Kickoff: September 28, 2024 at 7:30PM EST
Location: Bryant-Denny Stadium – Tuscaloosa, AL
Tonights matchup between two top 5 teams goes down to add to the storied rivalry that is Georgia v. Alabama. As the new look SEC with the addition of Texas and Oklahoma poses threat to the traditional dominance these two schools have had, this game could become pivotal on either teams chances at the SEC Championship this year. For the past 10 years, either Georgia or Alabama have appeared in the SEC Championship game and both look to continue that streak tonight.
In the previous ten matchups between these two powerhouses, Alabama have won 8 of the last 10, and 4 of the last 5. Their most recent matchup being in last years SEC Championship game where Alabama was victorious. The biggest difference in todays game compared to their previous matchups is the absence of Head Coach Nick Saban. Nick Saban retired and has been replaced by previous Washington Head Coach Kalen Deboer. In his first season leading the Tide, they are undefeated in his first 3 games, all of which being non-conference matchups. I expect Deboer and the Tide to attempt to get ahead early, on the shoulders of veteran QB Jalen Milroe, to prevent an uphill climb and forced mistakes.
The Bulldogs on the other hand seem to be much of the same, with a few modifications from their Championship roster in 2023. The Dogs lost key primary targets Brock Bowers and Ladd McConkey to the NFL, but have found success with Dominic Lovett and Arian Smith. Their well known strong rushing game is no different in 2024 behind star back Trevor Etienne, which Kirby and the Bulldogs will use to create space for Heisman candidate Carson Beck to pick apart the Tide. As Kirby is battle tested and arguably the best coach in College Football today, I expect them to come to Bryant Denny ready to dominate, forcing Deboer to be quick on his feet and welcoming him to the SEC.
With that being said, although the SEC is a far superior brand of football than what Deboer is used to in the Pac-12, he is no stranger to the spotlight. Leading Washington to an undefeated regular season and securing a playoff win in 2023, Deboer will feel right at home when Dixieland Delight roars through Bryant-Denny, silencing the barking in the background.