UGA Football: No. 2 Bulldogs Fall, 41-34, In Wild One At No. 4 Alabama

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The No. 2-ranked Georgia football team suffered its first regular-season defeat since 2020 on Saturday night, falling 41-34 to No. 4 Alabama in a wild game at Bryant-Denny Stadium. The loss snapped a run of 42 consecutive regular-season wins, as well as 28 straight in SEC regular-season games, for the Bulldogs.

Georgia’s last regular-season loss came against Florida on Nov. 7, 2020. On Saturday, the Crimson Tide jumped out in front early with three first-quarter touchdowns, forcing the Bulldogs (3-1, 1-1 SEC) to play catch-up the rest of the way. Despite outscoring the Tide 27-11 in the second half, and briefly taking the lead late in the fourth quarter, the Bulldogs came up short in the end.

In a game with more than 1,000 yards of offense, Alabama (4-0, 1-0) finished with 547, while Georgia gained 519. Georgia’s defense had allowed just 18 points on six field goals coming into the game, and the offense had zero turnovers through three games before committing four Saturday.

Quarterback Jalen Milroe directed the Tide down the field for a touchdown on the game’s opening drive, completing all three pass attempts, including one for a 34-yard gain, and later scoring on a seven-yard run for a 7-0 lead with 10:11 left in the first quarter. It was the first touchdown the Bulldogs had allowed this season.

An offensive pass interference penalty negated a 28-yard gain and stalled the Bulldogs’ first drive, forcing a punt. Alabama then drove 84 yards in six plays and went ahead 14-0 with 4:39 to play in the first on a Milroe 16-yard touchdown pass to Jamarion Miller.

The Bulldogs’ next drive ended when Domani Jackson intercepted a Carson Beck pass in Georgia territory and returned it to the UGA 22. Three plays later, Germie Bernard ran for a seven-yard touchdown and a 21-0 lead with 2:21 to go in the first.

After forcing a Georgia punt, Alabama scored again on their next drive. On fourth-and-1 at the Bulldog 36, Milroe got free and ran all the way for the touchdown and a 28-0 lead.

The Bulldog offense got going on its next possession, driving 75 yards on 11 plays and scoring on Trevor Etienne’s seven-yard run, cutting the lead to 28-7 with 6:43 left in the half. Etienne ran for seven on fourth-and-1 at the UGA 45 earlier in the drive to keep the Bulldogs moving.

Facing a fourth-and-1 at the Georgia 34, the Tide went for the first down and Miller was stuffed for a 1-yard loss by Daniel Harris and Dan Jackson. Alabama got the ball back on the next play when Jihaad Campbell intercepted a Beck pass and returned it 13 yards to the Bulldog 12.

Jackson got the ball back for Georgia with an interception at the 2 and returned it out to the 5. Three plays later, Beck, under pressure, tried to throw the ball away and was called for intentional grounding in the end zone, resulting in a safety and a 30-7 Alabama lead.

Milroe threw for 199 yards and ran for 106 in the first half, helping Alabama out-gain the Bulldogs 355-153 through two quarters. It was a much different game in the second half.

The Bulldogs cut Alabama’s lead to 30-15 with 5:06 left in the third quarter on a 12-yard touchdown catch by Arian Smith to cap a 15-play drive. Georgia converted two fourth-down plays on the drive and drew a penalty on Alabama on a third attempt. Beck hit Lawson Luckie in the back of the end zone to convert the two-point conversion attempt.

Alabama’s Graham Nicholson kicked a 28-yard field goal with 1:23 to play in the third to push the Tide’s lead to 33-15. Georgia cut the lead to 33-21 with 9:46 left in the game when Beck hit Luckie in the end zone for an eight-yard touchdown. That came after a 21-yard completion to Anthony Evans III and a 34-yarder to Colbie Young.

Two big completions got the Bulldogs to the Tide 1 on their next drive. Beck connected with Cash Jones out of the backfield for a 30-yard gain, followed immediately by a 47-yard strike to Smith. Two plays later, Dillon Bell ran the ball in for a three-yard touchdown, trimming Alabama’s lead to 33-27 with 5:39 remaining.

Georgia’s defense forced Alabama to punt on its next drive and the Bulldogs got the ball back at their 33 with a chance for the win with 2:42 remaining. And on the first play, Beck hit Bell down the middle for a 67-yard touchdown to take a 34-33 lead with 2:31 remaining.

But the lead was short-lived. On the first play of Alabama’s ensuing drive, Milroe connected with Ryan Williams for a 75-yard touchdown, and a successful two-point conversion made it 41-34 Tide with 2:18 to play.

Georgia had one last possession and drove into Alabama territory. On fourth-and-8 at the Tide 34, he hit Luckie for 14 yards to the 22. Beck’s next pass was intercepted in the end zone with 43 seconds left.

Beck completed 27 of 50 passes for a career-high 439 yards and three touchdowns, with three interceptions and a fumble. Milroe threw for 374 yards and two touchdowns, with an interception, and ran for 117 yards and two scores. Safety Dan Jackson led the Georgia defense with a career-high 10 tackles and an interception.

The Bulldogs are back at Sanford Stadium next Saturday when they host Auburn at 3:30 p.m. Georgia has won 26 straight games on Dooley Field.