Look, we know the drill at this point. It’s Alabama vs. Georgia, and it’ll be the most watched game in college football. It always is.
When these teams meet, there’s always fireworks. Whether it’s a tipped ball being caught as time expires, an overtime walk-off bomb, a backup QB getting redemption, a game-sealing pick-6, or a pirouetting freshman down the sideline, there have been no shortage of College Football defining story lines between these two teams, and they always meet with championship stakes
on the line.
The winner? SEC bragging rights and homefield advantage and a bye in the playoffs. The loser? Well, not that. And in Alabama’s case, they could potentially fall out of the playoffs altogether.
So, once again, our friend MaconDawg from DawgSports.com joins us to give his thoughts on the rematch. Enjoy!
It felt like yall weren’t too convinced on Gunner Stockton when we last played, but since then, he’s been getting some fringe Heisman hype. Is he THE guy? (define that however you like)
Stockton had some doubters to start the season. Not in the sense that anyone thought someone else should be starting, but in the sense that there were questions about exactly how ready he was to captain the offense. Those concerns have definitely abated. He still throws the occasional brain sprain interception, but by and large has taken good care of the football and has shown he can make all the throws. In fact, the fact that Gunner is likely to return in 2026 as the clear starter appears to have been a large part of Nashville quarterback Jared Curtis electing to flip his commitment from Georgia to Vanderbilt. When you start scaring off the top quarterback recruit in the country (at least according to some services) I think it’s safe to say your “the Guy.”
Does the entire passing offense just go through Zachariah Branch at this point?
2. Does the entire passing offense just go through Zachariah Branch at this point?
Definitely not. In fact the Tech game last week was the first time since the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party that he’s led the team in receiving. Vandy transfer London Humphreys (who caught the game-winning touchdown against Tennessee) has cone up big, and Texas A&M transfer Noah Thomas had actually gone for 11 catches, 178 yards and 3 touchdowns over the three games coming into the Tech game. And junior tight end Lawson Luckie has become a major red zone threat, accounting for 3 touchdown catches against Ole Miss. If anything the emergence of the Bulldog passing attack over the second half of the season has coincided with Gunner Stockton’s target list broadening out significantly.
What on earth happened vs Georgia Tech? 16-9 is just plain gross. That a one-off thing, or something you’re worried is a trend for UGA going forward?
It felt like a combination of things. For one, it’s the standard rivalry game in which the favored team always gets little brother’s best shot (you know the drill). For another, it wasn’t quite as close as the score would indicate. Georgia dominated the first half but a red zone turnover made the halftime score 13-3 when it absolutely would have been 20-0. There’s also a world in which Georgia scores on its first possession out of the locker room and shortens the game into a 27-3 or 27-10 yawner.
One reason that didn’t happen was the foot injury sustained by starting center Drew Bobo on Georgia’s lone touchdown drive late in the first half. To put it in perspective, Georgia had 145 yards rushing in the first half and had given up only 79 yards of total offense. After Bobo went down the Bulldogs ironically had 79 second half yards themselves and gave up 171 to the Jackets.
Bobo will again be out on Saturday, though redshirt freshman Malachi Toliver, his likely replacement, should be in a little better shape with a week to prepare. If not? Then congratulations on your SEC championship!
How do you think Kirby Smart approaches Alabama differently this time? He’s got a long history of being a great adjustments coach, so a rematch is likely to really change things up.
Defensively the biggest task is clearly more consistent, effective pressure on Ty Simpson. That September game could have gone differently if the Tide don’t convert their first nine third down attempts on the way to a 14-0 lead. Because the Bulldog secondary is playing much more consistently on the back end I expect some additional options for that pressure.
On the other side of the ball the ‘Dawgs are likely to utilize their expanded receiver rotation, especially the tight ends. Freshman Elyiss Williams and Lawson Luckie have both emerged as short yardage and third down threats, I expect one or both to make a big play if Georgia’s going to pull this one out.
What’s your prediction for the game?
At this point I just can’t bring myself to pick the Dawgs. Alabama could well be playing with its playoff hopes on the line, and the Bulldogs are nursing way too many injuries for me to feel comfortable. Until I’m proven wrong, I’m planning to have the Tide rip my heart out once again: Bama 31, Georgia 24.
Win or lose this one, UGA is in the playoffs. How do you like the Dogs’ chances to win it all?
I just don’t know that this team is built for it, yet. Part of what made the 2021 and 2022 championship teams so formidable was veteran depth across the defense. This team is very young, and injuries have forced a lot of younger players into key roles sooner than we would have hoped. But the silver lining to that is that, barring a raft of transfers, Georgia should return at least 7 starters on offense and 6 on defense in 2026. The expectation among Bulldog fans is that the Dawgs will be loaded for a title run next year. Going all the way with this group would be the sweetest found money imaginable.
