Who’s dizzy?
The morning after Alabama and Georgia played two games in one, we’re left with the aftermath of a 41-34 tornado that surely wrecked a few nerves. It was easy to get swept up in the moment after Ryan Williams’ magic act rescued the Crimson Tide from a historic collapse.
But the day after, what does it all mean?
What did we learn in Week 5 of the college football season?
The context of Alabama’s marathon win over the Bulldogs — like Auburn’s third loss to end a five-game homestand — is complicated. And like Auburn’s 27-21 fall-from-ahead loss to Oklahoma, turnovers are the difference maker in evenly-matched games.
Both the Crimson Tide and Georgia had moments to prove they were the nation’s best. The hosts played perhaps as close to perfect as possible in the first 19 minutes of football before Georgia woke up from a 28-0 slumber.
COLUMN: Alabama still owns Georgia, should be No. 1 in polls
Then, it was the Bulldogs’ turn to make a statement to the playoff committee with a gritty comeback that was lost in Williams’ vertigo-inducing open-field footwork.
Bottom line: That was two playoff teams slugging it out like only Alabama and Georgia can do. And the Crimson Tide has the inside track to Atlanta in the first division-less sprint to the SEC title game.
You learned what Alabama’s offense was capable of against a Bulldog defense that didn’t allow a touchdown in three games before getting diced for four in the Tide’s first four drives.
Jalen Milroe was a man possessed in those first four drives that jump off the stat sheet.
- 8 plays, 70 yards, Milroe 7-yard rushing TD
- 6 plays, 84 yards, Jam Miller 16-yard TD catch from Milroe
- 3 plays, 22 yards, Germie Bernard 7-yard rushing TD (following INT)
- 6 plays, 67 yards, Milroe 36-yard rushing TD
Alabama was outgaining Georgia 258-27 at that point as a mercy rule began to feel necessary. It was frankly stunning. These two are addicted to playing classics but Alabama looked like it was on another level after taking that 28-0 lead. It was more physical, disciplined, better coached… all of it.
So credit goes to Georgia for not only making this a game, but nearly stealing it.
Guts were on full display converting all five fourth downs it attempted.
The context of its first one is important to remember because it spoke to just how dire things looked for the visitors Saturday night. Alabama led 30-7 early in the third quarter when Georgia opted against punting on fourth-and-1 from its own 29. Get stuffed and Alabama’s a play away from making it 37-7 and we’d be throwing dirt on the Kirby Smart era.
It was the first of three fourth-downs Georgia converted ON ITS SIDE of the 50 on that game-shifting drive. It ended after 15 plays that covered 80 yards and a scoreboard that read Alabama 30, Georgia 15.
The Bulldogs next three touchdown drives got more efficient as the time ticked down and the Alabama nightmare was creeping into reality.
- 6 plays, 80 yards, 1:46 off the clock
- 4 plays, 78 yards, 1:35
- 1 play, 67 yards, 11 seconds. Georgia leads.
From down 33-15 at the 9:46 mark in the fourth quarter to up 34-33 with 2:31 left was arguably more impressive than Alabama’s early-game outburst.
It proved both teams could land serious punches against the elite (and what happens when both struggle). They took turns with explosive scoring moments which created the need to separate a winner and loser.
The difference, you could argue, was the four turnovers Georgia lost. Of course, the game-sealing interception is easily identified but the first-quarter pick was crucial. On a night of long drives and home run swings, it was an anomaly as Alabama cashed in on a rare short field.
That 22-yard scoring drive stands out on the chart since none of the other combined nine touchdown marches spanned less than 67 yards.
It was the statistical outlier and the seven-point difference when the dust settled.
The same could be said about the other SEC game in the state on Saturday with considerably different stakes.
If Auburn hadn’t learned the power of the turnover, the game-changing power of one mistake exposed the Tigers again.
We learned Auburn’s margin for error is razor-thin after building a 21-10 fourth-quarter lead only to see an old nightmare replay itself.
We learned Payton Thorne could play three outstanding quarters but the inability to land the kill shot left Auburn primed for disaster.
We learned it doesn’t take four interceptions to ruin an afternoon.
Just one.
The 63-yard Pick-6 tossed to Kip Lewis with 4:06 to play spoiled what was almost a statement of a day for the once-benched Thorne. For moments, he looked like a classic Hugh Freeze quarterback. He flicked touchdown passes of 31 yards to KeAndre Lambert-Smith and 48 yards to Malcolm Simmons.
The lead was 21-10 after his 1-yard throw to tight end Luke Deal in the first minute of the fourth quarter. There was hope the disjointed September would end on a high note but spooky season’s early arrival continued.
The 15th lost turnover in five games was the dagger that turned a 21-16 lead into a 24-21 deficit 63 yards after the Sooner LB stepped into traffic and stole Thorne’s biggest mistake of the day.
We learned Auburn needs near perfection when playing a team with similar talent.
And turnovers kill.
Fitting that Georgia and Auburn meet next Saturday as the Bulldog playoff rehab begins and the Tigers march to bowl ineligibility looks more and more possible.
What else we learned on Saturday
— No. 1 Texas looked human for stretches of its 35-13 win over arguably the worst team in the SEC. Mississippi State (1-4) trailed just 14-6 at halftime as Texas scored in the final minute to get some breathing room. Arch Manning still finished an impressive 26-for-31 for 324 yards and two scores but this wasn’t the rout we expected in the Longhorns first week atop the polls.
— Lane Kiffin is still Lane Kiffin.
— But seriously, Kentucky’s defense is the real deal. It shut down the offenses of two top-10 teams in consecutive SEC games, limiting Georgia to 13 points and Ole Miss to 17.
— The top teams in the other two power conferences strengthened the SEC and Big Ten’s case to break away. No. 7 Miami of the ACC came a fingernail from blowing it in a 38-34 win over a Virginia Tech team that lost to Vanderbilt on opening week. Then No. 10 Utah, the toast of the Big 12 lost 23-10 to Arizona.
— In the Big Ten, Ohio State continues demolishing everything in its way. A 38-7 win over Michigan State spotlighted Ryan Williams’ Midwest competition. Buckeye freshman WR Jeremiah Smith had a few circus catches on a 5-catch, 83-yard night.
Michael Casagrande is a reporter for the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @ByCasagrande or on Facebook.
