ATLANTA — Alabama rallied from a 10-point halftime deficit to defeat Georgia 27-24 on Saturday night in the SEC Championship Game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Jalen Milroe passed for 192 yards and two touchdowns and ran for another score as Alabama snapped Georgia’s 29-game winning streak and secured a spot in the College Football Playoff.
Georgia led 17-7 at halftime after quarterback Carson Beck threw touchdown passes to Brock Bowers and Ladd McConkey. The Bulldogs controlled possession for much of the first half and limited Alabama to one touchdown on its first five drives.
Alabama responded early in the third quarter when Milroe capped an 11-play drive with a 2-yard touchdown run, cutting the deficit to 17-14. Reichard later tied the game with a 24-yard field goal.
The Crimson Tide took their first lead late in the third quarter when Milroe connected with Isaiah Bond on a 47-yard touchdown pass. Georgia answered early in the fourth quarter on a 51-yard field goal by Peyton Woodring to tie the score at 24-24.
Will Reichard kicked a 32-yard field goal with 3:19 remaining to give Alabama the lead. Georgia drove into Alabama territory on its final possession, but Beck’s fourth-down pass fell incomplete near midfield.
“I’m just really proud of the way our guys stayed poised,” Alabama coach Nick Saban said. “They didn’t panic, they didn’t lose belief, and they kept competing.”
Milroe said the team never doubted its ability to respond.
“We knew what kind of game it was going to be,” Milroe said. “We stayed together and kept trusting each other.”
Beck finished 21 of 29 for 243 yards and two touchdowns for Georgia, which was held scoreless in the second half.
Alabama (12-1) won its 30th SEC title and earned a berth in the College Football Playoff. Georgia (12-1) was left out of the four-team field.
