The rematch in Atlanta looked nothing like the regular season thriller. The Georgia Bulldogs delivered a defensive masterclass, suffocating the Alabama offense en route to a decisive 28-7 victory in the 2025 SEC Championship Game.
Bulldogs Defense Stifles the Tide
In September, Alabama put up 24 points and nearly 400 yards against this Georgia defense. On Saturday, Kirby Smart's unit looked like a completely different animal. The Bulldogs held Alabama to a staggering -3 net rushing yards on 16 attempts, completely neutralizing the Tide's ground game.
Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson found himself under constant duress. He completed 19 of 39 passes for 212 yards but was sacked three times and threw a critical interception. His lone touchdown pass came late in the game when the outcome was largely decided.
Stockton Earns MVP Honors
On the other side, Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton was efficient and deadly. He earned MVP honors by completing 20 of 26 passes for 156 yards and 3 touchdowns, while adding another 39 yards on the ground.
"We knew we had to be cleaner than last time," Stockton said post-game. "Our defense played lights out, which made my job easy. We just took what they gave us and executed in the red zone."
Game Key Stats
- Total Yards: Georgia 297, Alabama 209
- Rushing Yards: Georgia 141, Alabama -3
- Turnovers: Alabama 1, Georgia 0
- Possession: Georgia 34:12, Alabama 25:48
Playoff Implications
With the win, Georgia (12-1) locks up the SEC's automatic bid and is all but guaranteed a top-4 seed and a first-round bye in the College Football Playoff. They will rest next week while the first round plays out.
For Alabama (10-3), the loss likely drops them out of contention for a home playoff game. Projected as the #9 seed heading into the weekend, the Tide will likely fall to the #10 or #11 seed range, meaning they will have to travel on the road for the first round of the 12-team playoff.