Alabama football wins 2021 SEC Championship Game over No. 1 Georgia
Final: No. 3 Alabama 41, No. 1 Georgia 24
For the second consecutive year, Alabama defeated Georgia 41-24, only this time the Bulldogs were the higher-ranked team — pinned No. 1 in the CFP rankings and all of the polls after an undefeated regular season. It was Alabama's seventh consecutive win over Georgia, which also lost to Alabama in the 2018 College Football Playoff national championship and the 2018 SEC Championship Game.
Prior to Saturday, no one had scored more than 17 points against Georgia but Alabama put up 24 points alone in the second quarter. Quarterback Bryce Young finished with 421 passing yards and three passing touchdowns, plus 40 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown, while wide receiver Jameson Williams finished with seven catches for 184 yards and two touchdowns.
Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett IV had two interceptions, including a pick-six at the hands of Jordan Battle, and the Bulldogs ran for just 3.6 yards per carry.
Field goal, Alabama!
No. 3 Alabama just added some additional cushion over No. 1 Georgia in the SEC Championship, 41-24, with a 41-yard field goal with 1:59 left in the game. The Crimson Tide has scored 24 more points against the Bulldogs than any of Georgia's previous opponents.
Georgia punts to Alabama after false start
Touchdown, Georgia!
Brock Bowers just went bulldozer mode for a TD
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports)
The SEC Championship Game isn't over, at least not yet. No. 1 Georgia cut No. 3 Alabama's lead to 38-24 after Georgia bounced back from Stetson Bennett IV's pick-six with a seven-play, 75-yard scoring drive that ended with a screen pass to Brock Bowers, who steamrolled through three Alabama defenders en route to an 18-yard touchdown.
Alabama's Jordan Battle scores on pick-six
PICK SIX!
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports)
The defense scores on a Jordan Battle INT.
No. 3 Alabama is now running away from No. 1 Georgia with Jordan Battle's pick-six to put the Crimson Tide ahead 38-17 as the Bulldogs' last three offensive possessions have been an interception, a turnover on downs and an interception.
Alabama forces Georgia into turnover on downs
Facing a 14-point deficit and a nearing fourth quarter, Georgia went for it on 4th-and-9 at Alabama's 19-yard line after a potential touchdown pass on third down from Stetson Bennett IV to Brock Bowers was knocked out of his hands.
On fourth down, Bennett lofted a pass that fell incomplete and the Bulldogs committed a turnover on downs, giving the ball back to the Crimson Tide.
Alabama picks off Stetson Bennett IV
whoops!
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports)
With Georgia driving to try to cut into Alabama's two-possession lead, Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett IV threw an interception on 2nd-and-9 at Alabama's 19-yard line, as Alabama's DeMarcco Hellams jumped a pass intended for Brock Bowers, who appeared to cut off his route.
Touchdown, Alabama!
"Jameson down there somewhere." - Bryce Young, probably
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports)
No. 3 Alabama has taken a 14-point lead over No. 1 Georgia after scoring on the opening drive of the second half.The Crimson Tide marched down the field with a five-play, 75-yard drive that ended with a 55-yard touchdown pass from Bryce Young to Jameson Williams. It's now 31-17, Alabama.
Halftime: No. 3 Alabama 24, No. 1 Georgia 17
No. 1 Georgia entered the 2021 SEC Championship Game having allowed just 6.9 points per game this season, including three shutouts. No one had scored more than 17 points against Georgia, but No. 3 Alabama leads the SEC Championship Game at halftime, 24-17, as Alabama quarterback Bryce Young has thrown for two touchdowns and rushed for a third, with more than 300 yards of total offense.
Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett IV has also thrown for two touchdowns.
Touchdown, Alabama!
BRYCE YOUNG WILL DO IT HIMSELF back in front
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports)
After falling behind by a double-digit margin, No. 3 Alabama has now scored on four consecutive possessions to take a 24-17 lead over No. 1 Georgia, as quarterback Bryce Young ran for an 11-yard touchdown to cap off a nine-play, 75-yard scoring drive. Two plays before that, Young fumbled on a run but he was able to recover the ball on a play in which wide receiver John Metchie III went down with an injury.
In the first half, Young has thrown for 286 yards and two touchdowns, while rushing for 40 yards and a score.
Touchdown, Georgia!
After back-to-back three-and-outs, Georgia's offense scored again to tie the game at 17-all as Stetson Bennett IV found Ladd McConkey for a 32-yard touchdown. McConkey caught a screen pass, cut across the field behind a wave of blockers and made a defender miss on his way to the end zone, capping off a three-play, 75-yard drive.
Alabama committed back-to-back pass interference penalties on the drive, helping Georgia's offense move from its own 26-yard line to Alabama's 44-yard line.
Field goal, Alabama!
Alabama scored on its third consecutive possession, this time scoring on a field goal at the end of a 12-play, 79-yard drive. Alabama converted on 3rd-and-2 from its own 14-yard line when quarterback Bryce Young found Jahleel Billingsley for a 22-yard gain as Georgia's defensive coverage lost him, then running back Trey Sanders picked up a first down on 3rd-and-1 later in the drive.
Alabama was unable to convert later on 3rd-and-2 and the Crimson Tide kicked a 33-yard field goal to take a 17-10 lead.
Georgia punts, pins Alabama inside its own 10
Touchdown, Alabama!
BAMA TAKES THE LEAD finds John Metchie in the end zone
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports)
Just like that, No. 3 Alabama has its first lead of the SEC Championship, as the Crimson Tide turned a 10-0 deficit into a 14-10 advantage in just over five minutes of game action. Following Jameson Williams' 67-yard touchdown, Georgia's offense went three-and-out and Alabama promptly marched downfield for a six-play, 80-yard drive that was capped off with a 13-yard pass from Bryce Young to John Metchie III.
Touchdown, Alabama!
JAMESON WILLIAMS IS GONE strikes back.
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports)
Three snaps after No. 1 Georgia took a two-possession lead over No. 3 Alabama, 10-0, the Crimson Tide struck back with a 67-yard catch and run from quarterback Bryce Young to wide receive Jameson Williams. Williams caught a pass over the middle and took advantage of a broken coverage from Georgia and it was off to the races, as he cut the deficit to 10-7.