Alabama OL J.C. Latham Claims Georgia Still Not Above the Alabama "Standard"

While Georgia has dominated college football over the past two seasons, at SEC Media Days Alabama OL JC Latham claimed that the Crimson Tide are still the "standard" in college football.

Alabama has spent the better part of the last 15 years terrorizing the rest of college football and establishing itself as the predominant force in college football. However, as the two-time, defending national champion, Georgia has, in the eyes of many observers, usurped Alabama as the nation's preeminent over the past two seasons. Understandably, that has not sat well with those within the Crimson Tide program who, despite Georgia's recent dominance, ardently feel as though the Alabama is still the standard bearer of the sport. 

Georgia defeated Alabama 33-18 in the 2022 College Football Playoff National Championship Game to win the program's first national title in 41 years

While meeting with members of the media on Wednesday at SEC Media Days in Nashville, Tennessee, Alabama offensive lineman JC Latham was particularly vocal about his belief that Alabama remains the standard in college football.

“I respect the fact that they have won back-to-back [national championships]. I know that’s not easy at all. I see the work that they have put in, but at the same time, their standard is great, I don’t think it’s above our standard, though.”

Alabama OT JC Latham takes on the question if Georgia is the “new standard” of college football.

“I respect the fact they won back-to-back national championships. I know that is not easy, but at the same time, their standard is not above our standard.”@TDAlabamaMag pic.twitter.com/qRx8GFRzan

— Stephen M. Smith (@CoachingMSmith) July 19, 2023

While those comments were strong in their own right, they paled in comparison to the sentiments Latham shared with Johnny Congdon of ABC 33/40 in Birmingham, Alabama. 

"We're hungry. We're coming for it [the national championship]. Vengeance. We're going to shut everything down. It's not over. Ain't nothing over. No culture change and no dynasty over. We're setting the tone from the jump on the very first play all the way to the national championship when we're holding that trophy."

Alabama OL JC Latham was asked by @congdonsation of the identity of the Alabama team this year

"We're hungry we're coming for it vengeance we're going to shut everything down they're ain't no culture change ain't no dynasty over" pic.twitter.com/T4taDnCGRP

— Chris McCulley (@ChrisMcCulleyTV) July 19, 2023

With one of the most talented teams in the country, 

While Alabama will have its opportunity this season to make good on Latham's strong words, Georgia has designs of its own to continue its recent dominance and further establish itself as the new standard in college football. If all goes according to plan for each team, it could make for an epic showdown between two titans of the college football universe who together have accounted for the last three College Football Playoff national championships.