Alabama.

Beck threw three second-half touchdown passes and finished 27-of-50 passing for 439 yards and three interceptions to go along with a lost fumble for Georgia (3-1, 1-1), which had its 42-game regular-season winning streak halted.

Dillon Bell caught five passes for 100 yards and one TD and rushed for another score for the Bulldogs. Arian Smith had six receptions for 132 yards and a score, Trevor Etienne rushed for a touchdown and Lawson Luckie caught one for Georgia.

The matchup was the first between the two national powers since Alabama’s Nick Saban retired after last season. New coach Kalen DeBoer kept the Crimson Tide’s success going, but it wasn’t easy, as the Bulldogs rallied from 18 down in the fourth quarter.

Beck threw an 8-yard touchdown pass to Luckie — a two-point conversion pass failed — as Georgia moved within 33-21 with 9:46 left in the game.

The Bulldogs narrowed their deficit to five on Bell’s 3-yard scoring run with 5:39 remaining.

When Georgia next had the ball, Bell got behind the Alabama defense on the first play of the drive. He caught a pass from Beck and meandered around some defenders to finish off a 67-yard touchdown play that gave the Bulldogs a 34-33 edge with 2:31 left. Beck’s two-point keeper run was short.

Alabama matched the wildness on its next offensive play, as Williams got behind the Bulldogs’ defense and caught Milroe’s throw. He eluded attempts to stop him to complete a 75-yard play that gave the Crimson Tide a 41-34 lead (counting Milroe’s two-point conversion throw to Bernard).

Georgia’s rally from a 30-7 halftime deficit began with Beck’s 12-yard scoring pass to Smith. A two-point conversion throw to Luckie cut the deficit to 15 with 5:06 left in the third quarter.

At the outset, Milroe scored on a 7-yard run and tossed a 16-yard scoring pass to Miller. Bernard scored from the Bulldogs 7 to make it 21-0 with 2:21 left in the first quarter. Milroe tacked on a 36-yard scoring scamper with 12:24 left in the first half.

–Field Level Media

Sep 14, 2024; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Jalen Milroe (4) throws a pass during warmups prior to the game against the Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images

Week 5: Georgia-Alabama Preview, Props, Prediction

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Georgia traveling to play bitter SEC rival Alabama on Saturday is one of the most highly anticipated regular-season games of the season, so it stands to reason that it has also been the most popular Week 5 play at most sportsbooks.

“Georgia-Alabama will be the most bet game so far this season,” BetMGM trading manager Seamus Magee said. “Bettors are jumping on Bama being a home underdog for the first time since 2007. Georgia winning would make our Saturday.”

ODDS AND TRENDS

Georgia is favored from just a half-point to 2.0 points at most regulated sportsbooks.

DraftKings was giving just a half-point to Alabama by mid-day Saturday, with the Bulldogs and Crimson Tide being the most wagered-on game in terms of total bets and money wagered. The line was 1.5 points at BetRivers, where the Bulldogs covering had drawn 2.2 percent of all money wagered on Week 5 games.

Georgia’s -109 moneyline was even more popular, drawing 2.4 percent of all money wagered.

PROP PICK

Jalen Milroe Anytime TD (-130 at DraftKings): Alabama’s quarterback finding the end zone on Saturday was the second-most popular Anytime TD prop at the book, behind only Michigan’s Kalel Mullings scoring against Minnesota. In addition to his eight passing touchdowns this season, Milroe has rushed for a pair of touchdowns in each of the Tide’s first three games this season.

THE NEWS

No. 2 Georgia is spending extra time preparing after its bye last week to get more familiar with No. 4 Alabama’s new coaching staff and scheme under Kalen DeBoer. DeBoer was hired after a runner-up national title finish at Washington, replacing Georgia coach Kirby Smart’s former boss, Nick Saban.

“Last time we went, it was 4-5 years from the time we had lived there. It’s so weird when you play there because you’re in and out,” Smart said. “You’re there, then you’re gone. It’s just different. There’s a lot of people that are still there in the organization that I’m close with and have a lot of respect for, but that’s the case for a lot of these places in the SEC.”

With Saban, a seven-time national title winner, moving to an advisory role at Alabama and working with ESPN as a college football analyst, Saturday’s game on a national stage will be played on the newly-minted Nick Saban Field.

Alabama (3-0) is one of six undefeated teams in the SEC. The Crimson Tide beat Wisconsin in Madison before also enjoying a bye last week.

“They’re different defensively for sure. Obviously the offensive staff and defensive staff changed,” Smart said. “There’s remnants, because the quarterback’s the same. The history there, at Washington with Kalen (DeBoer) and defensively the history Kane (Wommack) has and what they’ve done this year is different.”

No matter the system Alabama runs on offense, Smart said the challenge of getting ready for Milroe at QB can be overwhelming. Milroe has 590 passing yards, eight touchdowns and no interceptions in the pass-first Alabama offense this season.

“With him, the challenges are immense because he’s an incredible football player,” Smart said. “There is no design to a play that you can draw up and then say, ‘Well, I’m pretty sure this is going to happen on this play with him.’ Because you don’t know what’s going to happen. Sometimes the worst thing you can do is cover everybody with him.

“Sometimes the best thing you can do is cover everybody. It just depends — are you capable of getting him on the ground and tackling him at times? What matchups do you have?”

INJURY REPORT

Bulldogs defensive lineman Mykel Williams will be a game-time decision. An ankle sprain has kept Williams, projected as a high first-round NFL draft pick in 2025, out of the past two games after sustaining the injury on Aug. 31 against Clemson.

If he does play, he is expected to be on a limited snap count. Williams had three quarterback pressures and two tackles for loss against Clemson.

THEY SAID IT

“He’s as different a football player in college football as I’ve played against in a long time. People think he’s just a runner and that’s not the case. He can do things with his arm other people can’t. He can reach spots on the field and get it there faster than you can break on it better than most arm-talent people. It’s a tremendous challenge to defend people like him.” –Smart on Milroe.

PREDICTION

This is the first time Alabama has been an underdog at home in 17 years. Not only does that speak a lot to the strength of Smart’s Bulldogs, but it shows that the oddsmaker jury is still out on DeBoer. But Milroe has an edge in experience over Bulldogs quarterback Carson Beck, who faces his biggest task on the road. Milroe’s duel-threat capabilities will provide the small edge the Tide need. –Alabama 27, Georgia 23

–Field Level Media

Aug 31, 2024; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Georgia Bulldogs defensive lineman Mykel Williams (13) tackles Clemson Tigers quarterback Cade Klubnik (2) during the second half at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

Report: Georgia’s Mykel Williams a game-time decision at Alabama

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Defensive lineman Mykel Williams will be a game-time decision for No. 2 Georgia’s showdown at No. 4 Alabama on Saturday night, ESPN reported.

An ankle sprain has kept Williams, projected as a high first-round NFL draft pick in 2025, out of the Bulldogs’ past two games after sustaining the injury on Aug. 31 against Clemson.

If he does play, he is expected to be on a limited snap count.

Williams had three quarterback pressures and two tackles for loss in the opener against Clemson.

–Field Level Media