| First meeting | November 2, 1895 Georgia, 30–6 |
|---|---|
| Latest meeting | September 27, 2025 Alabama, 24–21 |
| Next meeting | 2026 |
| Statistics | |
| Meetings total | 75 |
| All-time series | Alabama leads, 45–26–4[1] |
| Largest victory | Alabama, 36–0 (1905, 1923) |
| Longest win streak | Alabama, 7 (2008–2021) |
| Current win streak | Alabama, 3 (2023–present) |
TheAlabama–Georgia football rivalry is acollege footballrivalry[2][3] game between theCrimson Tide of theUniversity of Alabama and theBulldogs of theUniversity of Georgia. The two bordering state schools were charter members of theSoutheastern Conference (SEC) in 1933 and played every season from 1944 to 1965.[4][5] Despite no longer playing annually, Alabama and Georgia have met in several nationally important matchups in the twenty-first century, including four SEC championship games and two College Football Playoff national championship games since 2010, bringing the rivalry back into national prominence.
The twosouthern schools first met in 1895 inColumbus, Georgia.[6] Georgia defeated Alabama by a score of 30–6.[7] The teams did not meet again until 1901, another Georgia win, then continued to meet on a regular basis for the next several decades.[8][9][10]
The teams played each other in every season from 1944 to 1965. Highlights of that era included two separate five-game winning streaks by Alabama and the first-ever college football game to be televised by theABC network, Alabama's 21–6 win in 1960 inBirmingham.[11]
In 1963,The Saturday Evening Post magazine reported that Alabama coachPaul "Bear" Bryant and Georgia athletic director and former coachWally Butts had conspired to fix the 1962 game, which Alabama won 35–0. After the story broke, Butts resigned as athletic director, though Butts and Bryant denied the allegations. The two sued the magazine's publisher forlibel, and the case reached theUnited States Supreme Court asCurtis Publishing Co. v. Butts (1967). The Supreme Court ruled in favor of Butts, with the publisher eventually being ordered to pay more than $3 million in damages. The lawsuit has been credited with leading to the end of the magazine.[11]
Following the scandal, the schools decided to end their annual series after the 1965 meeting, which the Bulldogs won 18–17 on a last-second controversial flea-flicker touchdown.[12] They have played only sporadically since, including just four meetings from 1971 to 1982, an era in which the Tide or Bulldogs won at least a share of every SEC title.[11]
When the SEC expanded to twelve teams and split into two divisions in 1992, Alabama was placed in the West Division, while Georgia was in the East. Each team in the league was matched with two "permanent" cross-division rivals. Because Alabama and Georgia were not paired as permanent rivals, they would play only on a rotating basis (twice in an eight-year cycle) or in the newly createdSEC Championship Game.[13]
Later scheduling modifications, as well as the SEC's expansion to 14 teams, have resulted in just one permanent cross-division rival for each team, with Alabama playingTennessee as part of theThird Saturday in October, and Georgia facing off againstAuburn in theDeep South's Oldest Rivalry.[14] The Crimson Tide and Bulldogs now saw each other in the regular season only twice per 12-year cycle.[15]
From 1992 to 2011, Alabama and Georgia met six times, with each team winning three games each. Notable matchups included the 2007 and 2008 matchups, which were both featured onCollege GameDay. The 2007 matchup featured #22 Georgia narrowly defeating #16 Alabama 26–23 in overtime in Tuscaloosa. The 2008 matchup would feature #8 Alabama upsetting #3 Georgia 41–30 in Athens.
Since 1992, Alabama holds a 9–4 record over Georgia, which includes five post-season contests, including three SEC Championship Games won by Alabama and two College Football Playoff National Championship appearances split between the two teams.[16] Many of the recent Alabama-Georgia matchups have been between highly ranked teams, with the regular-season matchups in 2007 and 2008 hosting . In 2007, #16 Georgia beat #23 Alabama in Overtime, 26–23. #8 Alabama won the 2008 matchup in Athens, a 41–30 upset over #3 Georgia.
By 2012, both Georgia and Alabama had seen successes under head coachesMark Richt andNick Saban, respectively. The teams' first postseason meeting came in the2012 SEC Championship Game, with the winner advancing to play for the national championship, as Alabama and Georgia were ranked #2 and #3 respectively.[17] #2 Alabama defeated #3 Georgia, 32–28, after Georgia's final play fell five yards short of a winning score.[18]
Mark Richt was dismissed as Georgia's head coach at the end of the2015 season, and Georgia hired Alabama defensive coordinator and former Georgia playerKirby Smart to replace him. Smart quickly returned Georgia to national prominence, and in2017, Georgia won theSEC Championship over Auburn and advanced to the national championship, where they would meet Smart's former boss Nick Saban.[19][20]
In the2018 College Football Playoff National Championship, Alabama overcame a 13-point deficit to defeat Georgia by a score of 26–23 in overtime, clinching its 17th national championship in program history. Alabama's win marked the first time in college football history that a program had won the national championship game despite not having the lead the entire game.[21][22]
Thefollowing season, the teams played in the2018 SEC Championship Game. #4 Georgia led 28–14 with just over three minutes remaining in the third quarter, only to see #1 Alabama once again rally to win, 35–28. The loss would prevent Georgia from making their second-straightCollege Football Playoff appearance, and Alabama would end up losing thenational championship toClemson.[20][23][24]
The teams next met during the2020 regular season inTuscaloosa, Alabama. This was a highly anticipated game, with both teams ranked in the top three and Alabama hostingCollege GameDay. It was the first meeting in Tuscaloosa since 2007. The game was back and forth throughout the first half, and Georgia led 24–20 at halftime. In the second half, however, Alabama outscored Georgia with 21 unanswered points and won 41–24. Alabama would go on to finish with a perfect 13–0 record and win their 18th national title in program history.[25][26]
In2021, the two teams met again in theSEC Championship Game. Georgia was undefeated and ranked number one in the nation at the time while Alabama had one loss and was ranked number three. Alabama again prevailed, 41–24, this time dominating the majority of the game. Despite the loss, Georgia still qualified for theCollege Football Playoff thanks to #5 Oklahoma State losing to #9 Baylor in the Big 12 Championship, and each team prevailed in their national semifinal matchup, setting up a rematch in the national championship. This marked the shortest span between two successive matchups in the history of the teams' rivalry. Georgia won thenational championship game atLucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis 33–18 for the Bulldogs' first national championship since 1980. This was also Georgia's first win over Alabama since September 22, 2007, snapping a seven-game losing streak. Georgia's win also marked the first time since conference championship games began to be played in 1992 that a team was the AP national champion after losing its respective conference championship game in the same season.[27]
In2023, the two teams met once again for theSEC Championship Game, with #1 Georgia meeting #8 Alabama. Georgia had entered the game with a 29-game winning streak, which had started after the Bulldogs' loss to Alabama in the 2021 SEC title game. In a close game, Alabama upset Georgia, 27–24, improving to 4–0 against the Bulldogs in SEC title games. Unlike in 2021 though, Georgia would not receive an invite to the College Football Playoff, and would be denied the opportunity to win three consecutive national titles. Alabama would lose in the College Football Playoff Semifinal to Michigan.
Following the 2023 season, Alabama head coach Nick Saban would retire from coaching, leaving Alabama with a record of 8–2 against Georgia. Alabama would hireWashington head coachKalen DeBoer as Saban's replacement. In2024, the two teams were scheduled to meet in the regular season for the first time in four years. The game was advertised as another marqueeCollege GameDay matchup, with #4 Alabama hosting #2 Georgia, the seventh time in 12 years the two teams met both ranked in the top five. Georgia entered the game having not allowed a single touchdown through the first three weeks of the season, however, Alabama opened the game scoring 28 unanswered points. Georgia then answered by orchestrating a 28-point comeback, eventually leading 34–33 late in the fourth quarter. Alabama would then respond with a 75-yard, go-ahead touchdown and a subsequent interception off of Georgia to win the game, 41–34. The loss snapped Georgia's 42-game regular-season win streak.
| Alabama victories | Georgia victories | Tie games |
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As of September 27, 2025
| State | City | Games | Alabama victories | Georgia victories | Ties | Years played |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Birmingham | 26 | 13 | 11 | 2 | 1902–1916, 1924–1962, 1984 |
| Tuscaloosa | 11 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 1904, 1958, 1964–present | |
| Montgomery | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1901, 1907, 1922–23 | |
| Georgia | Athens | 21 | 14 | 7 | 0 | 1935–present |
| Atlanta | 10 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 1909, 1919–21, 2012, 2018 (2), 2019, 2021, 2023 | |
| Columbus | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1895, 1912 | |
| Indiana | Indianapolis | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2022 |
As of September 28, 2024
| Game type | Games | Alabama victories | Georgia victories | Ties |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regular Season | 69 | 40 | 25 | 4 |
| As members of theSoutheastern Conference(1931–present) | 44 | 29 | 14 | 1 |
| As members of theSouthern Conference(1921–1931) | 10 | 7 | 3 | 0 |
| As independents(until 1920) | 15 | 4 | 8 | 3 |
| SEC Championship Game | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| CFP National Championship | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Since 1936, when the AP Poll began being released continuously, the Crimson Tide and Bulldogs have met 9 times when both have been ranked in the top 5. The first instance came in 1942, with the most recent in 2024. Alabama holds a 7–2 record in these top-5 meetings.
| Year | Away team | Home team | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1942 | No. 3 Alabama | 10 | No. 2 Georgia | 21 | |
| 2012 | No. 3 Georgia | 28 | No. 2 Alabama | 32 | SEC CG |
| 2018 | No. 4 Alabama | 26 | No. 3 Georgia | 23 | 2017 NCG; OT |
| 2018 | No. 4 Georgia | 28 | No. 1 Alabama | 35 | SEC CG |
| 2020 | No. 3 Georgia | 24 | No. 2 Alabama | 41 | |
| 2021 | No. 3 Alabama | 41 | No. 1 Georgia | 24 | SEC CG |
| 2022 | No. 3 Georgia | 33 | No. 1 Alabama | 18 | 2021 NCG |
| 2024 | No. 2 Georgia | 34 | No. 4 Alabama | 41 | |
As of September 27, 2025
| Head Coach | Games | Seasons | Wins | Losses | Ties | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kalen Deboer | 2 | 2024–present | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 |
| Nick Saban | 10 | 2007–2023 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 0.833 |
| Mike Shula | 1 | 2003–2006 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.000 |
| Dennis Franchione | 1 | 2001–2002 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.000 |
| Gene Stallings | 4 | 1990–1996 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0.750 |
| Ray Perkins | 2 | 1983–1986 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0.500 |
| Bear Bryant | 12 | 1958–1982 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 0.750 |
| Jennings B. Whitworth | 3 | 1955–1957 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0.333 |
| Harold Drew | 8 | 1947–1954 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0.812 |
| Frank Thomas | 7 | 1931–1946 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0.517 |
| Wallace Wade | 8 | 1923–1930 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0.750 |
| Xen Scott | 4 | 1919–1922 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0.500 |
| Thomas Kelley | 1 | 1915–1917 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.000 |
| D.V. Graves | 3 | 1911–1914 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0.000 |
| Guy Lowman | 1 | 1910 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.000 |
| J. W. H. Pollard | 2 | 1906–1909 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0.666 |
| Jack Leavenworth | 1 | 1905 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 |
| W. A. Blount | 1 | 1903–1904 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 |
| Eli Abbott | 2 | 1893–1895, 1902 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0.000 |
| M. S. Harvey | 1 | 1901 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.500 |
| Head Coach | Games | Seasons | Wins | Losses | Ties | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kirby Smart | 8 | 2016–present | 1 | 7 | 0 | 0.125 |
| Mark Richt | 6 | 2001–2015 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0.500 |
| Ray Goff | 4 | 1989–1995 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0.250 |
| Vince Dooley | 8 | 1964–1988 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 0.375 |
| Johnny Griffith | 3 | 1961–1963 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0.000 |
| Wally Butts | 19 | 1939–1960 | 7 | 11 | 1 | 0.394 |
| Harry Mehre | 5 | 1928–1937 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0.200 |
| George Cecil Woodruff | 5 | 1923–1927 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0.200 |
| Herman Stegeman | 3 | 1920–1922 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0.666 |
| W.A. Cunningham | 6 | 1910–1916, 1919 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0.833 |
| Frank Dobson | 1 | 1909 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.000 |
| Branch Bocock | 1 | 1908 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.500 |
| George S. Whitney | 1 | 1906–1907 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.500 |
| Marvin D. Dickinson | 1 | 1903, 1905 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.000 |
| Charles A Barnard | 1 | 1904 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.000 |
| William A. Reynolds | 2 | 1901–1902 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0.750 |
| Pop Warner | 1 | 1895–1896 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 |
But the at the heart of this budding rivalry is the exact script that ended Monday night's encounter.
