No. 4 Alabama Survives and Upsets No. 2 Georgia in SEC Opener

The No. 4 Alabama Crimson Tide served the No. 2 Georgia Bulldogs a first-half haymaker and survived a second half counter-punch to win Kalen DeBoer’s first SEC game 41-34.

The Crimson Tide opened the game with four straight touchdown drives to put Georgia into a 28-0 hole and from tried to cruise to victory. The Bulldogs staged a furious second-half comeback, taking the lead with 2:31 left to play in the game.

Alabama quarterback then found freshman phenom Ryan Williams for a 75-yard touchdown pass to give the Crimson Tide the lead for the final time. It was fellow freshman and jersey two wearer Zabien Brown who sealed the deal for the Crimson Tide as he intercepted Carson Beck on the last Georgia possession.

Milroe extended his streak of games with multiple touchdowns as he completed 27 of 33 passes for 374 yards and two touchdowns while leading the Crimson Tide running game with 16 carries for 117 yards and two touchdowns.

Alabama moves to (4-0, 1-0) and secures the biggest win in the DeBoer era, settling questions about his capabilities to fill Nick Saban’s shoes.

TUSCALOOSA, ALA. -- No. 2 Georgia enters Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium on Saturday to take on No. 4 Alabama in the Crimson Tide's SEC opener. The eyes of the college football world is on Tuscaloosa for the biggest matchup of the season. Follow along here for all your updates inside the stadium for the monumental matchup.

Live Updates (Refresh For Latest Updates)

Second Half

Ryan Williams scores a 75 yard reception to give Alabama back the lead. Alabama 41, Georgia 34 2:18 left to play. Wild.

Alabama's Ryan Williams struggles to pull in the kickoff and Cole Adams falls on it for bad field position for Alabama. The Crimson Tide is forced to punt and it's a 1-play touchdown for Georgia. Carson Beck finds Dillon Bell for a huge touchdown. The two-point conversion is no good. Georgia 34, Alabama 33 with 2:31 to play.

Georgia just went four plays 78 yards for a touchdown to make this thing tight with a Dillion Bell one-yard touchdown run. Alabama 33, Georgia 28 with 5:39 left to play in the game.

A huge pass to Arian Smith brings UGA down to the 1-yard line, giving the Dawgs life.

It's just the one first down for Alabama and they'll punt it back to Georgia. It's a two-possession game still with 7:23 left to play. Georgia still has a chance to make this comeback happen.

Cole Adams makes his first reception since his injury. It's a big 15-yard catch over the middle on third down to keep Alabama's drive alive. It's the first third down conversion of the half for Alabama's offense and serves to keep the clock melting.

Georgia, to its credit is still playing hard, moving into Alabama territory with 10 minutes left in the game. Carson Beck finds Colbie Young for a big play and then Lawson Luckie for a touchdown to cut the lead. Beck and the Dawgs can't convert it's two-point try. Alabama 33, Georgia 21 with 9:46 left to play. It took six plays and 80 yards in 1:40.

Alabama's Qua Russaw entered the game questionable but he's playing tonight and he just forced the third Georgia turnover. Russaw rushed Carson Beck out of the pocket and forced a sack fumble where Jah-Marien Latham recovered at midfield.

The third quarter ends as it feels like we're just waiting for the clock to end. Georgia opens the fourth quarter trailing 33-15 facing a third and five from the Georgia 42-yard line.

Alabama's Graham Nicholson makes his first field goal of the year after the huge play from Ryan Williams. Alabama moves its lead to Alabama 33, Georgia 15 with 1:23 left in the third quarter.

We can't have an Alabama game without a Ryan Williams highlight. The freshman just bobbled and tipped a bomb shot into the air to himself for a 54-yard play to put Alabama back inside the Georgia red zone.

It took a while but Carson Beck finds Arian Smith for a 12-yard touchdown to close the lead. The Bulldogs convert it's two-point try on a Beck pass to Lawson Luckie in the back of the endzone. Alabama 30, Georgia 15 with 5:06 left in the third quarter. The drive took 15 plays 80 yards and 6:44 off the clock.

Deontae Lawson is called for a pass-interference on a fourth down play giving the Dawgs another conversion. Georgia has converted three fourth downs on this drive and the Bulldogs have just moved into Alabama territory.

Alabama's DeVonta Smith comes up injured on the play after defending Dominic Lovett on a deep ball. Red Morgan will come in to replace him as this has been a costly game for Alabama's health.

It's another fourth down for the Alabama defense as the Bulldogs have to get three yards from their own 37 yard line. Beck finds his man and once again the Bulldogs keep moving. It's two fourth down conversions on Georgia's own side of the field.

Alabama's Jihaad Campbell comes up a little dinged up on a tackle. He stays in the game and its important as the Crimson Tide doesn't have Justin Jefferson who also left with an injury. Who is Alabama's next linebacker up? Freshman Justin Okoronkwo or redshirt freshman Jeremiah Alexander.

Georgia is clearly in desperation mode. The Bulldogs went for it on fourth and one from their own 29-yard line. Cash Jones gets the one-yard to keep Georgia on the field.

Alabama's Dashawn Jones makes a great play on the ball causing an incompletion on first down to open the next Georgia drive.

The Alabama offense can't find any juice to open the half as they go three and out. Two Jalen Milroe scrambles and an incompletion punts the ball back to Georgia.

Third and long for Alabama is the money down as Deontae Lawson rushes in and sacks Carson Beck to end the Georgia drive. The Crimson Tide can't ask for much more from the defense to open the half.

Georgia opens the second half trailing by three scores. They'll get good field position after the unsportsmanlike penalty, starting on their own 40-yard line.

Halftime

First Half

Before the half concluded Miles McVey was called for an unsporstmanlike conduct penalty for a scuffle with Georgia. The Bulldogs open the second half with the ball and so the penalty will help them start with better field position.

An odd double-reverse pass goes for a big loss for Alabama and now Jalen Miloe's third down pass falls incomplete forcing Alabama to punt the ball back to Georgia with :27 seconds left in the half.

The Alabama offense continues to shred Georgia underneath and the Bulldogs keep struggling tackling. Jalen Milroe has hit nine different receivers for 199 yards receiving.

Alabama's pressure is too much for Georgia and Carson Beck throws it away in his own end zone. The pass falls incomplete to no one and he's flagged for intentional grounding, resulting in a safety. Alabama 30, Georgia 7 1:39 left in the half.

Georgia's Smael Mondon Jr. intercepts Jalen Mirloe to preserve the drive for Georgia and the Bulldogs offense takes back over deep in their own end.

Carson Beck throws an interception right to Jihaad Campbell. Beck never saw the linebacker who returned it to the Georgia 25 yard line. It's his second interception thrown of the night.

Momentum may be shifting back to Georgia's side as the Bulldogs were able to get off the field on 4th and short deep in their own end. If Georgia scores a touchdown on this drive we could have a wild second half as they open with the ball. Important series for both teams.

Make sure to keep it tapped into the Alabama Injury Tracker as the Crimson Tide has seen Kendrick Law and Justin Jefferson have left the game and gone to the locker room.

Jalen Milroe's legs are still the unaccountable factor as he escapes the pocket for a big 26-yard gain to move Alabama into Georgia territory.

The game has fallen into a little bit of a lull from an Alabama standpoint as it was going so well. The Alabama offense has a chance to get the momentum back on this drive. Tyler Booker's unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for late hit will set the offense behind though to a first and 19.

Trevor Etienne weaves and works his way through the Alabama defense for a 7-yard touchdown run. The Georgia Bulldogs went for two and got it, but a flag is thrown on the offense. Kirby Smart instead sends the PAT team out and makes the extra point. The score is now Alabama 28, Georgia 7 with 6:43 in the half.

Carson Beck finds Arian Smith in the turkey hole down the left sideline and now Georgia is knocking on the goal line for the first time tonight trying to get themselves back into the game.

Trevor Etienne gets the fourth down conversion and Georgia moves into Alabama territory for the first time tonight.

Carson Beck scrambles on third and long and brings up a 4th and short for Georgia. The Bulldogs elect to go for it at midfield and Alabama calls timeout. This is a must-make situation for Georgia if they want to get back into this game.

Alabama may have just served the knockout punch. The Crimson Tide, facing a fourth and one called a QB-read. Jalen Milroe broke it wide open for a 36-yard touchdown run. The extra point is good and Alabama takes a 28-0 lead with 12:24 left in the half.

Alabama just got a little cute trying a double-pass with Kendrick Law. The Crimson Tide didn't have anyone open and ended up with a tackle for a short loss.

Unbelievable first quarter. Alabama 21, Georgia 0. Alabama outgains Georgia 198-27 and has forced a turnover. The Crimson Tide opens up the second quarter with the ball, facing 2nd & 3 from the Alabama 40-yard line.

Alabama's defense continues to play well forcing Georgia into a three and out and will punt again. What a performance for this Crimson Tide defense as they're holding Georgia to just 8 rushing yards and 0-3 on third down through three drives.

Germie Bernard takes his second handoff of the game, this time it goes for a seven yard touchdown as Alabama is running Georgia off the field. Extra point is good to make the score 21-0 Alabama with 2:21 left in the first quarter.

Domani Jackson takes Georgia's night from bad to worse as he intercepts Carson Beck. It's Becks first pick of the season and Alabama takes over at the Georgia 22-yard line looking to go up three scores.

Nick Sheridan and Kalen DeBoer have been game planning its tail off. Jalen Milroe just dropped a dime to Jam Miller who was wide open on a wheel route for a touchdown. Alabama leads 14-0 with 4:39 in the first quarter.

Perfect.
Product.
Placement.@JalenMilroe➡️ @JamarionMiller1

📺: ABC pic.twitter.com/4ILH5ZoZmh
— Alabama Football (@AlabamaFTBL) September 29, 2024

The Goergia Bulldogs aren't tackling well and its another big play for Alabama. This time Kendrick Law breaks through tacklers and Alabama approaches the red zone.

Justice Haynes takes his first down carry for 23 yards off the left side of the offense and the Crimson Tide offense is moving.

On the first two drives Alabama's offense was able to work into a third and short, they converted. Georgia's offense is forced into a third and long and failed to convert. The game is about staying on schedule. We'll see if Jalen Milroe can keep the Crimson Tide on track on drive two.

Georgia is forced to punt after a third and long ends incomplete. Alabama's Ryan Williams sets up the Tide on their own 16-yard line to start its second possession.

Georgia's Dominic Lovett makes a huge catch down the field but he clearly shoved DeVonta Smith and is called for offensive pass interference backing the Bulldogs behind the chains.

Trevor Ettienne appears to have fumbled. The play is under review but Georgia's Dylan Fairchild recovered so the officials are just checking the spot.

Georgia's Arian Smith allows a bomb to slip right through his hands and the Bulldogs miss a massive play opportunity.

Georgia opens their first drive on their own 25-yard line and Bryant Denny Stadium roars to greet them.

Alabama lines up in empty and runs Jalen Milroe for a 7-yard touchdown run. The extra point is good to give the Crimson Tide a 7-0 lead. What a script for Alabama, eight plays, 77 yards for 4:43 and the touchdown overcoming three offensive penalties. Milroe shows short and deep accuracy and uses his athleticism effectively to lead the Crimson Tide down the field.

Justice Haynes scores from just three yards away but Alabama incurs a false start penalty. It's Alabama's third penalty of the opening drive.

Georgia had Jalen Milroe botteld up in the backfield on 1&20 but Milroe slips out and gains 16 yards instead of taking a sack. A massively athletic play from the Alabama quarterback to avoid a loss.

Jalen Milroe's first deep pass of the game goes to Emmanuel Henderson for a 34-yard gain all the way into the Georgia red zone.

Alabama converts its first third down of the game on a short pass to Germie Bernard. The offense is rolling now.

Ryan Williams almost made a big play as he tried to come down with free play. Georgia was offsides and Jalen Milroe got rocked on the pass but Alabama ultimately accepts a 5-yard penalty.

Georgia defensive end Mykel Williams is active to start the game.

Alabama's first play is a short hitch to Ryan Williams. The Crimson Tide will try to suck Georgia's defense up in order to set up deeper shots later in the game.

Cole Adams is back deep to receiver for Alabama along with Kendrick Law. Law takes the opening kickoff all the way to the Alabama 30 yard line.

Pregame

Georgia calls tails and wins the toss. The Bulldogs will differ and Alabama will start with the football.

Tonight's honorary captains are Jackie Sherrril and Dr. Gaylon McCollough.

The University of Alabama is honoring the 1964 National Championship team before the game.

The temperature for kickoff has been announced as 70 degrees. It's a perfect night for a big game.

Alabama's Starting offensive line in warmups

LT: Kadyn Proctor
LG: Tyler Booker
C: Parker Brailsford
RG: Jaeden Roberts
RT: Elijah Pritchett

Alabama's Qua Russaw is in full pads in warmups with a massive compression sleeve down his left leg.

Cole Adams is in warmups for Alabama wearing a big black brace on his right arm. Linebacker Jeremiah Alexander is also participating in warmups after being out a few weeks. Richard Young is also in full pads participating in warmups with a wrap around his right wrist and right ankle. The Wolves are not warming up yet so no sign of Qua Russaw.

More Alabama players come out for warmups as the clock says 50 minutes left till kickoff. The crowd is almost all in place.

The clock is now at 59:00 minutes until kickoff. Alabama and Georgia appear to be starting at 6:49 p.m. CT.

At 5:47 p.m. the Alabama skill position players hit the field in pads for warmups.

At 5:45 p.m. CT SEC commissioner Greg Sankey stands at midfield with ESPN's Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit watching each team continue to warm up.

At 5:19 p.m. CT the 90-minute pregame clock begins in the stadium. Kickoff looks to be around 6:50 p.m. CT.

The final injury report is released for both teams. All three Alabama players that were on the list this week have been updated to "Game Time Decisions". Georgia's Mykel Williams is also listed as a "Game Time Decision".

All of Alabama's players that had been on the list are now listed as "Game Time Decisions"....

Do you think the last three days worth of injury reports were worth anything? pic.twitter.com/rPppRD0PBa
— Joe Gaither (@JoeGaither6) September 28, 2024

The Alabama video staff is putting different Crimson Tide stars on the screen during warmups. Quarterback Jalen Milroe and wide receiver Ryan Williams drew particularly large cheers from the crowd that's filed into Bryant-Denny Stadium.

Alabama players are warming up on the field. We’ll kick off at 6:39 pm CT. pic.twitter.com/MZhs5vJUaq
— Joe Gaither (@JoeGaither6) September 28, 2024

Your Alabama offensive line has left the locker rom and is taking a walk around the field. Tyler Booker leads Kadyn Proctor, Jaeden Roberts, Parker Brailsford and Elijah Pritchett.

At 3:55 p.m. CT students have. begun trickling into the stadium. It seems some fans are being allowed in small waves. Bryant-Denny Stadium is showing the Auburn-Oklahoma game on the big screens.

Security was tight but smooth for our reporting staff as we anticipate former President Trump's arrival to tonight's big game. The Secret Service had vehicles swept for anyone parking near the stadium to take extra precaution.