The officials of the Alabama-Georgia game elected not to review a controversial Alabama fourth down catch play.
The officials of the SEC championship elected not to review a controversial Alabama fourth down conversion. Alabama wide receiver Isaiah Bond appeared to catch a fourth down play for about 20 yards. Alabama snapped the ball without the playing being reviewed. Alabama went on to score a touchdown a few plays later.
When taking a closer look at Isaiah Bond’s catch, the ball clearly moved after he hit the ground. Bond did have some control of the ball. However, CBS officiating expert Gene Steratone said after halftime the play should have been reviewed, and he did not think it was a catch.
The officials later went on to review a 51-yard catch by Georgia wide receiver Arian Smith. Go figure.
The officials have a tough job, but they have to review close plays like Isaiah Bond’s catch. They may have ruled that the call on the field stands, but the play was certainly worth a review.
It may have taken former Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa six weeks to follow through, but on Tuesday he delivered on a bet he lost over the outcome of the national championship game.
Tagovailoa, now part of the Miami Dolphins, came up short in a bet with 2015 Georgia grad Anne Noland, who is the Dolphins’ senior director of football communications.
Georgia’s win meant Tagovailoa, who is entering his third season with Miami, had to don Georgia gear, which he was photographed doing on Tuesday.
It took 6 whole weeks of waiting, but @Tua remains a man of his word (despite significant eye rolling), finally taking his National Championship loss in stride today.
“It took 6 whole weeks of waiting, but @Tua remains a man of his word (despite significant eye rolling), finally taking his National Championship loss in stride today,” Noland wrote. “How bout them Dawgs! #GoDawgs … And as always, #FinsUp”
It appears Noland and Tagovailoa split their wagers 50/50 this season, as Noland was forced to wear Alabama gear at a press conference after Georgia lost to the Tide in the SEC Championship game in December.
The Georgia Bulldogs are finally national champions! Kirby Smart, Stetson Bennett, and UGA prevailed in a win over the Alabama Crimson Tide.
The Georgia Bulldogs are finally national champions! The years of heartbreak are in the rearview mirror for Bulldog nation.
Kirby Smart, Stetson Bennett, Nakobe Dean, and Georgia prevailed in a 33-18 victory over Nick Saban and the Alabama Crimson Tide. Georgia ended a seven-game losing streak against Alabama in a back-and-forth national championship win.
A low-scoring first half featured stout red zone defense and an unfortunate injury to star Alabama wide receiver Jameson Williams. Alabama held a 9-6 halftime lead over Georgia.
Georgia Bulldogs players wave a championship flag after defeating the Alabama Crimson Tide during the 2022 CFP National Championship Game. (Joshua Bickel-USA TODAY Sports)
Georgia overcame penalties, settling for field goals, and poor first-half offensive line play with their physical play and several clutch performances in the second half. Zamir White scored Georgia’s first touchdown late in the third quarter after a 67-yard James Cook run, which came one play after Jalen Carter blocked a 48-yard Alabama field goal attempt.
The Dawgs slowed down Heisman winning quarterback Bryce Young throughout the game. Young averaged only 6.5 yards per attempt in Alabama’s loss. UGA disrupted Young and forced him into a pair of second-half interceptions.
The game could’ve changed to the all-too-familiar story against Alabama when Stetson Bennett fumbled the ball deep in Georgia territory early in the fourth quarter. Several plays later Alabama scored a touchdown to go up 18-13. Things looked bleak for Georgia.
On the next drive, Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett had to prove his championship resilience. Bennett walked on to Georgia, transferred to Jones College, and then transferred back to UGA and won a national title against college football’s best dynasty of all time. You know the story. It is the sort of thing that Hollywood makes movies about and members of the media never stop talking about.
Bennett, who was crying tears of joy following Kelee Ringo’s interception return for a touchdown, hit Jermaine Burton for an 18-yard pass after his fumble. After an Alabama penalty and a completion, the Crimson Tide sacked Bennett for one of their five sacks on the day. Facing second-and-18, Stetson Bennett connected with Adonai Mitchell on a 40-yard touchdown pass. Georgia never looked back.
Former Jones College quarterback Stetson Bennett proved the doubters wrong and beat Alabama. (Photo: Bob Smith / For the Clarion Ledger)
The Bulldogs forced an Alabama three-and-out. Georgia’s offensive line dominated Alabama as the Dawgs drove the ball into the red zone behind a spirited rushing attack. Later, Stetson Bennett connected with Brock Bowers to score another touchdown. UGA helped a 26-18 lead.
The Dawgs needed to stop Bryce Young and Alabama to win a national championship. Young and the Crimson Tide drove the ball near midfield before he threw a third-down interception to UGA’s Kelee Ringo. Ringo returned the pick to the house to seal Georgia’s 33-18 national championship win.
Several things stand out for the Dawgs.
Kirby Smart and the coaching staff deserve a lot of credit for switching up his offensive line. Smart subbed in Broderick Jones midway through the second quarter. Jones played well against Will Anderson and helped the Bulldogs run the football. Anderson is the best pass rusher in college football and has the most sacks in the country.
Stetson Bennett withstood nearly three touchdown-less quarters, five sacks, and a devastating late turnover to throw a pair of touchdown passes while winning a championship.
Georgia’s defense held up strong in the red zone. The Bulldogs had one extra red zone opportunity in the half thanks to Kelee Ringo’s effort. Alabama tight end Cameron Latu beat Kelee Ringo on an out route and raced towards the end zone. Ringo didn’t give up. He chased down Latu and UGA held the Crimson Tide to a field goal.
In an SEC Championship rematch, Georgia (14-1) takes on Alabama (14-1) for the national title on Monday night in Indianapolis.
Both teams dominated their semifinal matchups. Alabama routed Cincinnati 27-6 and Georgia took care of Michigan 34-11.
The two best teams in the nation are set to square off in the biggest game of the year as UGA seeks for redemption after a 41-24 loss in Atlanta a month ago.
FiveThirtyEight is projecting the Georgia Bulldogs to win the national championship against Alabama
FiveThirtyEight is projecting the Georgia Bulldogs to win the national championship. Their model expects it to be a close game between Georgia and Alabama.
FiveThirtyEight gives UGA a 56% chance to win the national game, which is interesting considering Georgia’s recent results against the Crimson Tide.
Georgia fell to Alabama 41-24 in the 2021 SEC championship game. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Georgia head coach Kirby Smart is 0-4 in his career against Nick Saban including a loss in the 2021 SEC championship.
Alabama defeated Cincinnati 27-6 in the College Football Playoff semifinals to advance to the national championship. Georgia dominated Michigan in a 34-11 victory over the Wolverines.
Alabama is the only team to score over 17 points all season against Georgia’s stout defense. Bryce Young and Jameson Williams embarrassed UGA in the SEC championship, but now Jordan Davis, Nakobe Dean, and company will get a shot at redemption.
Georgia’s defense must find a way to impact Bryce Young. The Bulldogs did not sack Young in their SEC championship loss. Additionally, Georgia must win the turnover battle against the Crimson Tide.
Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett threw a pair of interceptions in the SEC championship including a pick-six. Bennett must protect the football in the national championship. Georgia’s defense did force a Bryce Young fumble, but Young recovered.
The Dawgs will need their best performance of the season in order to beat Alabama as FiveThirtyEight predicts.
It’s No. 1 Georgia (12-0) versus No. 3 Alabama (11-1) for the SEC title this Saturday in Atlanta.
UGA head coach Kirby Smart will, once again, get another shot to knock off Nick Saban and his former team.
The Bulldogs’ close losses to the Crimson Tide in the 2012 and 2018 SEC Championships, as well as the 2018 national title, still linger in the minds of DawgNation.
While Alabama is still defending national champions, Georgia enters this one as the most dominant team in college football this season and has much more than an SEC Championship win in mind.
UGA’s hunt for 15-0 faces its biggest test yet this weekend.
Here’s five reasons why Georgia gets over the hump and walks away with a win:
J.C. breaks down Georgia vs. Alabama to find out what went right for the Bulldogs and what went wrong. Listen here
Your friends at “UGA Football Live” and UGA Wire present your one-stop shop for all things Georgia football!
We are releasing episodes and interviews each week during the 2020 college football season, with a little bit of everything sprinkled in between.
In this week’s episode, I break down Georgia vs. Alabama to find out what went right for the Bulldogs, what went wrong and how they can use this game as a stepping stone to an SEC Championship.
Plus I talk:
Dawgs in the NFL
Our top former Bulldogs from NFL week-6 action.
J.C. vs. the spread
I pick five games from this weekend against the spread in an attempt to look like I know what I’m doing.
Please subscribe, rate and review! And check out our other episodes featuring former Georgia greats like Aaron Murray (Ep. 2) Tavarres King (Ep. 3) and Keith Marshall (Ep. 4).
Which Georgia Bulldogs players performed well and poorly against the Alabama Crimson Tide?
The Georgia Bulldogs fell 41-24 to the Alabama Crimson Tide in an SEC showdown. Georgia took a 24-20 lead into halftime, but the Dawgs failed to score in the second half and turned the ball over multiple times.
First, let’s take a look at the offensive side of the ball for Georgia.
The Bulldogs offensive line held up well and did not commit many penalties in a road environment.
There was running room for the backs, but Todd Monken and Kirby Smart elected to roll with more of an aerial attack against Alabama.
James Cook stood out in the first half and exposed Alabama linebackers in the passing game. His 82-yard touchdown was Georgia’s best play of the game.
Quarterback Stetson Bennett played subpar in defeat. He struggled with ball placement and deflected passes at the line of scrimmage. One of his deflections at the line was intercepted in the first quarter, which was a large momentum change. Bennett deserves some fault for the interception. When four passes are battled down at the line of scrimmage, it is a pattern, not a freak play.
Bennett’s third interception was brutal. His pass went into a group of three Alabama defenders. Bennett played well in the first half, but grew uncomfortable in the second half and didn’t make the right read on a couple of occasions. Bennett was no match for Alabama quarterback Mac Jones, who is a superior downfield passer and connected for big plays all night.
Bennett’s No. 1 target throughout the night was Jermaine Burton. Burton’s stock is holding steady following the contest. He was a source of intermediate plays and was often open. He dropped a key pass in the red zone that was intercepted. Burton is promising considering he’s only a freshman.
Defensively, Nakobe Dean played well. He helped the Bulldogs get off the field on a couple of third downs and flashed elite speed. The overall performance from the defense was disappointing, especially in the second half when Dan Lanning’s group fell under immense pressure from turnovers and questionable officiating.
Defensive backs Tyrique Stevenson and Tyson Campbell were frequently victimized. The Crimson Tide have elite wide receivers with excellent speed. Jaylen Waddle burned Tyson Campbell and the UGA defense for a 90-yard touchdown in the second half. Campbell has the talent to play better, but he and the secondary needed more support from the pass rush.
Georgia’s pass rush needed a better performance from the interior. Jordan Davis, Travon Walker and company were quiet and didn’t disrupt Jones enough. Alabama frequently blocked with six players to stymie the UGA blitz.
Georgia football got demolished in the second quarter of the UGA vs Alabama game and it’s time we stop being so nice.
After a strong first half, Georgia just absolutely fell apart in the second. The Bulldogs fell flat on their face and lost 41-24, but it felt a lot worse.
Stetson Bennett, as it turns out, is not the answer – he threw three interceptions on the night. It’s safe to say the Mailman did not deliver.
As for our defense, who I’ve also claimed to be the nation’s best, they looked terribly lost out there going up against Bama’s lightning fast receivers. Normally I’d say Georgia may be able to fix defensive issues if these two teams meet again in Atlanta, but you can’t teach speed. And Bama has speed that Georgia does not.
Our running backs played well, though. It’s just too bad that we barely gave it to them. Georgia decided to let Bennett, who was once a fifth stringer, throw the ball 40 times, while only letting our running backs combine for 23 carries. How does that make sense?
We saw a lot of true freshman Jermaine Burton tonight. He had 4 catches for 58 yards and a touchdown. Good numbers, but he also struggled with dropped passes, including one in the end zone. We saw James Cook get used in the passing game. That was nice. But again, where is George Pickens? Pickens should not be Bennett’s third favorite target behind Kearis Jackson and Burton. How does that make sense either?
Kirby Smart, we love you as a recruiter. But I just don’t think you’re there as a coach. Sure, maybe there were not any huge head scratching decisions like a fake punt in your own territory in the 4th quarter, but you were just terribly out-coached tonight. And the fact that you let our quarterback situation get this bad is solely on you.
But, it would not be fair to forget to mention the officiating tonight. I don’t want to spend too much time on this, because it probably would not have made a massive difference in the end, but this has to stop. How long are we going to let Alabama get away with every call? The one play I’m going to focus on is this third down pass interference called on Georgia in the end zone. This drive comes after Alabama intercepted Bennett on the other side of the field. The play before the pick? Pickens was being mugged the whole way down the sideline and there was no call. So, refs miss a PI on Alabama, and then call a bogus one on Georgia on third down. In the end zone.
A tough PI call goes against Georgia on 3rd down and Alabama turns a likely field goal attempt into a touchdown #UGAvsALApic.twitter.com/2QKyZUxvIy
And there’s one more thing I want to add. If you’re a Georgia fan who does not find it necessary to praise each player on the team regardless of how poorly they play, I don’t judge you. It’s time we stop giving out false praise to players who are not doing their part. And it’s time we stop getting mad at each other for speaking the truth.
Kirby’s had a blowout loss to an SEC West team in each of his five years in Athens now, and I’m tired of it.
If there’s one thing we learned from tonight, it’s that Bennett is not the answer, and I don’t think that Georgia can beat Alabama the second time around, if there is one.
This was a really poor display of Georgia football.
Georgia linebacer Nokobe Dean comes up clutch and sacks Alabama quarterback Mac Jones on a critical third down. Watch it here: SAAACK!!!!! Nakobe Dean @NakobeDean pic.twitter.com/P2f1iLw6Sk – GEORGIA HEROES (@GeorgiaHeroes) October 18, 2020 What a …
Georgia linebacer Nokobe Dean comes up clutch and sacks Alabama quarterback Mac Jones on a critical third down.
