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Landing Elijah Haven would add depth to HC Kalen DeBoer’s 2027 Alabama team.
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Landing Elijah Haven would add depth to HC Kalen DeBoer’s 2027 Alabama team.
Last year’s Alabama vs Georgia was a thriller for sure. This season, the Crimson Tide and Bulldogs are set to collide again at Sanford Stadium in Week 5. History hints at another roller coaster. Kirby Smart’s Dawgs enter 3-0, ranked No. 5, and favored by 3.5 points at BetMGM. Kalen DeBoer and Alabama, meanwhile, are 2-1 after an intial humbling 31-17 loss at Florida State. But the Tide has roared with convincing wins over Louisiana Monroe and Wisconsin. The stage is set and Georgia fans are looking forward to creating a hostile home crowd for the crimson and white.
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Rusty Mansel dropped a hint on Georgia Bulldogs Football on DawgsHQ on September 21. Kalen DeBoer’s star Ryan Williams may be Georgia’s weakness. “What Ryan Williams did last year against Georgia and kind of that was, he had that game and he really has been good,” he said. One of the highest-paid wideouts in college football at north of $1.8M this season, he’s the guy who can flip the game on a dime, and he’s motivated. The sophomore Tide receiver told On3 that Jeremiah Smith “had the better season last year … this time around, I hope I can flex.” He clearly has a flair for the dramatic.
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NCAA, College League, USA Football: Missouri at Alabama Oct 26, 2024 Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver Ryan Williams 2 walks toward the home locker room after a victory over the Missouri Tigers at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Tuscaloosa Bryant-Denny Stadium Alabama USA, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xWillxMcLellandx 20241026_gma_wm6_0358
Last year, Alabama jumped out to a 28-0 lead, Georgia rallied to 34-33, and Ryan Williams immediately answered with a 75-yard touchdown from Jalen Milroe. One play, and the tide had turned again. This season, the Bulldogs’ defensive front has to feast. “So far for sure nobody benefits from a home crowd more than a defensive front,” Jake Rowe said. “Georgia needs to get as much as they possibly can out of that both from stopping the run and rushing the passer… I don’t see them rolling into Athens and winning this game if they can’t really run the football.” That’s where the Tide could expose the Dawgs’ Achilles’ heel.
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Alabama’s road struggles, 2-5 under Kalen DeBoer away from Tuscaloosa, are a good sign for the Bulldogs. But the head coach isn’t shy about his team’s mentality either. Post-game at the SEC Coaches Teleconference, he said, “We competed till the end… We kept believing and kept fighting… We’re in a fighter’s mentality mode right now.” Smart’s lone win against Bama came in the 2021 National Championship.
Can Georgia hold its ground against a resurging Alabama?
Georgia’s 2025 season has been a mix of dominance and close calls, setting the stage for another epic showdown with Alabama. The Bulldogs opened with a 45-7 statement win over Marshall, only to nearly stumble against Austin Peay, 28-6, in a game delayed by lightning. These early tests have forged resilience, giving Smart’s team the mental toughness it will need to withstand Alabama’s explosive offense and the hostile roar of Sanford Stadium.
Week three against Tennessee showed the Bulldogs’ fight isn’t just talk. They came back from five different deficits to beat the No. 15 Volunteers, 41-44, on the road. History looms large too. Kirby Smart is just 1-6 against Alabama, and the Tide has consistently found ways to dominate in key moments across multiple venues.
Defense, crowd energy, and timing will be decisive. Georgia’s defensive front must stop the run and pressure Ty Simpson, because Alabama’s road struggles could worsen if the Bulldogs control the trenches. Every play counts, and turnovers or explosive moments could swing momentum instantly for Kalen DeBoer. Kickoff is 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC, and fans should expect another SEC classic, with Sanford Stadium once again delivering noise, chaos, and drama worthy of the rivalry’s storied history.
Written by
Edited by
Arvind Manoharan