2021 SEC Championship Game
Georgia (V) vs. Alabama (H)
Saturday, Dec. 4, 2021
4 p.m. ET (3 p.m. CT)
Atlanta, Ga.
Mercedes-Benz Stadium (75,000)
CBS Sports
THE TEAMS: Georgia (12-0, 8-0 SEC) is the Eastern Division Champion and the visiting team. Alabama (11-1, 7-1 SEC) is the Western Division Champion and the home team.
NATIONAL RANKINGS: Georgia comes into the game as the No. 1-ranked team in the nation in the Associated Press, USA Today Coaches and College Football Playoff polls. Alabama is the No. 2-ranked team in the nation by the USA Today Coaches, while ranked No. 4 in AP and No. 3 in CFP. This is the fifth consecutive season the SEC Championship Game has featured a Top-10 matchup.
SEC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME: Only once since 2006 (2014) has the winner of the SEC Championship Game failed to advance to the national championship game. The game, which started in 1992, is in its 30th year. It was a result of conference expansion, which saw Arkansas and South Carolina become the first members added in SEC history. Over 1.8 million fans have witnessed the pageantry of the game first-hand, with 27 sellouts in its history, including the last 26 consecutive contests. (Only 1993 and 1995 were not). The first two games were played at Legion Field in Birmingham and the game was played at the Georgia Dome from 1994-2016. This will mark the fifth SEC Championship Game played at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
SEC CHAMPIONS: Alabama will be vying for its 29th SEC Championship and third in the last four seasons. Georgia is aiming for its 14th SEC Championship and first since 2017.
TELEVISION: CBS Sports will televise the game nationally for the 20th straight year (BRAD NESSLER, Play-by-Play; GARY DANIELSON, Analyst; JAMIE ERDAHL, Sidelines; CRAIG SILVER, Producer). CBS has aired the game nationally since 2001. ABC Sports televised the game from 1992-2000.
TV RATINGS: The 2018 SEC Championship Game was the most-watched and highest-rated regular-season college football game on any network in seven years with a 10.1/23 rating/share and 17.5 million viewers. It also marked the second most-watched SEC Championship ever in 26 years since the game debuted in 1992. Nearly 14 million viewers watched the 2019 contest. Shifting to primetime, the Alabama-Florida SEC Championship in 2020 averaged a 4.9 and 8.92 million viewers on CBS. It was the first primetime SEC Championship since the 2006 game. The 2009 SEC Championship Game earned an 11.8 rating and a 24 share, marking the highest-rated SEC Championship Game in history. The game matched the No. 1 Florida Gators (12-0) vs. the No. 2 Alabama Crimson Tide (12-0).
RADIO: Managed by Learfield IMG College, the SEC Radio Network will broadcast the game on a syndicated basis to the 11-state SEC region and around the nation via satellite radio on SiriusXM. (SEC Radio Network: DAVE NEAL, Play-by-Play; DAVE ARCHER, Analyst; STEPHEN HARTZELL, Sidelines). The broadcast can be heard on Sirius 158, XM 190. The Alabama Radio Network is on Sirius 84 XM 84 and the Georgia Radio Network is on Sirius 81, XM 81.
SERIES: Alabama and Georgia will meet for the 71st time in series history and the third time in the SEC Championship Game. The Crimson Tide holds a 41-25-4 series advantage and is currently riding a six-game winning streak against the Bulldogs. That six-game streak includes two SEC Championship wins, one College Football Playoff victory and last season’s 41-24 win in Tuscaloosa on Oct. 17. Alabama head coach Nick Saban is 8-2 all-time against Georgia, including a 6-1 mark leading the Tide. Kirby Smart is 0-3 in his career against Alabama.
IN THE SEC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME: Alabama and Georgia are meeting in the SEC championship game for the third time, with the previous two matchups in 2012 and 2018, both being won by Alabama, being two of the most memorable in SEC Championship Game history. For Alabama, it will be their 14th overall appearance, the most in SEC history by a single school. The Tide are a SEC-best 9-4 in those games, with their last loss coming in 2008 versus Florida. The Bulldogs are 3-5 in their previous SEC Championship appearances, with their last SEC title coming in 2017. This will be UGA’s first appearance since 2018. Alabama currently has a seven-game winning streak in the SEC Championship Game.
SEC FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME QUICK FACTS
Year Started: 1992 in Birmingham (30th year)
Years in Atlanta: 27 (first game in 1994)
Capacity: 75,000 (16,500 in 2020)
Attendance Record: Atlanta (77,141 in 2018); Birmingham (83,091 in 1992)
[27 of 29 games sold out; only 1993 and 1995 did not]
Atlanta Contract: Through 2026 game
CBS Contract: Through 2024 game
Highest TV Rating: 11.8 (24 share) – 2009
Highest scoring game: 2013 (Auburn 59, Missouri 42)
Winner to National Championship Game: 18(1992, Alabama; 1996, Florida; 1998, Tennessee; 2003, LSU; 2006, Florida; 2007, LSU; 2008, Florida; 2009, Alabama; 2010, Auburn; 2011, LSU; 2012, Alabama; 2013, Auburn; 2015, Alabama; 2016, Alabama; 2017, Georgia; 2018, Alabama; 2019, LSU; 2020, Alabama).
Winner Won National Championship: 13 (1992, Alabama; 1996, Florida; 1998, Tennessee; 2003, LSU; 2006, Florida; 2007, LSU; 2008, Florida; 2009, Alabama; 2010, Auburn; 2012, Alabama; 2015, Alabama; 2019, LSU; 2020, Alabama).
Winner to the College Football Playoff: 7 (2014, Alabama; 2015, Alabama; 2016, Alabama; 2017, Georgia; 2018, Alabama; 2019, LSU; 2020, Alabama).
Winner to the CFP Championship Game: 6 (2015, Alabama; 2016, Alabama; 2017, Georgia; 2018, Alabama; 2019, LSU; 2020, Alabama).
GEORGIA vs. ALABAMA GAME NOTES
SEC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME NOTES AND FIGURES
Here are some notes and figures on the SEC Championship Game:
• In 29 games, the average winning margin has been 17.21 points.
• Seven of the 29 games have been decided by a touchdown or less (1992, 1994, 1997, 2007, 2012, 2018 and 2020).
• In 29 games, the two participating teams average 54.21 points per game, while the winning team scores 35.76 points per contest.
• Thirteen national champions have come from the SEC Championship Game. Alabama won the national title in 1992, 2009, 2012, 2015 and 2020, Auburn won the title in 2010, Florida won the crown in 1996, 2006 and 2008, Tennessee won in 1998 and LSU in 2003, 2007 and 2019.
• There have been no shutouts in the history of the game. In 2002, Arkansas was the first team in SEC Championship Game history to be shutout in the first half.
• The winning team has led at halftime in 23 of the 29 previous games. In 1997, Tennessee came back to win (30-29) after trailing Auburn at halftime (20-10) and in 2002, LSU trailed 17- 10 at halftime before defeating Tennessee, 31-20. LSU trailed Tennessee, 7-6, at the half of the 2007 game before taking 21-14 win. In 2011, Georgia led LSU, 10-7, before falling 42-10. Georgia led, 21-14, in 2018, and lost 35-28.
• The team that has scored first in the SEC Championship Game is 15-14, having won seven straight before falling in 2007. The team that scored first lost the first five games and won three in a row before falling six of the past 10 seasons.
• The 77,141 attendance at the 2018 Alabama-Georgia SEC Championship Game is the largest since the game moved to Atlanta.
• The team that comes into the SEC Championship Game with the better ranking (AP/USA Today), holds a 22-7 advantage in the game’s history.
• In the history of the SEC Championship Game, the most combined losses for the participating teams is five (2007).
• Fifteen times prior to 2021, an undefeated team has come into the SEC Championship Game. Those teams are 11-4 in the game.
• The combined national rankings and records of the two teams are listed below:
NATIONAL RANKINGS ENTERING SEC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
(First ranking – AP / Second ranking – USA Today)
1992 – 2/2 Alabama 28, 12/15 Florida 21
1993 – 9/9 Florida 28, 16/15 Alabama 13
1994 – 6/6 Florida 24, 3/3 Alabama 23
1995 – 2/2 Florida 34, 23/24 Arkansas 3
1996 – 4/4 Florida 45, 15/11 Alabama 30
1997 – 3/3 Tennessee 30, 11/11 Auburn 29
1998 – 1/2 Tennessee 24, 23/22 Miss. State 14
1999 – 7/8 Alabama 34, 5/5 Florida 7
2000 – 7/8 Florida 28, 18/17 Auburn 6
2001 – 21/20 LSU 31, 2/2 Tennessee 20
2002 – 4/4 Georgia 30, 22/22 Arkansas 3
2003 – 3/3 LSU 34, 5/5 Georgia 13
2004 – 3/3 Auburn 38, 15/15 Tennessee 28
2005 – 13/13 Georgia 34, 3/3 LSU 14
2006 – 4/4 Florida 38, 8/8 Arkansas 28
2007 – 5/7 LSU 21, 14/15 Tennessee 14
2008 – 2/4 Florida 31, 1/1 Alabama 20
2009 – 2/3 Alabama 32, 1/1 Florida 13
2010 – 2/2 Auburn 56, 18/16 South Carolina 17
2011 – 1/1 LSU 42, 12/14 Georgia 10
2012 – 2/2 Alabama 32, 3/3 Georgia 28
2013 – 3/3 Auburn 59, 5/5 Missouri 42
2014 – 1/1 Alabama 42, 14/13 Missouri 23
2015 – 2/2 Alabama 29, 18/15 Florida 15
2016 – 1/1 Alabama 54, 15/16 Florida 16
2017 – 6/6 Georgia 28, 4/4 Auburn 7
2018 – 1/1 Alabama 35, 4/4 Georgia 28
2019 – 1/1 LSU vs. 4/4 Georgia
2020 – 1/1 Alabama vs. 11/11 Florida
2021 – 1/1 Georgia vs. 4/2 Alabama
COMBINED WIN TOTAL/PERCENTAGES IN SEC CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES
2009 – 24-0 (1.000) – Alabama (12-0), Florida (12-0)
2008 – 23-1 (.958) – Alabama (12-0), Florida (11-1)
2018 – 23-1 (.958) – Alabama (12-0), Georgia (11-1)
2019 – 23-1 (.958) – LSU (12-0), Georgia (11-1)
2021 – 23-1 (.958) – Georgia (12-0), LSU (11-1)
1994 – 20-1-1 (.932) – Florida (9-1-1), Alabama (11-0)
2013 – 22-2 (.917) – Auburn (11-1), Missouri (11-1)
2012 – 22-2 (.917) – Alabama (11-1), Georgia (11-1)
2011 – 22-2 (.917) – LSU (12-0), Georgia (10-2)
2004 – 20-2 (.909) – Auburn (11-0), Tennessee (9-2)
1993 – 20-2 (.909) – Alabama (11-0), Florida (9-2)
2020 – 18-2 (.900) – Alabama (10-0), Florida (8-2)
2017 – 21-3 (.875) – Georgia (11-1), Auburn (10-2)
2015 – 21-3 (.875) – Alabama (11-1), Florida (10-2)
2014 – 21-3 (.875) – Alabama (11-1), Missouri (10-2)
2006 – 21-3 (.875) – Florida (11-1), Arkansas (10-2)
2003 – 21-3 (.875) – LSU (11-1), Georgia (10-2)
2010 – 21-3 (.875) – Auburn (12-0), South Carolina (9-3)
2016 – 20-3 (.870) – Alabama (12-0), Florida (8-3)
1992 – 19-3 (.864) – Alabama (11-0), Florida (8-3)
1995 – 19-3 (.864) – Florida (11-0), Arkansas (8-3)
1997 – 19-3 (.864) – Tennessee (10-1), Auburn (9-2)
1998 – 19-3 (.864) – Tennessee (11-0), Mississippi State (8-3)
2005 – 19-3 (.864) – Georgia (9-2), LSU (10-1)
2002 – 20-4 (.833) – Georgia (11-1), Arkansas (9-3)
1996 – 18-4 (.818) – Florida (10-1), Alabama (8-3)
2000 – 18-4 (.818) – Florida (9-2), Auburn (9-2)
1999 – 18-4 (.818) – Alabama (9-2), Florida (9-2)
2001 – 18-4 (.818) – LSU (8-3), Tennessee (10-1)
2007 – 19-5 (.792) – LSU (10-2), Tennessee (9-3)
Year Proj. Champ/How Fared Eventual Champion
1992 Florida/lost in SEC Champ. Game Alabama
1993 Alabama/lost in SEC Champ. Game Florida
1994 Florida/Won SEC Championship Game
1995 Florida/Won SEC Championship Game
1996 Tennessee/2nd in East Florida
1997 Florida/T2nd in East Tennessee
1998 Florida/2nd in East Tennessee
1999 Tennessee/2nd in East Alabama
2000 Alabama/T5th in West Florida
2001 Florida/2nd in East LSU
2002 Tennessee/3rd in East Georgia
2003 Auburn/3rd in West LSU
2004 Georgia/2nd in East Auburn
2005 Tennessee/T4th in East Georgia
2006 Auburn/T2nd in West Florida
2007 LSU/Won SEC Championship
2008 Florida/Won SEC Championship
2009 Florida/lost in SEC Champ. Game Alabama
2010 Alabama/T3rd in West Auburn
2011 Alabama/2nd in West LSU
2012 LSU/T2nd in West Alabama
2013 Alabama/T1st in West Auburn
2014 Alabama/Won SEC Championship Game
2015 Auburn/7th in West Alabama
2016 Alabama/Won SEC Championship Game
2017 Alabama/T1st in West Georgia
2018 Alabama/Won SEC Championship Game
2019 Alabama/2nd in SEC West LSU
2020 Alabama/Won SEC Championship Game
2021 Alabama Alabama or Georgia
GEORGIA BULLDOGS NOTES
Georgia Returns To The SEC Championship Game
The Bulldogs will be making their ninth appearance in the game, and they are 3-5 including winning the 2017 title over No. 4 Auburn. The Bulldogs have won or shared the SEC Eastern Division title 11 times (1992, 2002, ‘03, ‘05, ‘07, ‘11, ‘12, ‘17, ‘18, 19, ‘21). In 1992, UF won the tiebreaker over UGA to represent the East in the SECCG and the same went for UT in 2007. The Bulldogs will be aiming for their 14th SEC title in school history. Georgia’s SEC titles have come in 1942-46-48-59-66-68-76-80-81-82-02-05-17. In the league, Georgia’s 13 SEC titles trails only Alabama’s 28.
Georgia’s Record In SEC Championship Games: 3-5 (Atlanta, Ga.)
2002: #4 Georgia d. #22 Arkansas 30-3 (Ga. Dome)
2003: #3 LSU d. #5 Georgia 34-13 (Ga. Dome)
2005: #13 Georgia def. #3 LSU 34-14 (Ga. Dome)
2011: #1 LSU d. #12 Georgia 42-10 (Ga. Dome)
2012: #2 Alabama d. #3 Georgia 32-28 (Ga. Dome)
2017: #6 Georgia d. #4 Auburn 28-7 (Mercedes-Benz)
2018: #1 Alabama d. #4 Georgia 35-28 (Mercedes-Benz)
2019: #2 LSU d. #4 Georgia 37-10 (Mercedes-Benz)
MVPs: David Greene, QB, ’02; D.J. Shockley, QB, ’05; Roquan Smith, ILB, ’17
Series History
Alabama leads the all-time series with Georgia 41-25-4. Georgia won the first meeting, coming in 1895, with a 30-6 triumph in Columbus. The Crimson Tide have won the past six meetings, including last year’s regular season matchup in Tuscaloosa. This marks the third time the teams have met in the SEC Championship Game.
Dogs Atop The Polls
For a school record eighth straight week, Georgia is the unanimous No. 1 team in the AP and Coaches polls. Currently, Georgia is ranked No. 1 in the College Football Playoff poll. The fifth 2021 CFP ranking will be released on Tuesday. Georgia is 4-0 versus ranked teams, including a pair of top-10 wins.
Aiming For An Elite Finish
This is the first time since 1980 that the Bulldogs are 12-0. Georgia became only the fourth team in school history to finish a regular season undefeated and untied with double-digit victories (1946, 1980, 1982). Prior to this season, Vince Dooley’s 1980 consensus national champions was the last Georgia squad to go 12-0 after defeating Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl. Incidentally, the school record for wins in a season is 13, and that’s been done twice (2002 under Mark Richt and 2017 under Kirby Smart). Dominating Defense &
Offense Delivering Points
* Georgia leads the nation in Scoring Defense giving up just 6.9 points per game. The Bulldogs are averaging 40.7 points per game, which is ranked sixth nationally.
* The Bulldogs have only trailed four times this year. The first time was at No. 18 Auburn when the Tigers kicked a field goal in the first quarter. Georgia trailed in that game for 5:29. Following the Tigers’ score, the Bulldogs reeled off 24 straight points. The second instance happened in the first quarter against Missouri following a field goal. The Bulldogs trailed for 5:08 in that contest. Georgia then went on a 40-0 run. At UT, Georgia fell behind 7-0 in the first quarter for 2:33 before tying the game. The Volunteers reclaimed a 10-7 advantage later in the quarter and led for another 7:07. Georgia responded by scoring 34 unanswered points in an eventual 41-17 victory.
* The defense has allowed an FBS low seven touchdowns while the unit has scored three TDs. The defense did not allow a touchdown until the third game of the season and that came in the fourth quarter versus USC with the Bulldogs leading 40-6. The second came at No. 18 AU with Georgia leading 24-3. No. 11 Kentucky had two scores, including the final one with :04 left. Florida scored with 2:49 left in the game with Georgia leading 27-0. UT managed a first quarter TD and built a 10-7 lead before Georgia stormed back. By the way, UAB’s TD came on a pick-six while CSU’s was a 65-yard fumble return after a Bulldog interception.
* Georgia opponents have scored only 83 points in 2021. Clemson’s opponents have the next fewest points in the FBS at 180.
HEAD COACH KIRBY SMART
Four SEC Eastern Division championships, 64 wins, one SEC title, four bowl victories, and an appearance in one national championship game are more than respectable rewards over a six-year period. That’s what Georgia got when it hired former Bulldog player and assistant coach Kirby Smart to head the program in December, 2015. The 2021 team will be Smart’s fifth straight team to finish in the top 10 of the College Football Playoff rankings, earn a New Years Six bowl game and fourth appearance in the SEC Championship Game. The ’21 team be- came the first UGA team to win 12 games in the regular season and first since 1982 to go undefeated in the regular season. The 2020 Bulldogs navigated the Covid-19 pandemic into an 8-2 conference-only record and Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl victory over undefeated Cincinnati. The 2020 Bulldog senior class tied the record for the most wins by a senior class
in school history (44), set by the 2005 and 2019 teams. That was also Smart’s fourth straight team to finish the regular season ranked in the top ten of the College Football Playoff rankings.
Smart’s 2019 Bulldogs be- came the first team in school history to win 11 or more games for a third straight season. The senior class posted a four-year record of 44-12, matching the school record of 44 wins for a senior class. Georgia defeated three Top 15 teams in the final CFP ranking — Notre Dame, Florida, and Auburn — and finished as the fourth-ranked team in the final polls. The season was capped by a dominant win over Baylor in the Allstate Sugar Bowl.
When UGA looked for a head coach after the 2015 season, the arrows pointed to Kirby Smart, longtime Alabama defensive coordinator and former UGA player and assistant. The 2017 Associated Press SEC Coach of the Year has not disappointed. In his first year leading the Bulldogs, Georgia extended its school record to 20 consecutive bowl appearances and had wins over No. 8 Auburn and No. 22 UNC.
In 2017, Smart directed UGA to a 13-2 record, an SEC title, a win at The Rose Bowl Game during the CFP semifinal and a spot in the National Championship. He was named the Maxwell Football Club’s George Munger National Coach of the Year. Be- fore 2017, the Bulldogs last SEC title was 2005. The 2018 and 2019 Bulldogs advanced to the SEC title game, secured an invite to the Sugar Bowl and combined for a 23-5 record. He has also made an immediate impact in recruiting, posting the nation’s No. 1 class in 2018, the second-ranked class in 2019 and the third-ranked class in 2017 and 2020.
Looking For More Explosive Plays
* The Bulldogs are averaging 40.7 points/game and outscoring their opponents 488-83. The Bulldog defense and special teams have combined to score five TDs this year, two safeties and blocked five more potential points (one FG, two PATs).
*Georgia has had seven touchdown passes that have covered at least 38 yards: JT Daniels, 38 yds. vs. USC, WR AD Mitchell; 43 yds. vs USC, WR Jermaine Burton; Stetson Bennett, 73 yds. vs. UAB, Burton; 61 yds. vs UAB, WR Arian Smith; 89 yds. vs. UAB, TE Brock Bowers; 60 yds. vs. #18 AU, WR Ladd McConkey; 77 yds. @ GT, Bowers.
Explosive Play Summary In 2021 (12-yd rush, 16-yd completion)
Game Georgia Opponent Final Score
vs. #3 Clemson 2 (R, P) 1 (P) #5 Georgia 10-3
UAB 13 (7R, P) 4 (3R,1P) #2 Georgia 56-7
South Carolina 12 (5R, 7P) 6 (R, 5P) #2 Georgia 40-13
@ Vanderbilt 11 (6R, 5P) 1 (R) #2 Georgia 62-0
#8 Arkansas 6 (4R, 2P) 5 (3R, 2P) #2 Georgia 37-0
@ #18 Auburn 7 (3R, 4P) 6 (6P) #2 Georgia 34-10
#11 Kentucky 12 (4R, 8P) 3 (3P) #1 Georgia 30-13
vs. Florida 6 (3R, 3P) 8 (3R, 5P) #1 Georgia 34-7
Missouri 13 (6R, 7P) 5 (2R, 3P) #1 Georgia 43-6
@ Tennessee 12 (8R, 4P) 5 (1R, 4P) #1 Georgia 41-17
Charleston So. 12 (6R, 6P) 2 (1R, 1P) #1 Georgia 56-7
@ Georgia Tech 7 (2R, 5P) 3 (2R, 1P) #1 Georgia 45-0
Longest Rush by Georgia: 59-yd TD by McIntosh (@ GT)
Longest Rush by Opp.: 34-yd by Chambers (CSU)
Longest Completion by Georgia: 89-yd TD vs. UAB (Bennett to Bowers)
Longest Completion by Opp.: 61-yd by SC (Noland to Vann)
Daniels 7-0 As A Starter at Georgia, 13-6 Overall
* JT Daniels, an Irvine, Calif., native, served as UGA’s starting quarterback from game seven of the 2020 campaign through the 2021 opener.
* Daniels did not play against UAB due to a lat injury as senior Stetson Bennett got the start in a 56-7 win. Daniels returned against South Carolina and only played in the first quarter against Vanderbilt during those Bulldog wins. He returned in the third quarter versus Missouri on Nov. 6 and was 7-for-11 for 82 yards and a TD with one INT.
Bennett 12-2 As A Starter at Georgia
*Senior Stetson Bennett, a native of Blackshear, Ga., who is a Burlsworth Trophy finalist, began his career with the Bulldogs as a walk-on in 2017 when he was redshirted. Bennett transferred to Jones College (Miss.) where he started in 2018 and then returned to the Bulldogs on scholarship in 2019. He saw action that season in five games including throwing passes in four of them. In 2020, he started five games.
*In his Bulldog career, Bennett is 12-2 and has completed 61 percent of his passes (225-for-365 3,424 yards, 31 TDs, 12 INTs). Also, he has 60 rushing attempts for 271 yards and four scores.
* In 2021, Bennett has played in 11 games (9-0 as a starter) and is 119-for-183 (65.0%) for 1,985 yards with 21 TDs and five INTs. He has 38 carries for 240 yards.
*He ranks 2nd nationally in Passing Efficiency (188.5). The school record in that category belongs to Aaron Murray at 174.8 in 2012.
*JT Daniels started the season behind center but was sidelined versus UAB due to a lat injury. Bennett stepped in and started that game. Daniels returned against South Carolina and then left the Vanderbilt game after the first quarter with an aggravation of his injury. Bennett played most of the Vanderbilt game and then has served as the starter since the Oct. 2 win over No. 8 Arkansas.
*Bennett helped Georgia complete a historic 8-0 SEC regular season and its first undefeated regular season since 1982.
*In the 30-13 win over No. 11 Kentucky, Bennett was on the mark in the second half, completing 9 of 10 passes for 174 yards and two
touchdowns. He earned a spot on the Davey O’Brien Award’s Great 8 list after finishing with 250 yards passing and three TDs.
*Bennett enjoyed a career a record-setting performance torching the Blazers for a school record tying five TDs (all in the first half). He finished the day 10-for-12 for 288 yards with his scoring strikes covering 9, 12, 61, 73 and 89 yards. Bennett was named the SEC Offensive Player of the Week as well as to the Davey O’Brien Award’s Great 8 list following his performance.
*In 2020, Bennett made his first career start and led the Bulldogs to a 27-6 win over #7 Auburn in Athens.
Productive Start To Bowers’ Career
* Freshman TE Brock Bowers has a team-best 37 catches for 652 yards and 11 touchdowns (10 rec., one rush). Bowers’ 10 TD catches is one shy of the school record held by SE Terrence Edwards in 2002 .
* Bowers has already set a school record for most TD catches for a TE in a season with 10 and also owns Georgia’s No. 1 mark in ards
for a TE in a season with 652.
* Some notables from Bowers first season include: three 100-yard games; four touchdown receptions of 25+ yards; his first touchdown catch of his career was an 89 yarder from Stetson Bennett versus UAB, this was the ninth-longest passing TD in school history; had a 12-yard rushing touchdown on his first career carry at Vanderbilt, was the leading receiver with four catches for 69 yards and two touchdowns and was named the SEC Freshman of the Week; was the team leader with six catches for 101 yards and two touchdowns against No. 11 Kentucky and was named SEC Freshman of the Week yet again as well as Mackey Award Tight End of the Week; had a 77-yard scoring reception from Bennett at Georgia Tech.
Sharing The Load At RB
* Seniors Zamir White (128 attempts, 691 yards, 10 TDs) and James Cook (90 att., 581 yds., 7 TDs) split a majority of the carries.
* White has led the team in rushing in six games while Cook has done it four times. Fellow senior Kenny McIntosh and sophomore Kendall Milton led the Bulldogs in rushing the other two games. White had 14 carries and went for 105 yards (7.5 per carry) and a TD in the win over Florida. His performance featured a 42-yard touchdown run, which is the longest rush for the Bulldogs this season.
*Cook finished with a career-high 104 rushing yards and three scores (2 rush, 1 rec.) in the victory over UT. Also, he led the team with 87 yards on 12 carries (7.2 avg.) against No. 8 Arkansas. Against Missouri, his one touchdown came out of the “Wild Dawg” formation.
* McIntosh got his first start at Georgia Tech and carried the ball twice for 66 yards, including a season-long 59-yard touchdown scamper.
* White, McIntosh and sophomore Daijun Edwards all scored rushing touchdowns at Vanderbilt, along with WR Ladd McConkey and
TE Brock Bowers.
A Look At The Offensive Line
* Senior Jamaree Salyer (LT), junior Warren Ericson (LG), redshirt freshman Sedrick Van Pran (C), fifth-year senior Justin Shaffer (RG) and redshirt sophomore Warren McClendon (RT) comprised the starting lineup for a seven-game stretch until the Missouri game on Nov. 6. Then, redshirt freshman Broderick Jones filled in for Salyer the last four games of the regular season due to a foot injury. In the season opener versus No. 3 Clemson, redshirt freshman Tate Ratledge started the opener at LG. A foot injury has kept him out since that game.
* The unit has been honored as Joe Moore Award semifinalists and helped the team post a season-high 274 rushing yards in the win over Tennessee.
* The unit has only allowed eight sacks this year. That leads the SEC and ranks second nationally, trailing only Army (six in 11 games) who runs the flexbone triple-option offense and has attempted an FBS-low 85 passes this year.
* Georgia focused on the rushing game versus No. 8 Arkansas and finished with 56 attempts for 273 yards (4.9 yards/rush) and three
touchdowns. This was the most rushing attempts in a game during the Kirby Smart era.
* At No. 18 Auburn, the Bulldogs rushing attack picked up steam in the second half, gaining 165 yards to finish with 201 in the 34-10 win. Jones also filled in at LT in this game after Salyer went down with an ankle injury.
Ton Of Targets
* The Bulldogs are still aiming to get 100 percent healthy at receiver. George Pickens made his 2021 debut against Georgia Tech following offseason knee surgery and had a catch for five yards. In the win over the Yellow Jackets, Georgia’s first nine completions went to nine different Bulldogs. The Bulldogs spread the ball around, including 11 dog tracks Game 13 dog tracks different receivers hauling in passes versus Missouri.
* Arian Smith went down with a leg injury following the Missouri win and has missed the last three games.
* Dominick Blaylock made his season debut against Charleston Southern in his first action since the 2019 SEC Championship Game.
He had two catches for 11 yards and two punt returns versus CSU.
* Prior to the victory over Missouri, Georgia had been leaning on junior Kearis Jackson, redshirt freshman Ladd McConkey and true
freshman AD Mitchell.
*In the road win over UT, Mitchell led the group with a career-high five catches for 65 yards as nine different Bulldogs caught a pass.
* Georgia’s leading receivers have been freshman TE Brock Bowers (37 rec., 652 yds., 10 TDs), McConkey (26-395-4), Mitchell (24-334-2) and Burton (20-376-4).
* Jackson accounted for 97 all-purpose yards in the rout over Florida. He had a team-leading three catches for 59 yards and a touchdown while also taking care of return duties with a total of two returns. Jackson’s 36-yard touchdown catch (his first of the year) before halftime put the Bulldogs up 17-0.
* During the victory at No. 18 Auburn, McConkey hauled in a careerhigh five catches for 135 yards and a career-long 60-yard touchdown. He became the third Bulldog this year to have a receiving and rushing touchdown in the same game during the win at Vanderbilt. Both he and Bowers accomplished the feat versus the Commodores while senior RB James Cook did it against South Carolina and at Tennessee.
* Cook, who has 17 catches for 129 yards and three touchdowns this year, tallied a team-best 147 all-purpose yards in the win at UT.
One Of Country’s Top Punting Units
* Senior punter and 2020 Ray Guy Award finalist Jake Camarda was the SEC Special Teams Player of the Year last season. He posted an SEC best 46.6 average that ranked fourth in the country and was named a FWAA Second-Team All-American. Camarda was a preseason AllAmerican at his position in 2021.
* This year, Camarda is averaging 45.5 yards/punt placing 12 inside in the 20 and 13 have been 50+. Camarda’s career average of 45.7 is on pace for a school record. Drew Butler, the 2009 Ray Guy Award winner, owns the Bulldog record with a 45.4 mark.
* Camarda is also handling most of the UGA kickoffs this year.
Jack-Pod
* For his career, junior PK Jack Podlesny is 30-for-37 on field goals and 99-for-100 on PATs. This year, he is 17-for-21 on FGs and 61-for-62 on PATs. Podlesny capped his first year by earning Offensive MVP honors at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl. In the 24-21 win over #8 Cincinnati, Podlesny accounted for 10 points, including the gamewinning 53-yard FG with three seconds remaining.
* Georgia entered the 2021 season with the NCAA record for Consecutive PATs Made. The streak ended with a miss versus No. 11 Kentucky at 363 and involved six kickers (Marshall Morgan, Patrick Beless, William Ham, David Marvin, Rodrigo Blankenship and Podlesny). The streak dated back to 2014.
* Georgia’s snappers this year include returning starters junior Payne Walker and redshirt sophomore William Mote. Walker snaps on field goals and PATs while Mote handles the snaps for punts.0
Dominant ‘D’
* Georgia’s opponents have scored only 83 points, the next fewest allowed by an FBS team is Clemson at 180.
* Georgia has held 10 of its opponents to a season low in points with USC (13) and Tennessee (17) the only exceptions.
* Georgia is the only FBS team to hold opposing offenses out of the end zone in six games this season.
* No. 3 Clemson’s three points were the fewest in the Dabo Swinney era and lowest since 2007 against Georgia Tech, a 13-3 loss under
Tommy Bowden.
* No. 11 Arkansas was shutout for the first time since 2018.
* Florida’s seven points were the fewest in the Dan Mullen era and lowest since 2017 versus Georgia, a 42-7 loss under Jim McElwain.
Creating Havoc Again In 2021
* Defensive coordinator Dan Lanning, a 2021 Broyles Award semifinalist, is now in his fourth year and the Bulldogs feature the nation’s
top Scoring Defense allowing just 6.9 points/game. Georgia is 2nd nationally in Passing Defense (151.6), 3rd in Rushing Defense (79.0)
and 5th in Sacks (41).
*Georgia leads the country in Red Zone defense. Opponents have advanced to the Red Zone only 22 times this season and nine times
have come away with no points.
*The defense has allowed 7 TDs this year while it has scored 3 TDs.
*In six games this year, Georgia has not allowed an offensive TD and that leads all of FBS.
*Six times this year UGA has carried a shutout to the 4th quarter.
*Posted shutouts versus No. 8 Arkansas and at Georgia Tech and Vanderbilt.
*Florida avoided being shutout when it scored with 2:49 left in the contest in a 34-7 loss to the Bulldogs.
Playmakers In The Secondary
* While some may refer to Georgia as “RBU”, one could make a case for “DBU” with the recent Bulldogs now in the NFL including four who were drafted last season (Eric Stokes, 1st Round, Green Bay; Tyson Campbell, 2nd Round, Jacksonville; Richard LeCounte,
5th round, Cleveland; Mark Webb, 7th round, L.A. Chargers).
* Junior safety Lewis Cine ranks third on the squad with 54 tackles. Cine had a team-high nine tackles and two pass breakups in the
road win over No. 18 Auburn.
* Christopher Smith scored the only TD in the win over No. 3 Clemson on a 74-yard interception return (the first pick of his career). He earned SEC Defensive Player of the Week honors after that. Smith has missed the last two games with an injury.
* Seniors Latavious Brini and Ameer Speed along with redshirt freshman Kelee Ringo are manning the cornerback spots
for the Bulldogs this season. Ringo had a career-high seven tackles against No. 11 Kentucky, including his first career sack.
* Walk-on redshirt sophomore Dan Jackson got his first start versus No. 11 Kentucky while Smith was out with a shoulder injury. Jackson has been the team’s leading tackler twice this season. During the 37-0 win over No. 8 Arkansas, he blocked a punt in the first
quarter that was recovered by Zamir White in the end zone for a touchdown to put Georgia up 21-0.
* Rounding out the defensive backfield is former All-ACC First Team selection Derion Kendrick (Clemson). He has started all 12 games with 32 stops and two picks. Making An Impact Up Front
* Preseason All-American Jordan Davis joins fifth-year Devonte Wyatt and sophomore Jalen Carter as the veterans in the center of the defensive line. Davis is a finalist for the Outland Trophy, Bronko Nagurski Trophy and Chuck Bednarik Award. This season, the three Bulldogs have tallied 18 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, one blocked FG, one blocked PAT and a fumble recovery. Davis scored his first career touchdown on a carry from the 1 yard line against CSU.
* The trio is joined by versatile junior Travon Walker who has started all 12 games. Walker has 30 stops, 5.5 TFLs and four sacks.
* Against No. 11 Kentucky, Carter posted six stops, including a sack and 1.5 tackles for loss, and blocked the final extra point attempt.
That performance earned him SEC DL of the Week.
* In the shutout of No. 8 Arkansas, Wyatt led the team with six tackles and 1.5 sacks and was named the SEC DL of the Week.
* Davis, Wyatt and Carter bursts onto the national scene in the opener versus No. 3 Clemson. The trio combined for eight tackles, including three tackles for loss and two sacks, and a pass breakup. Davis was named the Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week as well as the SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week after his effort against the Tigers.
Bulldog Backers Flying Around
* Senior ILB Channing Tindall leads the team in tackles with 57. He earned Walter Camp Defensive Player of the Week honors on Nov. 14 after his game at Tennessee (eight tackles, three sacks, forced fumble).
*Junior Nakobe Dean ranks second in tackles with 56. A semifinalist for the 2020 Butkus Award, he has recently been selected as a 2021 finalist for the Butkus and Wuerffel Trophy and semifinalist for the Bednarik awards as well. He is the leader of the 2021 defense. Dean had seven tackles and returned his second career interception 50 yards for a touchdown against Florida. The pick-six capped a flurry of big plays by the Bulldogs who scored 21 points in a span of two minutes and nine seconds to build a 24-0 halftime advantage. Georgia scored three touchdowns off three turnovers and needed just two offensive plays.
* Senior Quay Walker ranks fourth on the team with 51 stops. He posted a career-high 13 stops against the Gators.
* Junior Nolan Smith is one of two linebackers on the outside. He has 39 stops and five tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks to go along with a
blocked punt versus Missouri.
* Smith finished with four stops, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and his first career interception during the win over Florida and was
named SEC Defensive Player of the Week
Points off turnovers
Georgia is +2 in turnover margin in 2021. The Bulldogs have scored 87 points off 16 turnovers. Opponents have scored 37 points off 14 Georgia miscues.
vs. #3 CU: (W, 10-3) UGA got 7 points off 1 turnover; CU got no points off 2 turnovers.
UAB: (W, 56-7) UGA got 14 points off 3 turnovers; UAB got 7 points off 1 turnover
SC: (W, 40-13) UGA got 14 points off 2 turnovers; SC got 13 points off 3 turnovers
@ VU: (W, 62-0) UGA got 14 points off 3 turnovers; VU got no points off 1 turnover
#8 ARK: (W, 37-0) Neither team had turnovers
@ #18 AU: (W, 34-10) UGA got 3 points off 1 turnover; UGA had no turnovers
#11 UK: (W, 30-13) No turnovers for either team
vs. UF: (W, 34-7) UGA got 21 points off 3 turnovers; UF got 7 points off 3 turnovers
UM: (W, 43-6) UGA did not force any turnovers; UM got 3 points off 1 turnover
@ UT: (W, 41-17) UGA got 14 points off 2 turnovers; UGA had no turnovers
CSU: (W, 56-7) UGA got no points off 1 turnover; CSU got 7 points off 3 turnovers
@ GT: (W, 45-0) No turnovers for either team
ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE NOTES
INSIDE THE SERIES
Overall: 71st meeting (Alabama leads, 41-25-4)
In SEC Championship Games: Alabama leads, 2-0
Current Streak: Alabama, Won 6
Last Meeting: Oct. 17, 2020 (W, 41-24)
Series Notes: Alabama and Georgia will meet for the 71st time in series history and the third time in the SEC Championship Game. The Crimson Tide holds a 41-25-4 series advantage and is currently riding a six-game winning streak against the Bulldogs. That six-game streak includes two SEC Championship wins, one College Football Playoff victory and last season’s 41-24 win in Tuscaloosa on Oct. 17. Alabama head coach Nick Saban is 8-2 all-time against Georgia, including a 6-1 mark leading the Tide. Kirby Smart is 0-3 in his career against Alabama.
ALABAMA vs. NO. 1: Alabama is tied with Miami (Fla.) for the most wins all-time against the Associated Press Poll’s No. 1 team since the poll was introduced in 1936. The Crimson Tide has compiled nine wins against the AP’s top-ranked team in program history, most recently against No. 1 Clemson in the 2017 College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Allstate Sugar Bowl. Six of those nine wins have come during the Nick Saban era with the first being Alabama’s victory over defending national champion Florida in the 2009 SEC Championship Game to send the Crimson Tide to the BCS National Championship Game against Texas. Three of the next four occurred in national title games, including LSU (2011), Notre Dame (2012) and Clemson (2015). The sixth win during the Saban era came when the Crimson Tide took down top-ranked Mississippi State inside Bryant-Denny Stadium on Nov. 15, 2014.
Most Wins All-Time vs. AP No. 1 (since 1936)
1. ALABAMA 9
Miami (Fla.)
3. Notre Dame 8
4. Oklahoma 7
Purdue
USC
7. Auburn 5
Ohio State
9. Arkansas 4
Penn State
Texas
UCLA
Wisconsin
NEUTRAL SITES: Alabama is 95-50-4 (.651) all-time in 149 neutral site contests. The list includes all Alabama-Auburn games not played on campus, including Legion Field from 1948-88. Under head coach Nick Saban, the Crimson Tide is 27-6 (.818) in neutral site games. Alabama began the 2021 campaign at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, downing then-No. 14/16 Miami, 44-13, in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game. The win over the Hurricanes extended the Crimson Tide’s winning streak at neutral sites to six straight, dating back to a 42-3 win over Duke on Aug. 31, 2019. Alabama’s last loss at a neutral site came at the hands of Clemson in the 2019 College Football Playoff National Championship Game in Santa Clara, Calif.
DOME SWEET DOME: The Crimson Tide is 31-7-1 (.808) all-time in domed stadiums, including a 22-2 (.917) mark since 2009, and is 23-4 (.852) during Nick Saban’s tenure. Alabama last played inside a dome when it defeated then-No. 4 Notre Dame, 31-14, on Jan. 1, 2021 inside the AT&T Stadium in the 2020 College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Rose Bowl Game Presented by Capital One. The Crimson Tide’s season-opener win against then-No. 14/16 Miami at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in the 2021 Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game is not included because the roof was open.
ALABAMA IN THE ATL: Alabama boasts a 16-1 record in games played in Atlanta since head coach Nick Saban arrived in Tuscaloosa, including 15 straight wins. The Crimson Tide is 7-0 in Chick-fil-A Kickoff Games, 7-1 in SEC Championship Games, 1-0 in the Peach Bowl and 1-0 in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game.
EASTERN STREAK: Alabama’s 52-24 win over Tennessee on Oct. 23 was the Crimson Tide’s 33rd consecutive victory over an SEC Eastern Division opponent, dating back to a 35-21 loss at then-No. 19 South Carolina on Oct. 9, 2010. The 33 wins include a 6-0 record in SEC Championship Games. During the current run, the Tide is 12-0 vs. Tennessee; 6-0 vs. Florida (3-0 in SEC CG); 5-0 vs. Georgia (2-0 in SEC CG, 1-0 in CFP NCG); 4-0 vs. Missouri (1-0 in SEC CG); 3-0 vs. Kentucky; 2-0 vs. Vanderbilt; and 1-0 vs. South Carolina. Overall under Nick Saban, the Crimson Tide is 43-3 (.935) against the SEC East, including a 9-1 (.900) record in the SEC Championship Game.
SABAN VS. FORMER ASSISTANTS: Alabama head coach Nick Saban is 24-1 all-time against his former staffers during his tenure at the Capstone. The Crimson Tide head coach’s most wins against a former assistant is four, which have come against Jimbo Fisher (Florida State, 2017; Texas A&M 2018-20). Saban is 3-0 in matchups with Kirby Smart.
SEC WESTERN DIVISION TITLE: Alabama’s 42-35 win against then-No. 21/21/22 Arkansas on Nov. 20 clinched the program’s 16th SEC Western Division title (14th outright). The Crimson Tide will represent the Western Division against SEC Eastern Division champion Georgia in the SEC Championship Game on Saturday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. The appearance in ATL will mark Alabama’s 14th in the SEC Championship with the Crimson Tide holding a record of 9-4 across that stretch, including a 7-1 record in the SEC Championship game under head coach Nick Saban.
TIDE REACHES 11 WINS FOR THE 25TH TIME: With the win at Auburn on Nov. 27 to close out the 2021 regular season, Alabama secured its 11th victory of the year, marking the 25th time in program history that the Tide has achieved the feat. Under head coach Nick Saban, Alabama has had 13 11-win seasons (2008-09, 2011- 21). It is the 11th straight season with at least 11 wins, which is the longest streak of its kind in SEC history. The SEC has had three streaks of three seasons with at least 11 victories, including Alabama from 1973-75, LSU from 2005-07 and South Carolina from 2011-13.
SEC RECORD FOR 10-WIN SEASONS: Alabama extended its record for most consecutive 10-win seasons in SEC history to 14 when it defeated then-No. 21/21/22 Arkansas on Nov. 20 in Tuscaloosa. It ties Florida State and head coach Bobby Bowden for the longest such record in college football history. In the Tide’s previous 10-plus win seasons, UA finished with a 12-2 record in 2008 and 2014; 14-0 in 2009; 10-3 in 2010; 12-1 in 2011; 13-1 in 2012 and 2017; 11-2 in 2013 and 2019; 14-1 in 2015, 2016 and 2018; and a perfect 13-0 in 2020.
BEATING THE BEST: The Crimson Tide is 70-17 (.805) against the Associated Press Top 25 since the start of 2008. Alabama is 4-0 against AP Top 25 teams this season, including a 44-13 win against then-No. 14 Miami in the 2021 Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game on Sept. 4, a 31-29 triumph at then-No. 11 Florida on Sept. 18 and a 42-21 win over then-No. 12 Ole Miss in the Crimson Tide’s Southeastern Conference home opener on Oct. 2. Alabama’s most recent top-25 win came on Nov. 20 in a 42-35 victory over then-No. 21 Arkansas.
DOMINATING THE AP TOP 25: Alabama’s season-opening win over then-No. 14 Miami in the 2021 Chickfil-A Kickoff Game was head coach Nick Saban’s 22nd career win by 25-plus points against a ranked opponent. Saban is the all-time leader for the most wins by 25-plus points in the Associated Press Poll era (since 1936), passing Bobby Bowden’s previous record of 20. Saban is also the NCAA record holder with 23 career wins of 20-plus points against AP top-15 opponents, including Alabama’s 42-21 win against then-No. 12 Ole Miss on Oct. 2. Twenty of Saban’s 23 20-plus point wins against AP top-15 opponents have come at the Capstone.
ALABAMA IN THE AP POLL: Alabama’s No. 4 ranking in the most recent Associated Press Poll on Nov. 28 marked the 227th consecutive week that the Crimson Tide has appeared in the poll. That streak is the longest active streak in college football. The 227 weeks more than triples second-place Georgia with the Bulldogs appearing in the poll for 80 consecutive weeks. Clemson previously held the second-longest streak behind the Crimson Tide with 107 straight appearances but did not appear in the Week 6 iteration of the 2021 poll. Before that, Ohio State held the second-longest streak with 132 straight weeks but did not appear in the Week 2 iteration of the 2020 poll. Alabama’s 227 straight weeks tops the Crimson Tide’s previous program-long streak of 71 straight weeks under head coach Gene Stallings in the mid-1990s.
ALABAMA IN THE AP SINCE 2008: Alabama began the 2008 season at No. 24 in the Associated Press Preseason Poll. The Crimson Tide opened the year with a dominant 34-10 win over then-No. 9 Clemson in Atlanta, and since that win over the Tigers, UA has not been ranked lower than No. 17 in 223 polls that have followed. According to College Poll Archive, the Tide has now spent 96.8 percent of the 12-plus years ranked in the top 10. A whopping 87.7 percent of that time Alabama has been ranked in the top five. The Crimson Tide has also been ranked No. 1 a total of 105 times since 2008. Only 13 other teams have earned the No. 1 ranking over that time, with the second-most appearances coming from Clemson at 23.
AGAINST THE TOP 10: Alabama owns an 82-77-1 all-time record against teams ranked in the top-10 of the Associated Press Poll. Since the start of the 2008 season, the Crimson Tide has posted a 33-11 (.750) overall record against top-10 teams, including a 18-5 (.782) mark versus the top 10 since the inception of the College Football Playoff. In Saban’s six national championship seasons at Alabama, his teams have gone 18-2 against top-10 opponents.
SABAN LEADS IN WINS VS. TOP-FIVE TEAMS: Alabama’s 52-24 win over No. 3 Ohio State in the 2021 College Football Playoff National Championship Game on Jan. 11, 2021, was Nick Saban’s 27th career victory against a team ranked in the top five of the Associated Press Top 25 Poll, the most in college football history. Saban’s 27-14 career record in top-five contests gives him a .659 winning percentage, which is also college football’s best. Following Saban on the all-time victory list are Bobby Bowden (18/.378 winning percentage), Barry Switzer (15/.516), Woody Hayes (15/.516), Steve Spurrier (15/.429) and Lou Holtz (15/.419). Saban’s record includes eight wins in the College Football Playoff: No. 3 Michigan State (38-0) and No. 1 Clemson (45-40) in 2015; No. 4 Washington (24-7) in 2016; No. 1 Clemson (24-6) and No. 3 Georgia (26-23) in 2017; No. 4 Oklahoma (45-34) in 2018; No. 4 Notre Dame (31-14) and No. 3 Ohio State (52-24) in 2020. Alabama also went 3-0 in BCS National Championship Games (vs. Texas, 37-21, 2009; vs. LSU, 21-0, 2011; vs. Notre Dame, 42-14, 2012).
