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Alabama’s long drought is likely over.
When the new AP Top 25 poll releases on Sunday, the Crimson Tide are likely to be ranked No. 1 in the country after handing No. 2 Georgia its first regular-season loss in almost 4 years. If that indeed happens, the Crimson Tide will sit atop an AP poll for the first time since Oct. 2, 2022.
The Crimson Tide looked like they were going to boat-race Georgia early. They stormed out to a 28-0 lead early in the second quarter. At that point, it seemed almost a given that Alabama was going to ascend to the top spot.
Alabama No. 1 again tomorrow. So happy for those fans, who haven't been No. 1 in the AP Poll since 2022
— Alex Kirshner (@alex_kirshner) September 29, 2024
But then Georgia fought back. Quarterback Carson Beck, after 3 turnovers and a safety, found life and started to dice the Alabama secondary. In the second half alone, Beck completed 19 of his 33 passes for 339 yards and 3 touchdowns.
The Bulldogs briefly took a lead on a 67-yard pass from Beck to Dillon Bell with 2:31 remaining in the game, putting them up 34-33.
Alabama snatched the lead back 13 seconds later on a 75-yard bomb from Jalen Milroe to Ryan Williams. Then Zabien Brown picked off Beck in the endzone with 43 seconds to play to ice the game.
While it got a little hairy at the end, Alabama still impressed.
Top 2 of my @AP_Top25 ballot for tomorrow:
1. Alabama
2. Georgia— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) September 29, 2024
In all the wild developments college football has undergone recently, Alabama’s gonna be No. 1 in all the polls next week to remind us that some things don’t change.
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) September 29, 2024
For Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer, the victory marked his 30th in 33 games as a Power conference coach. He’s a combined 8-0 against Kirby Smart, Dan Lanning, Lincoln Riley, and Steve Sarkisian.
How’s that for a little Washington flair?
Are we headed toward a situation where the No. 1 and 2 teams in America are coached by former University of Washington coaches?
Sure, looks like it.
— Kevin Jackson (@glove20kj) September 29, 2024
Derek Peterson does a bit of everything, not unlike Taysom Hill. He has covered Oklahoma, Nebraska, the Pac-12, and now delivers CFB-wide content.
