Georgia Rules the SEC. So Why Can’t Kirby Smart Beat Alabama in the Regular Season?
NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...
The eyes of the college football universe will descend upon Tuscaloosa, Alabama this weekend when the Georgia Bulldogs take on the Alabama Crimson Tide at 6:30 p.m. Central Time. The last time these two teams faced off was in the 2025 SEC Championship game that saw the Bulldogs emerge victorious 28-7. However, the last time these two storied programs squared off in Tuscaloosa was in 2024 when Alabama won a 41-34 thriller. That was also the coming out party for Ryan Coleman-Williams who finished the game with six receptions for 177 yards and one touchdown.
The storyline for Georgia and Kirby Smart entering this game is the fact that he has failed to defeat Alabama in the regular season. He is currently 2-7 against the Crimson Tide, but his two wins did come in the 2022 College Football Playoff National Championship Game and the SEC Championship last season. However, Smart would be the first to tell you that his past results versus Alabama mean nothing here as he aims to defeat Alabama this weekend to maintain Georgia’s supremacy in the SEC.
Keelon Russell looks to make his case for the Heisman Trophy
In just one month as the starter for the Crimson Tide, Russell has shown he has the potential and ability to be the next great Alabama quarterback. Russell, who was a five-star prospect out of Duncanville, Texas, won the starting job over Austin Mack in the summer, and he has quickly proven that he warranted his five-star rating.
In his first five games as a starter, Russell has completed 71% of his passes for 1,414 yards and 11 touchdowns with two interceptions. He has also rushed for 184 yards and four touchdowns on 37 carries. His play in the first month of the season has quickly shot him up the lists of Heisman favorites as his performance versus Florida State caught the attention of the entire nation.
In his first two starts versus East Carolina and Kentucky, Russell struggled as he completed less than 70% of his passes for only one touchdown and two interceptions. It wasn’t until game three when the Seminoles came to town that Russell finally lived up to his five-star billing. In the 50-36 win, he completed 76.7% of his passes for 320 yards and three touchdowns. He also rushed for 56 yards and one touchdown on three carries. He followed that up with a 365-yard and four touchdown performance versus South Carolina and 285 yards and three touchdowns versus Mississippi State.
Saturday night will be his most difficult task to date, but if he continues to play to his potential, Russell could have his Heisman moment this weekend.
Georgia will look to lean on their rushing attack and tight ends in the passing game
Georgia has the playmakers on defense to potentially slow down Alabama’s offense, but their offense will have to control the clock and make the most of their scoring opportunities to come away victorious. This is where the Bulldogs rushing attack and tight ends in the passing game come into play. These two offensive elements have been a cornerstone of Smart’s teams since he has been at Georgia, and that is what makes them dangerous when they have the ball.
This season, Georgia is averaging 213 yards per game, and they have rushed for over 200 yards in three games. The team has also rushed for 16 touchdowns which makes them formidable on the ground. The leading rusher for the Bulldogs is Nate Frazier who has rushed for 211 yards and five touchdowns on 26 carries. The Bulldogs also have four other players who have rushed for over 100 yards this season including quarterback Gunner Stockton. Stockton currently has 122 yards on 20 attempts this season. The depth that Georgia has in the run game could be the difference in the game as they will go up against a lethal front seven from Alabama.
The other key to victory for Georgia on offense is how they utilize their tight ends in the passing game. In previous seasons, Brock Bowers and Oscar Delp have been the security blankets for their quarterbacks as they made play after play. While Bowers or Delp will not be suiting up for the Bulldogs on Saturday night, Georgia has another well-coached tight end in Lawson Luckie. While Luckie started off the season slowly, he has improved each week as he caught three passes for 59 yards and one touchdown versus Arkansas. He followed that up with a 43-yard performance versus Vanderbilt two weeks later. This season, he has only caught six passes, but look for Georgia to involve him more in the passing game this weekend as a safety valve to move the chains.
Related Headlines
- Cleveland Browns Insider Shares Team’s Early Trade Deadline Plans with 4 QBs
- NFL Trade Rumors: Teams Eyeing Specific AFC Club as Potential 2026 NFL Trade Deadline Seller
- NFL Rumors: AFC Contender Interested in Marvin Harrison Jr. Trade
More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos