In what has become one of college football's most regular big time matchups, Alabama
vs. Georgia happening on one of their campuses has actually been somewhat of a rarity because they are usually meeting in the postseason. In fact, of the last 11 meetings between Alabama and Georgia, seven of them have either been in Atlanta in the SEC Championship Game, or at a neutral site in the national championship.However, when these matchups do happen on a campus, as with most of the matchups overall to be fair, it is usually a thrilling game and appointment viewing.
With Georgia making the trip to Tuscaloosa this weekend, here are the last five times that Alabama has hosted Georgia, which dates back over 30 years.
Oct. 1, 1994 - Alabama 29, Georgia 28
The early-to-mid 1990's was a strong stretch
for Alabama in which they appeared in four of the first five SEC championship games and won a national title in 1992. The 1994 season was one in which Alabama went 11-0 in the regular season before falling to Florida by just one point in the SEC Championship Game, which cost them a chance at another national title. They then won their bowl game and finished the year ranked in the top five to cap off a 12-1 season.
One of their biggest matchups and wins that season was a one-point comeback win over Georgia on the first day of October. Georgia jumped out to a 21-7 first half lead behind the arm of Eric Zeier. The Dawgs also led 28-19 in the fourth quarter, but then Alabama rallied. Alabama quarterback Jay Barker threw a touchdown pass to Todrick Malone to cut Georgia's lead to 28-26, then Alabama got the game-winning field goal with a minute left from Michael Proctor to pick up the 29-28 come-from-behind win to keep Alabama's undefeated regular season alive.
Barker threw for 396 yards and Malone finished with 173 receiving yards for the Tide. Zeier threw for 263 yards for Georgia. Hines Ward also had over 200 all-purpose yards for Georgia.
Oct. 5, 2002 - Georgia 27, Alabama 25
Alabama hosted a top 10 Georgia in early October 2002, a season in which Alabama went on a hot streak after falling to the Bulldogs in a tight one. This was a sloppy penalty-laden game with a combined 19 penalties and five turnovers.
Georgia took a 14-3 lead in the second quarter, but Alabama scored right before the half on a Brodie Croyle touchdown pass to Dre Fulgham. Alabama missed the extra point as it hit the upright however, which would end up proving costly later. Both teams traded field goals in the third quarter, but Georgia took a 24-12 lead on a David Greene touchdown pass early in the fourth quarter. Alabama responded with a Croyle acrobatic rushing touchdown, then took the lead right after on a Charlie Peprah pick-six.
Alabama had to go for two in an attempt to push the lead to three due to the missed PAT earlier, but the conversion failed leaving their lead at one. With Alabama leading 25-24, Georgia was able to work their way into field goal range and hit a game-winning 32-yard field goal with 38 seconds left off the foot of Billy Bennett. Georgia then sealed the game by intercepting Croyle the very next play.
Croyle threw for 197 yards, a touchdown, and an interception for Alabama. Shaud Williams also had a big day for the Tide with 44 rushing yards and 44 receiving yards. For Georgia, it was a big day from running back Musa Smith, who had 126 yards and a touchdown that propelled them to victory.
Sept. 22, 2007 - Georgia 26, Alabama 23 (OT)
A matchup back in Nick Saban's first season at Alabama. Alabama came into this game 3-0, and this game is where Alabama's 2007 season started to go downhill. It was a back-and-forth low-scoring game that featured a series of 10-0 runs. Georgia jumped out to a 10-0 lead, but Alabama responded with a run of their own to tie it up 10-10 early in the third quarter. Georgia responded with another 10-0 run of their own to take a 20-10 lead early in the fourth quarter. But Alabama had one last run of their own as John Parker Wilson scored a rushing touchdown with a minute left to tie the game at 20 and send the game into overtime.
The overtime consisted of Alabama opening up the frame with a field goal. But that three points was not enough as Georgia walked off the game on a 25-yard touchdown pass from eventual No. 1 overall NFL draft pick Matthew Stafford to Mikey Henderson on Georgia's first play of their overtime frame to give the Dawgs the 26-23 win.
John Parker Wilson threw for 185 yards for Alabama, while Terry Grant led the way in rushing with 80 yards. Stafford threw for 224 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions for Georgia. Knowshon Moreno and Thomas Brown both rushed for exactly 74 yards for Georgia. After this game, Alabama would then lose five of their next eight games to eventually finish the year 7-6 following a bowl game win.
Oct. 17, 2020 - Alabama 41, Georgia 24
In the middle of Alabama's dominant and impressive 2020 national championship season, this was arguably the game that really put Alabama on the top of the mountain nationally as the team to beat. This was a top three battle that was tight for a while, but then Alabama dominated the final 20 minutes. Both teams traded scores early with Georgia taking a 24-20 lead into halftime. That score remained for a while in the third quarter, but then the big play happened with four minutes left in the third as Mac Jones hit Jaylen Waddle for a 90-yard touchdown pass.
Georgia was driving to respond, but a red-zone interception by Alabama's Malachi Moore ended that chance. Alabama then quickly added two more scores to push their lead to 17 on touchdowns from Najee Harris and eventual Heisman Trophy winner DeVonta Smith. In the end, it was a 21-0 run in the span of ten minutes of game time from late third quarter to early fourth quarter that was the difference for the eventual undefeated national champion Alabama Crimson Tide.
Mac Jones threw for 417 yards and four touchdowns, while Alabama's defense intercepted Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett IV three times. DeVonta Smith and Jaylen Waddle both had over 160 yards receiving as Georgia had no answer for the explosive pair of receivers.
Sept. 28, 2024 - Alabama 41, Georgia 34
One of the most thrilling and memorable games in college football history, Alabama edged Georgia 41-34 in early 2024. Both teams came in 3-0 and ranked top five. Alabama shockingly jumped out to a 28-0 first half lead and led 30-7 at halftime in a monster performance from quarterback Jalen Milroe. Georgia then stormed all the way back to take a 34-33 lead with 2:31 remaining on a long pass to Dillon Bell.
Then, one of the most memorable plays in Alabama history happened the very next play as Milroe hit a true freshman Ryan Coleman-Williams down the sideline and then he made two Georgia defenders miss with a spin-move to score on a 75-yard touchdown pass (a 2-point conversion pushed Alabama's lead to 7). Georgia still had a chance though as they marched all the way down to the Alabama 20-yard line with a chance to tie or win, but true freshman Zabien Brown sealed the game with an interception to give Alabama the memorable win.
Jalen Milroe threw for 374 yards and ran for another 117 yards while scoring four total touchdowns as he dominated the game. Coleman-Williams had six catches for 177 yards and the touchdown. For Georgia, Carson Beck threw for 439 yards and three touchdowns, but also had three interceptions.
Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion.
This article originally appeared on Roll Tide Wire: Revisiting Alabama's last five home games vs. Georgia in Tuscaloosa
