Florida did something not even Alabama could do this year when the Gators beat Ole Miss earlier this fall, but the Crimson Tide managed a feat Florida couldn’t when it beat LSU.

But let’s not read too much into it as Florida and Alabama prepare to meet in Saturday’s SEC Championship game in Atlanta other than both teams are very good.

The Rebels and Tigers were among the four opponents – along with Georgia and Tennessee – shared this fall by the two teams vying for the SEC crown.

Let’s take a closer look at how they fared against the four:

Split with Ole Miss

The one common denominator between Florida and Alabama are the dominating defenses both boast.

The Crimson Tide has struggled in recent years against up-tempo offenses and dual-threat quarterbacks able to find holes in their stingy defense with their arms and feet.

Ole Miss quarterback Chad Kelly did just that in the SEC opener for both teams on Sept. 19, passing for 341 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for another score as the Rebels stunned their hosts 43-37 to account for Alabama’s lone defeat.

But the Crimson Tide might have still won had coach Nick Saban’s team not committed five costly turnovers, including several in the red zone, or given up a crazy tipped pass-touchdown.

The Gators contained Kelly, holding him to 259 yards and a lone TD pass in their 38-10 home win on Oct. 3. That was Will Grier’s finest moment: a near-perfect 24-29 for 271 yards and 4 TD passes.

With Grier suspended, these Gators aren’t similarly as equipped to attack the Alabama defense in a likewise fashion as quarterback Treon Harris is nowhere near as polished a passer as Kelly. Moreover, a lack of depth at the quarterback position following the year-long suspension of former starter Will Grier all but assures that Florida coach Jim McElwain will be very cautious in running his quarterback against a physical defense like that he will see in Alabama.

Seldom-used fifth-year senior and Vanderbilt transfer Josh Grady is a converted receiver serving as Harris’ backup.

Split with LSU

Florida, with Harris at QB, fell in Baton Rouge to LSU 35-28 on Oct. 17 after failing to slow the Tigers running game. Tailback Leonard Fournette rushed for 180 yards as LSU chewed up 221 yards that afternoon.

The Crimson Tide had no such problems in handily beating the Tigers 30-16 on Nov. 7 as Fournette was limited to just 31 yards and LSU managed just 54 as a team.

Swept Georgia, Tennessee

Both Florida and Alabama beat their other two shared opponents in Georgia and Tennessee. The Gators drilled the Bulldogs 27-3 in Jacksonville, while the Crimson Tide thumped the Dawgs 38-10 in Athens on Oct. 3.

Georgia tailback Nick Chubb was healthy against Alabama and was on the sideline for the Oct. 31 game against the Gators.

Florida’s 28-27 memorable come-from-behind victory over Tennessee at The Swamp on Sept. 26 — again with Grier throwing two fourth-quarter TD passes 2015– set the stage for the Gators’ unexpected run to their first SEC Championship Game appearance since 2009.

The Crimson Tide outlasted a game Volunteers team that put up a good fight before falling 19-14 in Tuscaloosa on Oct. 24.