22 Things I Noticed in Alabama's 27-24 SEC Championship Victory Over the Georgia Bulldogs

How did No. 8 Alabama upset the No. 1 Georgia Bulldogs to end their 29-game winning streak to win the SEC Championship?

The Alabama Crimson Tide pulled off an upset over the two-time defending national champion Georgia Bulldogs to win the SEC Championship and gain a spot in the 2023 College Football Playoff on Saturday night. 

The Tide utilized patient and creative running schemes to keep Georgia's front guessing and give Alabama's the physical edge. Additionally, offensive coordinator Tommy Rees simplified the passing patterns, making it about players, instead of plays, letting quarterback Jalen Milroe distribute the ball to advantageous positions.

Defensively after making changes in the first half it became about executing and playing football. Georgia's offensive coordinator Mike Bobo seemed to fall into patterns and tendencies, making them easier to defend in clutch scenarios. After rewatching the game it's easy to wonder if the Bulldogs have the offensive personnel to win at a high enough rate on the outside to win against the nation's top teams this season. 

Rewatch the game with me as we analyze the ways that Tommy Rees and Kevin Steele schematically put the Crimson Tide into positions to make winning plays in Atlanta. 

1. Jalen Milroe's clock ticking a little too quickly leading to a three-and-out.

The opening drive of the SEC Championship Game certainly goes in direction of the favorites as Georgia gets off the field quickly in a three-and-out. 

Remember the first sequences are fact finding missions, that I believe you see pay off later in the game. 

• Snap 1- 1&10: Tommy Rees opens with a shot play, which serves to show confidence in his offense and begin to stretch the Georgia defense. The play doesn't accomplish its ultimate goal in a long completion and seizing momentum but you can't argue with the process. Georgia rushes five which turns into six against eight man protection. The offensive line largely holds up except Seth McLaughlin gets walked back a bit into Jalen Milroe's lap, but the protection is good. It's hard to tell if Zion Logue affects Milroe's pass but it comes out wobbly and is frankly fortunate it's not picked off by Javon Bullard. 
• Snap 2 - 2&10: Alabama gets out of 12 personnel and opts for a bit of misdirection. It's hard to tell if Milroe is reading Smael Mondon but he gives to Roydell Williams, who's starting for injured Jase McClellan who carries for three yards. Williams does a good job pressing Mondon and then cutting outside. 
• Snap 3 - 3&7: Georgia is in its pass rushing look in the first critical down of the game. Alabama sends Amari NiBlack into motion across the formation and no one follows him, likely indicating zone coverage by the Bulldogs. Georgia ultimately rushes just three and leaves two at the line spying on Milroe. The Dawgs were actually in cover one, leaving everyone man-to-man. It's hard to tell what Milroe is even looking at, as it appears he wants to pass to Niblack over the middle. He takes off out of a clean pocket resulting in a sack for the spy man, Jalon Walker. Looking back on this play Milroe probably had Isaiah Bond on the backside dig but alas, the Crimson Tide punts. 

2. A Georgia offensive masterclass gives the Dawgs the early lead. 

Georgia takes over on their own 17-yard line and flies down the field for a touchdown. Coach Saban mentioned in post game that the Tide opened in a single-high, odd look and that they changed that for the future drives. 

• Snap 1 - 1&10: Mike Bobo opens with a play-action pass and gets Carson Beck on the run. He dumps the ball off to Brock Bowers as soon as possible and he goes for big yards after the catch. Jihaad Campbell is likely responsible for Bowers on this snap and. he gets sucked into the play-action, while Bowers checks-and-releases to get himself free. It's a brilliant play to start because Bowers and the Dawgs out leverage Alabama with the play-action and leave Bowers plenty of room to rumble.
• Snap 2 - 1&10: Georgia stays in the same personnel package, therefore Alabama makes no changes. The Dawgs motion Dominic Lovett across the formation an Alabama does a poor job accounting for him. Kool-Aid McKinstry clearly had the deep third to the bottom side and he's occupied by Dillon Bell running a streak. It looks like either Caleb Downs or Dallas Turner were responsible for the buzz-zone to the wide side and just didn't get width quick enough. Credit Georgia for having Beck quickly distribute the ball out to Lovett so that he could  run after the catch for another first down. Two quick passes. 
• Snap 3 - 1&10: Georgia calls its first run of the day with a toss into the boundary. The run goes for just four yards and I believe this is a strong rep by both the offense and defense. First, Malachi Moore beats Brock Bowers on his block to get a hand on the ball carrier. Second, notice Kool-Aid McKinstry coming up in run support to force the ball carrier to go inside. But lastly, Deontae Lawson beats Sedrick Van Pran's block and dives in for the tackle. On the Georgia side Lovett makes a good block on Tim Smith 
• Snap 4 - 2&6: Another passing play for Georgia and another quick pass by Beck. That's three. It's clearly a designed pass to Daijun Edwards pursued nicely by Jihaad Campbell and Moore once again gets off a Bowers block for the tackle. 
• Snap 5 - 3&1: When you have the best center in college football a QB-sneak is easy and that's exactly what the Dawgs call here as Beck dives over the left guard for a first down. 
• Snap 6 - 1&10: Georgia gets into 12 personnel for the first time on the drive as Oscar Delp enters the game. Beck goes for a play-action pass and it's his deepest pass of the day, this time a completion to Ladd McConkey. McConkey runs a corner/out route against Terrion Arnold who's playing deep-third's coverage. Beck rolls out and see's no one playing underneath McConckey, making it an easy throw and catch for another big gainer. 
• Snap 7 - 1&10: The Dawgs motion McConkey across the formation and this time Downs, unlike on "Snap 2" of this drive, goes with him, but its a Georgia handoff to Kendall Milton. Bowers gets a good combo block and Milton looks like he wants to go outside but Jaheim Oatis makes a strong play getting off his block and tackling him for minimal gain. 
• Snap 8 - 2&8: Alabama brings a blitz as Jihaad Campbell is firing into the B gap on the snap. Unfortunately for the Tide, Campbell is rooted out by Tate Ratledge and Milton's handoff goes right into that gap. Van Pran blocks Lawson who's trying to get to the gap while Jaylen Key takes a bad angle to make the tackle. Milton explodes through the gap for a 17-yard touchdown to take the lead. 

3. A big drop derails the Alabama drive.

Alabama's under the gun a little bit now, facing a 7-0 deficit, but things continue to haywire and the offense goes three-and-out again.

• Snap 1 - 1&10: Robbie Ouzts is a battering ram on this inside give to Roydell Williams. He gets enough of CJ Allen for Williams to go through the hole with momentum that gives Alabama a nice first down gain. 
• Snap 2 - 2&4: Alabama motions Williams out of the backfield in and into empty. The Dawgs only rush three and drop into a zone coverage. Give Jalen Milroe credit for finding a man downfield for what would've been a 15-yard completion, but Malik Benson drops it when contacted by a Georgia defender. It's the second contested catch dropped in the last two weeks by Benson as he's got to improve that area of his game. 
• Snap 3 - 3&4: Another second straight third down that Milroe is going to want back as he handles the low snap and doesn't make a wrong decision by passing to Jermaine Burton. However the ball placement is pretty poor and it ends as an incompletion. I wonder if a better decision would've been an underneath pass to Kendrick Law or Isaiah Bond who both beat their defenders on crossing routes and may have presented an easier pass.

4. Alabama makes a change and earns a three-and-out.

Alabama changes into an even look with split safeties on the back end to try to slow down Georgia after giving up a touchdown on the previous drive. The Dawgs go three-and-out and punt, giving the Tide the field position advantage after possession exchange. 

• Snap 1 - 1&10: How did Mike Bobo open the last drive? With Brock Bowers check and releasing to a big catch and run off a play-action. This looks like an RPO that is completely blown up by Alabama. Deontae Lawson has the handoff covered and Malachi Moore is all over Bowers sliding across the formation getting a big tackle for loss. 
• Snap 2 - 2&13: Credit Carson Beck here for even giving this play a chance. He starts with a play-fake to Milton and his line holds up ok initially. But once Justin Eboigbe and Jaheim Oatis complete their stunt they collapse the pocket. Beck rolls out and gives Ladd McConkey a chance at a catch but the ball hits the ground. 
• Snap 3 - 3&13: Caleb Downs covers Bowers like a blanket with Moore helping over the top. Georgia is frankly fortunate that Moore doesn't come away with an interception as Moore gets his hands on the overthrown football. Beck throws to Bowers, but really at the time of the pass there really wasn't anyone else open, a credit to the Tide's athleticism on the back end. 

5. The Crimson Tide start to move and dent the scoreboard.

Alabama gets the ball at midfield and Tommy Rees is still seemingly experimenting with the best way to attack this Georgia defense. He and Jalen Milroe work together and orchestrate a field goal drive to cut the Dawgs lead to four.

• Snap 1 - 1&10: This play design is fun as it has a lot going on. Ultimately it's just QB-lead but I love getting into the bunch set to the play side and utilizing CJ Dippre and Robbie Ouzts in the run schemes. 
• Snap 2 - 2&1: Alabama gets out of 12 personnel and spread out the Georgia defense. Ouzts serves to lead JAM Miller on an inside give that gets Alabama a first down. The play is blocked up pretty nicely, meaning credit is due to Malaki Starks for filling the gap and stopping the run before it got too far. 
• Snap 3 - 1&10: We haven't seen this much this year, but Alabama gets into 13 personnel with the three tight-ends lined up in a bunch set. Kadyn Proctor and Tyler Booker absolutely dump truck over their defender on a double-team as Miller carries for another nice gain. 
• Snap 4 - 2&2: Alabama stays in the same personnel grouping and calls a pass play. This turns out to be a little Jalen Milroe improvisation for a first down. Georgia only rushes three and Chaz Chambliss appears to be spying Milroe but it's tough to keep up with that kind of athlete. Milroe escapes right and then all the way back left for a tiny gain but a first down. 
• Snap 5 - 1&10: Alabama gives Georgia Kendrick Law lined up in the backfield, that sets off alarm bells for the defense. The play ends up for a seven-yard gain as Milroe fakes to Miller and follows a leading Law and Amari NiBlack and the pair are able to stay in front of defenders for a short time. 
• Snap 6 - 2&3: This play is one of those where you have to give credit to Georgia. It's a handoff left to Miller and he's supposed to get wide, unfortunately  Christen Miller isn't fooled by any of the linemen's actions up front and gets a big tackle for loss. Not really anything the Tide could've done, the offense just got caught in a bad play. 
• Snap 7 - 3&9: Georgia brings six rushers and the Alabama offensive line, along with Roydell Williams does a decent job holding them off. Milroe escapes right and fires into the end zone to Isaiah Bond, the pass is just out of bounds so it's a miss and the Tide has to settle for a field goal. It's hard to tell based on the TV copy if Milroe had any other options, Bond was open but the pass was going to be challenging on the move into the corner.

6. Kirby and Mike Bobo outsmart themselves.

The Dawgs still have a 7-3 lead but just went three-and-out on the last drive. Mike Bobo tries to go to the running game and fails as the Tide starts to turn on a second straight three-and-out.

• Snap 1 - 1&10: Alabama is back in its even front, split-safety look. Georgia's line does a good job of doubling down on Damon Payne and Tim Smith get's sealed out as well. Justin Eboigbe holds the edge but doesn't really squeeze down the hole so Daijun Edwards follows Oscar Delp right through. Should it have been obvious that a run was coming with Delp in the game instead of Brock Bowers? Regardless, Trezmen Marshall fights off Delp's block to make the tackle along with the two filling safeties for a six-yard gain. 
• Snap 2 - 2&4: Georgia still with Delp in the game at tight end call a run into a full box. This looks like an RPO that Carson Beck decided to give, but maybe should have pulled and hit Dominic Lovett on a swing pass. Smith occupies the guard and two-gaps the play nicely as the Alabama defense swarms to help him.
• Snap 3 - 3&2: Georgia motions to empty but the play clock runs down and therefore the Dawgs call a timeout.
• Snap 4 - 3&2: Go back to "Drive 2 Snap 3" Georgia's first run of the day, it was a toss into the boundary out of a bunch formation. Out of the timeout the Dawgs lined up in the exact same bunch formation with the exact same personnel. On the previous snap the play gained four-yards. When called again after a timeout, the Tide stopped it for a loss. Dallas Turner knocks Lovett and Earnest Greene off their lines on the way to the ball carrier. Caleb Downs isn't touched but he doesn't make the tackle as Edwards cuts inside him, really it's Marshall who makes the play as he appears to be on a stunt and blocked right into the ball carrier. 

7. 10 plays, 92-yards to take the lead and impose your will.

The Alabama offense has gone from consecutive three-and-outs, to an eight-play drive for a field goal. Jalen Milroe and company overcome some adversity over the course of 10 plays as they take the lead for the first time in the SEC Championship game. 

• Snap 1 - 1&10: The motion across the formation is really giving Georgia some problems and it does again on this first play of the series. Kobe Prentice goes into motion and several second level Dawgs either step with him or hesitate to react to the Roydell Williams handoff. In the meantime, Kadyn Proctor completely seals the left edge of the line and Tyler Booker and Seth McLaughlin get into the second level to find work as well, leaving Williams one-on-one with Malaki Starks in the hole. First play goes for 12 yards to get out of the shadow of your own goal line.
• Snap 2 - 1&10: Now when has Alabama shown this look this year? Proctor playing "tight end" on the right side in an unbalanced line? Robbie Ouzts lined up at left tackle on the opposite side? Tommy Rees is getting funky. The result? JC Latham and Jaeden Roberts double down on the Georgia lineman and then Latham moves on to the only second-level defender in the box. Starks and Smael Mondon eventually move in to make the tackle but not until Williams rips off a smooth eight yards.
• Snap 3 - 2&2: Jalen Milroe must have seen this option on tape on the sideline in between series. He drops back and looks down field but quickly decides to dump it off to Williams who runs for a first down. Georgia brings a backer on a stunt and a second late but the line holds up well and Williams out leverages Marvin Jones Jr. to get the first down. It also happens to be Milroe's first completion of the day. 
• Snap 4 - 1&10: Kendrick Law is back in the backfield for Alabama and the Tide calls a bit of an RPO look. Milroe doesn't give the ball to Williams, but keeps instead and is immediately met with Bulldogs in his face. He tries a dangerous pass into the second level to Malik Benson who was open, but Benson didn't come back to the pass, allowing his defender to jump in front of the route. Alabama is fortunate the play didn't end up as a turnover. Alabama was called for illegal man downfield but Kirby Smart declined the penalty. 
• Snap 5 - 2&10: Alabama has a bunch set to the field, and motions Law out of the backfield and into empty. Georgia only brings three rushers and leaves two men to spy, in case Milroe opts to run, leaving six men in coverage. The five man protection holds up nicely and Kobe Prentice finds a soft spot in the intermediate area of the defense. A facemask penalty after the catch extends the gain into Bulldog territory. 
• Snap 6 - 1&10: This time the motion with Prentice across the formation doesn't take as many second-level Bulldogs with him, but instead it's just blocked up brilliantly. Proctor gets into his man on the second level. Ouzts seals the frontside edge nicely and Williams takes Mondon and Starks on a ride for a nine-yard gain. 
• Snap 7 - 2&1: Thanks CBS! This play is challenging to see due to CBS and their broadcast habits. It looks like perhaps a variation of inside zone where Warren Brinson blows it up in the backfield for no gain. 
• Snap 8 - 3&1: Again CBS is in the double-box for a big play! Give Georgia credit as the Tide tries a simple quarterback sneak but is stopped again for no gain. The Bulldogs aren't even in a heavy look but simply submarine the Alabama line for a stop. 
• Snap 9 - 4&1: Alabama gets into its 'Tush Push' formation, only Ouzts and Law lined up wider than normal, indicating that the push was probably not coming. Instead it's an off tackle handoff to Williams who gets the first down. Roberts and Latham double-down, McLaughlin blocks down along with CJ Dippre and Ouzts and Williams gets the first down by a yard or so. 
• Snap 10 - 1&10: Alabama stays in 13 personal with three tight ends on a bunch to the right side. The Tide gets a hat on a hat and Jam Miller carries for five yards, unfortunately Dippre gets called for holding. 
• Snap 11 - 1&20: Interestingly enough, Rees keeps the Tide in 13 personnel with Ouzts, Dippre and NiBlack in a bunch formation. NiBlack motions across the formation for Alabama which serves to roll Georgia's secondary away from the pending play. Miller runs a wheel route out of the backfield and hauls in a wide open 28-yard touchdown reception. How was he so open? Ouzts ran his route right through the man assigned to Miller. Rees was in his bag on this 92-yard drive and the Tide takes the lead and never looks back.

8. Deontae Lawson and Dallas Turner combine to kill a drive. 

Georgia gets back on its horse a bit a moves the football into Alabama territory, but leave it to Deontae Lawson and Dallas Turner to make strong individual plays to stop the drive. The Crimson Tide gets fortunate that Georgia barely false starts on its field goal try, backing them up five-yards and subsequently keeping points off the board.

• Snap 1 - 1&10: Georgia comes out in 12 personnel, smart because Brock Bowers or Oscar Delp had been a small signal for run or pass. McConkey goes into motion, closing the right hand side of the formation and Mike Bobo calls a pitch to Kendall Milton. It's kind of a low percentage play because it leaves Milton dealing with Chris Braswell and Caleb Downs on his own, from a pure numbers and design standpoint, but Milton makes the most of it for four yards.
• Snap 2 - 2&6: Georgia calls a variation of inside zone, but no one cuts the backside backer off and no one gets to the second level, leaving Milton once again to deal with two defenders on his own. He takes Braswell and Trezmen Marshall on a four-yard ride.
• Snap 3 - 3&2: Another inside zone as Georgia is clearly trying to establish the running game and its will in the game Daijun Edwards carries for the first down as Deontae Lawson trips and falls. 
• Snap 4 - 1&10: Dawgs have gone alternating plays in personnel packages and are back in 11, meanwhile Alabama is still in even, but in this case have a safety rolled down.  There's definitely some confusion on the Alabama back end as three defenders go with Dominic Lovett, Malchi Moore, Caleb Downs and Lawson, on the swing pass pattern. The Tide rushes another three so that leaves just five defenders for the remaining three receivers and Carson Beck is able to find Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint on the backside dig for a nice gainer. 
• Snap 5 - 1&10: Georgia still alternating, is back in 12, and calls a pass play on first down. Beck picks out Dillon Bell running a short hitch route in front of Terrion Arnold for a short completion. Not much to this play but Mike Bobo dialing up some easy reads for Beck. 
• Snap 6 - 2&4: You've got to love a center pulling to lead the way. Sedrick Van Pran does exactly that and Daijun Edwards carries off the left side for a first down. Credit Caleb Downs for coming up and filling the gap before Edwards was able to get into the open field, otherwise this could have been problematic for Alabama. 
• Snap 7 - 1&10: Still alternating personnel packages, back to 12 for the Dawgs and this time its straight drop back, six-man protection. Beck is targeting Arian Smith down field but he's really covered fairly well by Terrion Arnold in trail position. Kool-Aid McKinstry recognizes the deep threat and drops and almost comes away with an interception. The second near-pick for the Alabama secondary.
• Snap 8 - 2&10: Much like "Drive 4 Snap 1" the Dawgs appear to call an RPO with a sliding Delp across the formation. Beck dumps to Delp quickly but he's not near the athlete that Bowers is and only gains four yards.
• Snap 9 - 3&7: Alabama only rushes four and has great coverage, so what gets them beat? The quarterback scramble. Beck escapes the pocket through the middle and runs and dives for the first down. It is nice coverage on the back end, but maddening how often the Tide has been beat on quarterback run in third and long situations this season.
• Snap 10 - 1&10: Georgia is now on the 19-yard line. A field goal from here would be 36-yards. Bowers is back in for Georgia as they're in 12 personnel and call a run to the left. The tackle and guard never make it to the second level so Lawson explodes through the hole and makes a tackle for no gain on Kendall Milton. 
• Snap 11 - 2&10: This play is designed to be a power of some sort to the left hand side. Both Bowers and Delp are in the game and both seem to not know who to block here. Tate Ratledge kicks out Justin Eboigbe but Delp gets caught in the trash and Bowers gets way too far out in front. Lawson uses this to go in between the tight end's paths and make a shoestring tackle for a loss. 
• Snap 12 - 3&12: From the 21-yard line, the field gaol would be 38-yards. Alabama rushes four and Dallas Turner carries Earnest Greene all the way into Carson Beck for a sack. Beck really had no time for anything else as he was sacked near the top of his drop. 
• Snap 13 - 4&18: The Bulldogs line up for a 45-yard field goal, but unfortunately are called for a false start on the right guard. 
• Snap 14 - 4&23: On a sequence where the field goal could have been 36-yards, it's now 50 and Peyton Woodring sends the kick right off the upright. Painfully close for the freshman and Alabama takes over on downs without denting the scoreboard.

9. Did Isaiah Bond catch this fourth down pass?

In four-minute offense the Tide has to decide how hard they want to press the gas pedal. No matter what, with a three-point lead it's important to keep running good offense. Nick Saban surprised me a bit with his willingness to go for it on fourth down but a controversial catch kept Alabama moving to take a 10-point lead. 

• Snap 1 - 1&10: Alabama comes out with a domino stack but sends Isaiah Bond across the formation in motion to Jermaine Burton's side to form the stack on the opposite side pre-snap. The Georgia secondary is playing "off" in what seems like a cover-two shell but Jermaine Burton gets on top of Malaki Starks anyways from the slot position. Jalen Milroe fires up a duck of a pass to Burton and Starks runs right through the Alabama wide receiver for a pass interference. Alabama held up in protection as CJ Dippre helped chip the defensive end on Kadyn Proctor's side. If the pass had been better, maybe it's a moon-shot touchdown? Regardless it's a first down Alabama.
• Snap 2 - 1&10: The Tide gets into 12 and runs the ball right off the left guard. Roydell Williams only comes away with a yard as Georgia's Smael Mondon does a good job slipping Jaeden Robert's block and getting in on a tackle. 
• Snap 3 - 2&8: Georgia is showing cover four off the snap but moves into inverted cover two as both corners drop out and the safeties drop in. This works out pretty well for Alabama as its quarterback run to the field the whole way. Kobe Prentice has to block his man and Jalen Milroe has to outrun Mondon to the edge. He does and gains six-yards.
• Snap 4 - 3&2: Milroe audibles into a run at the line of scrimmage and JAM Miller barely gets the first down. Perhaps if he were a little more patient he would have cut right and gotten the first down behind blocking, but he cut left and found himself one-on-one with Tykee Smith and out muscled him for the necessary yardage. 
• Snap 5 - 1&10: Georgia blitzes and rushes five men against Alabama's six. The Tide does a good job keeping Milroe upright who makes a good decision throwing to Kobe Prentice. Milroe's pass sailed just too high for the Alabama receiver to bring it down. 
• Snap 6 - 2&10: Georgia rushes five again, this time with a stunt on the right side and the trio of Seth McLaughlin, Jaeden Roberts and JC Latham got beat for a sack. Milroe did get caught up looking at the rush, however from the TV angle it didn't look like there was much place to pass.
• Snap 7 - 3&21: Alabama gets into the pistol set and Milroe fires a pass into Amari NiBlack who makes a strong, contested catch. Georgia only rushed with four and the line did a good job picking it up allowing Milroe a lane to pick up a chunk of yards. 
• Snap 8 - 4&4: Milroe completes a pass to Isaiah Bond for a first down. First, Georgia is rushing five with a sixth man spying Milroe, but the timing of their blitz is off, allowing the line to pick it up and Milroe to drift away from the rush. Georgia is in single high man-to-man on the back end, due to the rush and Bond just wins on his corner route. From the press box it looked like Milroe threw it to nowhere until Bond came flying in. This catch became controversial but it was ruled a catch. The SEC office says it was reviewed and upheld but many question that. With such a close call, and on such an important down, it's wild that Kirby Smart didn't call his timeout to get the review. There was 1:20 on the clock, if it's overturned then you get the timeout back and the ball. From my perspective it was a catch as Bond dove brought the ball into his body and was turning as he slid across the turf.
• Snap 9 - 1&10: Bond going across the formation in motion pre-snap is no longer holding anyone and the handoff to Miller gets blown up at the line of scrimmage by a Bulldog defensive lineman who stood up Tyler Booker on his block. 
• Snap 10 - 2&10: In the redzone it everything becomes tighter. The Bulldogs rush four and keep a fifth as a spy. The remaining five are in Cover 1 with a free safety roaming. Milroe stays in the pocket where there's good protection and delivers a laser to Burton who's run a 20-yard square-in in the end zone. Burton didn't have many plays in this game, but I'm sure he'll cherish scoring against his old school to put Alabama up 17-7 with :48 seconds left in the half.

10. Georgia runs out the half.

Georgia tries to hurry up initially with a dump off pass to a running back and some pace to the offense, but after a second down scramble Kirby Smart decides to let the half expire as they'd get the ball to start the second half. The timeout that Smart took into the locker room could have been used to challenge Isaiah Bond's fourth down reception on the previous drive. 

11. Alabama rallies to the football and it pays off with a stop.

The start of the second half was going to be crucial in this football game. The Bulldogs get a quick first down but Alabama responds nicely by stopping Georgia from going any further and maintaining it's 10 point lead.

• Snap 1 - 1&10: The Bulldogs open up with a screen pass to its best player, Brock Bowers. That's three out of their six drives they've opened with a pass to Bowers. Justin Eboigbe recognizes screen but fell down, Deontae Lawson went with the running back out of the backfield, but it was Jihaad Campbell who read it perfectly and slipped Earnest Greene's block to make the tackle for just a three yard gain.
• Snap 2 - 2&7: Alabama, still in its even-front, split safety look stretches a Daijun Edwards handoff as far to the right as possible. Caleb Downs had Edwards dead to rights at the line of scrimmage but Edwards is on scholarship too and stiff arms him and gets the corner for a nine-yard gain and a first down.
• Snap 3 - 1&10: This is a play probably better run when Bowers is available. Instead, Oscar Delp runs a streak on a fake screen and go. Terrion Arnold sees it the whole way and instead of serving him up an easy one Carson Beck turns and fires to Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint on the screen. The Tide rally to Rosemy-Jacksaint and stops him for a two-yard gain.
• Snap 4 - 2&8: Alabama only rushes four and plays its matchup zone throughout. This leaves Rosemy-Jacksaint one-on-one with Terrion Arnold. Rosemy-Jacksaint makes the reception short of the line to gain and Arnold immediately is on him. It's clear the Georgia receiver is stronger than Arnold and taking him to the first down line, until Malachi Moore and Jihaad Campbell rally to the ball and help bring him down. 
• Snap 5 - 3&1: Georgia brings everything in tight, so Alabama does also. Both safeties rolled up as the Dawgs are in 12 personnel and both corners dealing with the tight stack to the short side. It's not the same formation as Georgia's fourth down attempt in the first half, but it's the same concept. The Dawgs run a toss into the boundary and try to outflank Alabama for a single yard. This goes poorly as the Tide rolls its safeties right into the toss in response to Delp's motion. Next, Arnold submarines Delp to set a hard edge as Campbell, Moore and Kool-Aid McKinstry come in to stop Edwards behind the line of scrimmage for a loss. 

 12. Georgia's DL makes a play to set the Tide back.

In and ideal world you'd like the Alabama offense to pick up right where they left off in the first half. The Crimson Tide finished with drives ending in a field goal and consecutive touchdowns. Unfortunately Alabama couldn't find the same rhythm as a Georgia defender had other ideas and then a miscommunication between Amari NiBlack and Jermaine Burton resulted in a punt.

• Snap 1 - 1&10: The Tide comes out in 11 personnel as Robbie Ouzts leads Roydell Williams through the hole. He only gains three yards as Nazir Stackhouse does a nice job fighting off a Seth McLaughlin block. 
• Snap 2 - 2&7: Perhaps trying to shorten the game a little bit, Tommy Rees dials up another inside give to Williams who immediately bounces outside into Mykel Williams and Tykee Smith for a loss. 
• Snap 3 - 3&8: Georgia rushes three and spies two others to keep Jalen Milroe in the pocket. Somehow Amari NiBlack and Jermaine Burton end up in the same place down the field, but Milroe's pass falls incomplete between two Tide receivers and two Georgia defenders. Was Milroe throwing to Burton and he didn't see NiBlack? Hard to tell what the miscommunication what, but regardless, the Tide punts.

13. Kool-Aid gets injured and the Bulldogs get fortunate to score.

Georgia, still down 10-points tries something and takes a shot. It gets the Bulldogs in range, but the next sequence of plays almost cost the Dawgs possession of the football. They'll be lucky to take three points here and draw a bit closer to the Tide.

• Snap 1 - 1&10: Alabama rolls Malachi Moore down as Brock Bowers motions into trips. Alabama brings four and the Georgia offensive line does a nice job holding up. Arian Smith out of the slot gets one-on-one with Jaylen Key and Beck puts a nice pass on him. What more is Key to do? Beck's pass is under thrown to the perfect degree, it just seemed like the Alabama safety made the most of a tough situation. It's hard to see without the all-22 if anyone in the secondary got tied up or mixed up in coverage. Sometimes you remember that the other team gives out scholarships as well.
• Snap 2 - 1&10: Georgia keeps trying a variation of a toss into the boundary. This time they motion out of a bunch set and only really Terrion Arnold and Malachi Moore are fooled by the motion man. Dallas Turner defeats a Bowers block and heads down the line to make a tackle combining with Kool-Aid McKinstry who comes up nicely to fill the running lane. The boundary toss has now gone for four, negative one and three yards.
• Snap 3 - 2&7: Unfortunately for Alabama McKinstry suffered a concussion while serving in run support on the previous play, brining in Trey Amos for the next snap. Alabama is in its match-coverage and therefore Amos ends up on Bowers  who gets's targeted in play-action pass. Georgia protects Beck with seven but Bowers is blanketed and Amos swats away the pass. 
• Snap 4 - 3&7: Georgia motions out of a bunch and the Tide is in its match coverage. It looks like Alabama brings five but Deontae Lawson picks up the escaping running back in coverage. Beck feels the pressure from Turner and rolls out. He makes a mistake passing across his body looking for Bowers. Kristian Story had an interception in his hands and dropped it. Georgia takes the incompletion and the field goal, but is lucky Story didn't come away with the interception. 

14. Do the officials miss a call in Georgia's favor to end an Alabama drive?

The Dawgs have finally cut into Alabama's halftime lead, can Alabama answer with a strong drive of its own? Yes, but unfortunately the drive is ended just outside of field goal range and therefore James Burnip sends the ball back to the Dawgs.

• Snap 1 - 1&10: The drive starts a little jittery as Georgia sends six rushers for Alabama's five blockers. Jalen Milroe makes a good decision by passing to JAM Miller out of the backfield. Problem was the pass had no zip on it and floated short of its target for an incompletion. Clearly Milroe was trying to throw Miller out of a troublesome tackle by Kamari Lassiter, but the miss is unfortunately. 
• Snap 2 - 2&10: Georgia again rushes six and green-dogs a seventh, leaving one rusher for every blocker for the Tide. Milroe slides in the pocket a bit, but eventually the rush wins and flushes him out. His athleticism gets him out of a sack that would have cost the offense 12 yards and he runs for a gain of two. By the time he was all the way to the sidelines it looks like he could have gained four or five more yards, but Milroe plays it cautious. 
• Snap 3 - 3&8: Third play in a row the Dawgs bring pressure, this time it's a corner blitz for their fifth man as Georgia drops into a zone behind it. Jermaine Burton runs his route directly to the sticks and catches Milroe's high pass with his hands and utilizes his body to shield the ball from Malaki Starks. Highly impressive receiver play by Burton and savvy recognition by Milroe.
• Snap 4 - 1&10: Alabama in 13 personnel at midfield? Surely Georgia knows a run is coming? CJ Dippre and Amari NiBlack block down as Robbie Ouzts and Kadyn Proctor loop around to lead the way. JAM Miller takes the toss for five yards. Georgia was certainly flowing to the toss off the snap, but Alabama outflanked and pushed the Dawgs down the field. 
• Snap 5 - 2&5: Alabama calls a pop-pass to Kendrick Law with a Roydell Williams lead. I love the aggression Williams shows as a lead blocker. Unfortunately Xavian Sorey has a great read on the play and flies to the football. Sorey is called for a questionable horse-collar tackle on Law. Really tough call as every angle shows something a little bit different and leaving the flag in the pocket was probably best. Alabama won't argue against a first down though.
• Snap 6 - 1&10: The Tide has moved just inside the Georgia 40-yard line and marching. Tommy Rees gets back in 13 personnel and draws up a unique run with Ouzts and Tyler Booker leading the way for Roydell Williams off of JC Latham's outside hip. 
• Snap 7 - 2&4: Alabama motions into a two back look with Law serving as Williams's second. Georgia sends another corner blitz and Isaiah Bond recognizes it and runs the exact same route that Burton ran on Snap 3 of this current drive. Jalen Milroe instead goes after a one-on-one matchup with Burton against Daylen Everette but his pass was too long. The offensive line held up against the rush, but probably a bit of a greedy decision by Milroe leads to an incompletion.
• Snap 8 - 3&4: Alabama's offensive line clearly had a miscommunication on this play as Georgia rushed five. Somehow the line slides to the right and lets Jalon Walker in free on Milroe. The officials blow the play dead but it appears that Milroe was never down and escaped Walker's grasp. It's close, and therefore the official should have never blown his whistle. Milroe went immediately into improv mode and may have gotten the first down had the play been allowed sufficient life. Perhaps the whistle is a nice one-to-one swap for the horse collar? Regardless, the sack pushes Bama out of field goal range and Burnip does his best to pin the Dawgs deep.

15. Fancy ball handling leads to a turnover.

Georgia's defense did its job by earning a stop and giving its offense a chance to tie the game. Unfortunately for the Bulldogs the turnover that Carson Beck had been flirting with (see the near interceptions in this article already) finally happened, setting the Tide up with a great chance to go back to two-scores ahead.

• Snap 1 - 1&10: Alabama has stayed in an even-front for the majority of the game outside of the first drive. Caleb Downs is sent on a blitz and he makes the tackle from behind as Damon Payne and Tim Smith hold up the Georgia offensive line. 
• Snap 2 - 2&10: Georgia is in 12 personnel with Brock Bowers in the backfield and Oscar Delp split wide. Mike Bobo has Carson Beck throw a quick screen to Ladd McConkey after motioning Bowers into a trips-set. McConkey takes his reception seven-yards as Trezmen Marshall tracks him down nicely. 
• Snap 3- 3&3: Georgia goes into empty inviting pressure, but the Tide only brings four. It is a simulated pressure as Dallas Turner drops out and Jihaad Campbell comes. Beck squeezes a slant pass into Dillon Bell for the first down. Bell is blanketed by Terrion Arnold so really just tip your hat to Bell for making a bigger play for the first down. Arnold does contest the catch and tackle him immediately for what it's worth. 
• Snap 4 - 1&10: False start on Georgia. 
• Snap 5 - 1&15: Georgia gets into 12 personnel and fakes a handoff to Daijun Edwards with a guard pulling to sell the fake to the right. Meanwhile Delp circles back and is joined by Earnest Greene as lead blockers for Bell coming around the formation. The exchange between Beck and Bell goes haywire and Marshall dives in on the ball for a turnover. Alabama is fortunate the mishap happened, as the blocking and design was superb. Deontae Lawson was following Marshall into the wrong hole leaving just Trey Amos and Jaylen Key to stop the run while taking on the aforementioned lead blockers. 

16. Alabama fails to find the dagger in the red zone. 

What kept the Iron Bowl unnecessarily close? Poor finishing in the red zone. The Crimson Tide takes over on the 11-yard line and a touchdown would stretch the lead to 14-points. Unfortunately for Alabama the execution, and frankly the play calling is poor and the Tide settles for an easy three-points.

• Snap 1 - 1&10: Alabama comes out in 13 personnel, clearly wanting to get physical near the goal line. Did a low snap throw the timing of the play off? Regardless Mykel Williams defeats CJ Dippre's block and the play is blown up after a minimal gain.
• Snap 2 - 2&7: Tommy Rees gets a little fancy with it and calls a QB-counter from 12 personnel but it doesn't really fool the Dawgs. Georgia strings it out and Milroe is forced out by Daylen Everette.
• Snap 3 - 3&9: Georgia rushes four with a stunt up the middle and it speeds Milroe up on from the pocket. He does pass to Jermaine Burton who has a chance to make a touchdown catch but drops the contested catch. The Bulldogs defense clearly won this sequence, only allowing a field goal, but Alabama retakes a two-score lead.

17. Georgia stalls out and avoids another interception. 

Georgia's starting to run out of time with just over a quarter to play. The Dawgs drive a bit, but for at least the third time this game the Bulldogs get lucky with a dropped interception. 

• Snap 1 - 1&10: Brock Bowers motions across the formation as Georgia has spread things pretty wide. Alabama only rushes four and can't really pressure Carson Beck, who dumps it off to Kendall Milton in the flat. Malachi Moore rallies to Milton and forces him out of bounds.
• Snap 2 - 2&6: Alabama drops into a zone on the final play of the third quarter and Beck finds Dominic Lovett on a short slant in the open gap. 
• Snap 3 - 1&10: Alabama only rushed four but moves Beck off his spot thanks to interior pressure from Jaheim Oatis. Justin Eboigbe takes advantage of his rushing mate's pressure and folds in to take down Beck for a loss.
• Snap 4 - 2&13: Alabama once again rushes just four but this time the Georgia line does much better. Terrion Arnold knocks away a pass intended for Ladd McConkey with some very tight coverage. 
• Snap 5 - 3&13: Alabama rushes four and again the Georgia line holds up well in protection. The Tide is in man coverage and Trey Amos is all over Dillon Bell's short hitch route. Beck is fortunate the Bulldogs get to punt after he had another interception dropped.

18. Does Alabama go into a bit of a shell on this drive? 

It's not time to go into a shell yet Alabama, but it seems that's what happens with a 10-point lead and 14-minutes left in the game. The Tide goes backwards and goes three-and-out giving Georgia a bit of momentum as the two-time national champions won't go away.

• Snap 1 - 1&10: Alabama is essentially in 21 with Kendrick Law motioning into the backfield with Roydell Williams. This looks like a called give as Milroe hardly even looks like he's going to pull the ball out of Williams's belly, Chaz Chambliss slow-plays it and crashes into Williams for a two-yard gain.
• Snap 2 - 2&8: The Tide still in 21 burns a half minute before the snap and it's straight play-action against four rushers and two spies. Warren Brinson defeats the double-team of Jaeden Roberts and Seth McLaughlin to get pressure on Milroe. and Brinson and Tramel Walthour get in for the sack. Pathetic to allow a defensive tackle to split a double team right up the middle.
• Snap 3 - 3&19: What play do you have for third and long from your own 11-yard line? Alabama protects with just the five linemen against four rushers and a spy. A chip from a tight end helps the protection and Milroe dumps the ball four-yards down the field to CJ Dippre. Dippre makes it to the 24-yard line but ultimately comes up short and Alabama send outs the punting unit.
• Snap 4 - 4&7: We usually don't talk about punts, unless things go wrong, and in this case, poor coverage sets Georgia up with great field position. Anthony Evans takes the return 28-yards deep into Alabama territory. James Burnip and Dippre combined to save the return from going much further. Evans ran away from Kneelend Hibbett and JAM Miller and basically went untouched until the punter and tight end made the tackle. 

19. Georgia cuts the lead down to three by getting physical .

This is the chance the Georgia offense was waiting on, taking over with just 35-yards to paydirt the Bulldogs bully their way down the field and score to cut the score to just 20-17. 

• Snap 1 - 1&10: Alabama, still in even with split safeties, tackles Kendall Milton on and inside zone after a five-yard gain. Tim Smith does most of the work but Damon Payne and Deontae Lawson chips in and the clock begins to roll.
• Snap 2 - 2&5: Another inside give against the same look for Alabama, Georgia pulls it's guard and leads with Brock Bowers for a short gain for Milton. 
• Snap 3 - 3&2: Georgia lines up in 12 and Alabama rolls safety Caleb Downs to the line of scrimmage along with Lawson into the A-gap. It's a play-action pass and Carson Beck opts to throw to Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint on a short stop route and Terrion Arnold breaks up the pass. He's called for pass interference giving Georgia a first down. Arnold earns the call but credit Beck for putting the pass on the back shoulder and the Dawgs for drawing the penalty.
• Snap 4 - 1&10: Dawgs still in 12-personnel line up from the 16-yard line. Alabama sends four and drops seven into zone coverage. Give Beck a lot of credit for fitting a square-in pass to Ladd McConkey at the goal line, however, also credit Malachi Moore for tackling him before he could score.
• Snap 5 - 1&Goal: Georgia gets into a tight formation and Beck QB-sneaks it into the end zone to cut Alabama's lead to four, three with Woodring's extra-point. CBS missed the setup of the play with the double-box which is frustrating, but it looked like the Bulldogs were just more determined to score and with 10 minutes remaining the game is back to just one-score.

20. Alabama's offense responds one more time. 

Alabama's Jalen Milroe and Tyler Booker said after the game that their only mission was to "respond" when the Bulldogs threatened their lead. The Tide did exactly that with a nine-play 75-yard drive to re-extend the lead to 10-points while milking tons of clock. 

• Snap 1 - 1&10: Jalen Milroe hits Isaiah Bond on a bit of a drive route as he's filling CJ Dippre's space. Bond makes the easy catch and runs through the middle for a 23-yard gain. It's a good gain for Milroe as Georgia sent five, but again the timing of their blitz wasn't quite right. 
• Snap 2 - 1&10: JC Latham and Jaeden Roberts washes down the entire line while Tyler Booker and Dippre kick out and Roydell Williams hits the A-gap for a quick nine-yard gain. Massive blocking by the offensive line opens up a big hole for Williams. 
• Snap 3 - 2&1: Alabama gets into 12 personnel and the two tight ends run a bit of a levels concept through the middle, while Bond comes across from the opposite side on a drag. Milroe moves and finds Bond, who's wide open because of the wheel route of JAM Miller ran, the same route he scored on earlier. Bond runs down the sideline and sets up a first down. 
• Snap 4 - 1&10: The Tide stays in 12 and hands off to JAM Miller. Miller cuts outside and breaks a tackle and gets a small gain. Watch Roberts and Latham dump truck the Georgia defensive lineman.
• Snap 5 - 2&6: Just inside the 30-yard line with eight minutes remaining Milroe audibles into a run plan to Miller who gains four yards and keeps the clock rolling. Georgia runs a stunt but the line handles it well. Latham is driving his opponents backward and Miller runs right off his back. 
• Snap 6 - 3&2: Georgia only rushes four, but the tight formation and releasing running back slows down one of the rushers. Jalen Hale is immediately open once he crosses the spy but the interior twist makes Milroe uncomfortable. Tyler Booker isn't blocking anyone? Milroe skips around and wildly flips the ball 12-yards to Bond who catches and runs for major yardage. 
• Snap 7 - 1&10: You can't see the whole route tree from the TV copy but Bond once again runs a shallow crossing route. Bond actually got knocked off his route but it didn't bother Milroe. He passes behind the line to Bond who runs it down to the one-foot line. 
• Snap 8 - 1&Goal: Alabama gets into 'Tush Push' formation and Milroe can't get in on QB-sneak. It's so hard to tell how far he pushed forward but getting stopped allows more time to melt away. 
• Snap 9 - 2&Goal: Have we seen Alabama in 14 personnel? All four tight-ends are on the field and Milroe gives to Williams who disappears into the pile for a touchdown to stretch the back out to 10-points.

21. The Dawgs keep fighting but use a lot of time.

It takes Georgia 11-plays (10 officially as one play wiped out by penalty) to go the 75-yards needed to bring the score back to a three-point deficit. The Dawgs also needed to convert two fourth downs and wasted almost three minutes of clock as the game fades away. 

• Snap 1 - 1&10: Georgia motions into empty as the Dawgs fake a swing-pass to Daijun Edwards but instead throw a screen to Brock Bowers folding underneath the releasing line. Alabama rallies and tackles as Justin Eboigbe gets the final blow. 
• Snap 2 - 2&1: Alabama only rushes the four and goes with its match zone concept. Carson Beck makes a quick choice to throw to Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint but the veteran receiver drops the pass in front of Terrion Arnold.
• Snap 3 - 3&1: It's hard to tell if the Tide calls a run stunt or if the formation just dictates position. Jaylen Key and Deontae Lawson appear to be gap hunting from the snap and Key actually forces Daijun Edwards into Lawson and Dallas Turner for no gain. 
• Snap 4 - 4&Foot: The arrogance of Georgia. The Dawgs call the exact same play out of the exact same formation. This time Key isn't rolled up and isn't gap hunting. Micah Morris and Sedrick Van Pran clear a big hole for Edwards to pick up the first down. 
• Snap 5 - 1&10: Alabama keeps just bringing four and from the TV copy looks to have great coverage throughout the passing pattern. Jaheim Oatis eventually gets to Beck but Oatis facemasks the quarterback as he tries to escape, flipping a positive play into a negative for the Tide.
• Snap 6 - 1&10: The Tide keeps sending four with different twists, likely playing to keep everything in front as there's just 4:30 remaining. Mekhi Mew gets open in the middle of Alabama's defense and Beck delivers a strike. He's surrounded by Bama defensive backs who are happy to keep the clock rolling. 
• Snap 7 - 1&10: Bowers runs up the seam and Beck squeezes in a nice pass in front of Caleb Downs but out of the reach of Key to set the Dawgs up on the goal line. Alabama was playing off coverage and the veteran just beat the freshman. 
• Snap 8 - 1&Goal: A handoff to Kendall Milton is stuffed at the line, but Milton is a fighter. He breaks away from Lawson and Eboigbe and ends up wrestling Quandarrius Robinson down to the one-yard line. A shameful ending to a play that was so well read by Lawson, Chris Braswell and Downs. 
• Snap 9 - 2&Goal: Beck gets under center and tries for a QB-sneak and is stuffed ad the line. Again, just like with Milroe's on the prior drive, it's so hard to tell where the ball carrier is in those scenarios. 
• Snap 10 - 3&Goal: Whew doggies the time is melting away. Georgia is stopped again as Arnold is left unblocked and flies into the backfield. Tim Keenan wins at the line as well as Eboigbe, but it's finished off by Tim Smith and Jihaad Campbell to burn more time and bring up fourth down. 
• Snap 11 - 4&Goal: Milton finally scores on a bit of a power play. The right side of the line blocked down while the fullback, this time played by Micah Morris, led Milton to pay dirt. The extra point brought the score to 27-24, leaving Kirby Smart with a choice with 2:52 on the clock and two timeouts.

22. Alabama takes the clock and the game. 

Alabama takes over needing just a first down or two to ice the game. Sure, Coach Smart has two timeouts, but it's surprising he didn't opt to onside kick with the remaining time in the game. 

• Snap 1 - 1&10: Tommy Rees saved one more trick with a QB-lead. Jaeden Roberts does his best to keep up but Jalen Milroe's the best athlete on the field and carries for a big gainer. 
• Snap 2 - 1&10: How about more 13 personnel? I love seeing all three tight ends, CJ Dippre, Amari NiBlack and Robbie Ouzts on the field at the same time. Roydell Williams takes a handoff and salvages a two-yard gain. Georgia gets penetration and almost makes a tackle for loss. 
• Snap 3 - 2&8: Still in 12 Rees calls a fake-toss, QB slash and it works perfectly. Four or five Dawgs flow with the toss action, leaving Milroe enough time and space to pick up a first down. 
• Snap 4 - 1&10: One more handoff to Williams right up the gut to keep the clock moving should do it as Georgia takes its last timeout of the game. 
• Snap 5 - 2&9: Milroe kneels
• Snap 6 - 3&10: Milroe kneels to end the game.  

Alabama Baseball Commit Myles Upchurch on The Joe Gaither Show