The Crimson Tide has now beaten the Associated Press’ No. 1-ranked team a record 10 times since 1936, breaking its tie with Miami


ATLANTA – In the 30th Southeastern Conference Championship Game, the No. 3/4/2 Alabama football team beat No. 1/1/1 Georgia, 41-24 in Mercedes Benz Stadium Saturday. With the win, the Crimson Tide has now won 29 SEC Championships, including 10 coming via the SEC Championship Game.

 

After falling behind 10-0 to start the game, Alabama exploded in the second quarter, piling on 24 points, before adding 17 more in the second half to account for the final 17-point win.

 

Quarterback Bryce Young was named the game’s MVP after setting an SEC Championship Game record with 421 passing yards on a night when he completed 26-of-44 passes for three touchdowns. He added 40 rushing yards on three attempts including a touchdown. Young’s 461 yards of total offense (421 pass, 40 rush) is also a championship game record.

 

Wide receiver Jameson Williams hauled in 184 receiving yards on seven catches, including two touchdowns, while John Metchie III added 97 yards and a touchdown on six catches. Brian Robinson Jr. tallied 55 rushing yards on 16 carries. Williams’ 184 yards receiving ties for the second-most in the championship game with Alabama’s DeVonta Smith (184 in 2020).

 

Defensive back Jordan Battle returned an interception 42 yards for a pick-six, the Tide’s final touchdown of the day. Defensive back DeMarcco Hellams led the Alabama defense with nine total tackles. Hellams, Henry To’oTo’o and Josh Jobe all tallied six solo stops against Georgia to lead the Tide. Will Anderson Jr. totaled six tackles including two tackles for loss and a sack.

 

Will Reichard added a pair of field goals (33 and 41 yards) and five extra points on the day.

 

Postgame Notes

  • Saturday’s win gave the Crimson Tide the most wins all-time over the Associated Press’ No. 1-ranked team with 10, breaking the tie it was previously in with Miami.
  • Alabama’s 365 yards of total offense in the first half is more than all but one of Georgia’s opponents recorded in an entire game this season (11 of 12 opponents). The Tide finished with 536 yards of offense.
  • After punting on its first two drives in the game, the Crimson Tide scored on its next five straight (three touchdowns receiving, one touchdown rushing, one field goal).
  • Alabama bettered its season record for passing touchdowns, notching three in the SEC Championship Game.
  • In the first half, Bryce Young had 286 passing yards (17-of-27), scoring a pair of touchdowns.
    • That is more passing yards than all but one of Georgia’s opponents recorded in an entire game this season (11 of 12 opponents).
    • His 286 passing yards set the Southeastern Conference Championship Game record for most passing yards in the first half. Cam Newton of Auburn previously held the record on 281 first half passing yards in 2010.
  • Jameson Williams hauled in a 67-yard touchdown pass in the first half and a 55-yard touchdown pass in the second half of the SEC Championship Game.
    • Williams has caught 11 passes of 50 yards or more this season, with 10 of those resulting in a touchdown, while he has caught eight passes of 65 yards or more this season, with seven of those resulting in a touchdown.
      • Williams has caught seven passes of 67 yards or more this season, with all seven of those resulting in a touchdown.
    • Williams’ 67-yard touchdown catch in the first half is the longest in SEC Championship Game history.
  • Jameson Williams had 112 yards receiving in the first half.
    • It marked the sixth time a player recorded 100-plus receiving yards at the half.
    • It marked the third consecutive championship game Alabama has had a 100-yard receiver (DeVonta Smith 184 in 2020, Jaylen Waddle 113 in 2018).
  • DeMarcco Hellams recorded his third interception this season, tying a team high, taking over the ball on Alabama’s 12-yard line on Georgia’s first drive in the third quarter.
    • It marked the Crimson Tide’s 14th interception this season.
  • Jordan Battle recorded a 42-yard interception return for a touchdown in the third quarter, his second interception return for a touchdown this season.
    • It marked the 12th interception return for a touchdown in the SEC Championship Game, with the last instance happening by Alabama against Florida in 2016.
  • The game captains against Georgia were linebacker Will Anderson Jr., defensive lineman Phidarian Mathis and quarterback Bryce Young.

 

How It Happened

FIRST QUARTER

  • 06:01 – UGA | Jack Podlesny kicked a 38-yard field goal to conclude a 11-play, 52-yard drive.

 

SECOND QUARTER

  • 14:56 – UGA | Stetson Bennett connected with Darnell Washington on a five-yard touchdown pass, capping an eight-play, 97-yard drive.
  • 14:12 – UA | Bryce Young found Jameson Williams for a 67-yard touchdown pass on a drive that lasted three plays and 75 yards in just 44 seconds.
  • 09:46 – UA | John Metchie III scored on a 13-yard touchdown pass from Young, ending a six-play, 80-yard series.
  • 03:28 – UA | Will Reichard connected on a 33-yard field goal to conclude a 12-play, 79-yard drive.
  • 02:06 – UGA | Bennett hit Ladd McConkey with a 32-yard touchdown pass, capping a three-play, 75-yard drive.
  • 00:26 – UA | Young found the Georgia endzone on an 11-yard touchdown rush on a drive that lasted three plays and 75 yards.

 

THIRD QUARTER

  • 13:10 – UA | Williams hauled in a 55-yard touchdown pass from Young on the Crimson Tide’s first drive of the second half, ending a five-play, 75-yard series.

 

FOURTH QUARTER

  • 11:59 – UA | Jordan Battle returned a 42-yard interception into the Bulldog endzone for a touchdown.
  • 09:42 – UGA | Bennett threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to Bowers to pull the Bulldogs within two touchdowns
  • 01:59 – UA | Reichard added a 41-yard field goal to push the final score to 41-24

 

Up Next

The College Football Playoff selection show will air Sunday, Dec. 5 at Noon ET on ESPN.