Alabama makes case to be new AP No. 1 with win over Georgia
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
Long way to go before this matters. I like where we’re at right now.
Agree
We are in a new area of college football (and everyone is still looking at current rankings).
A high ranking right now is kinda like the curl in a pig’s tail. It looks good on the pig, but ain’t really worth noth’n
Rankings don’t matter right. But I wouldn’t think Alabama would jump Texas and Ohio State.
Thinking about having to win 4 playoff games- the SEC really needs to figure this championship thing differently- it’s just an opportunity for injuries – but the bye is really good. Essentially an annual 4 game playoff for the winner.
UGA dynasty never got going. Come at the King, you best not miss. UGA has missed time and time again. 1-9 in the last 10. Closing in on a Tennessee level embarrassment.
Embarrassing was Alabama in the second half last night. lol. Bama has no chance in Neyland with a secondary that had more holes in it last night than a cheese grader.. lol. Why? And how do you literally stop doing everything that worked in the first half, in the second. UGA literally beat you in the second half without being able to run the ball. Defensively, “ok, stop all pressure to the QB”. Second, “let’s quit running the ball, UGA needs to make our secondary look like MSU’s”. lol It’s like your Bama’s whole team and staff just wanted to make sure they get as many 3 and outs as they could just to see the greatness of Beck and the UGA offense”. Did you see Saban’s face in the second half? lol Um, nothing like the first.
Ask Heupel. He would know after Bama shut the Vils out in the second half last year on the way to winning 34-20.
1. Texas 2. Bama 3. OSU 4. Ga
In theory, if you beat the #1, you should move up. Will they? I’d expect a split decision with the coaches saying #1 and the sports talking heads saying Texas is #1. Texas has had a very weak schedule to date, but the talking heads like them. Plenty of football to go, but I don’t see anyone on Bama’s schedule to be worried about so far. Maybe Tennessee, but they haven’t beaten anyone that is very good yet.
The first half Bama is definitely #1. Not so sure about the second half one. Will say that Jalen Milroe made a strong case for the Heisman. Certainly looked better than Cam Ward did on Friday night.
It was a great first half for the tide,the second half was definitely disappointing..but you can’t say Bama hasn’t beaten anyone now.they beat the most difficult team in country to beat..with that said I know Tennessee & LSU games are gonna be extremely tough & possibly Missouri,oh & of course auburn will look like the best team in the country when they play Bama.still a long way to go & I don’t think any sec team is likely to go undefeated..
The AP poll SHOULD be:
1. Bama
2. TX
3. Tenn
4. GA
5. Ohio St
So did Texas.