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Bonus notes, observations from a second viewing of Alabama win over Georgia

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Bonus notes, observations from a second viewing of Alabama win over Georgia


We’re back.

Loyal readers might remember this weekly Sunday series from my time as a beat writer covering Alabama. It went on hiatus after moving into a new role last spring but we dust it off on special occasions.

So here’s the Sunday DVR rewind of Alabama’s 41-34 win over Georgia. For the uninitiated, this was a series to go back and clean up the notes we missed watching the game in real-time at the stadium. Sometimes, the TV copy of the game can add context to what we saw, and instead of wasting these notes, we just ran them for the whole internet to read.

So here we go, the stream-of-consciousness note-taking as we watch this one a second time.

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— Coming out, I was expecting to see a Georgia team with its hair on fire after a full offseason to think about what Alabama stole from it in last season’s SEC title game. I was clearly wrong.

— From the first play, I was surprised to see how Georgia was playing Ryan Williams. The CBs were lined up well off the ball, allowing a free release for a quick 8-yard gain on the game’s first play.

— Running back Jam Miller threw some impressive blocks several times. He’s a powerful back who got just five carries but made his impact in other ways. It’s worth pointing out Alabama RBs got just 11 carries while Jalen Milroe ran it 16 times.

— It’s hard to explain the wiggle and burst that Milroe has in the running game. He makes rushers miss with phonebooth moves and the next gear burst in the open field is unlike almost any QB I remember seeing.

— Alabama overcame three penalties on the first drive to score the first touchdown Georgia allowed in its fourth game. The Tide set the tone physically and with a great game plan.

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— It was clear Georgia was testing Alabama’s young secondary early and often after seeing how many open WRs were missed by the Tide’s first three opponents. It didn’t work early. Then it did later.

— I remember watching this in real time so I checked the stats. Carson Beck looked like he had plenty of time to operate when throwing the ball 50 times. He was sacked three times while Alabama was credited with just two QB hurries. I thought affecting Beck was going to be a big factor in the game and the fact he had time was crucial in the comeback later.

— Ryan Williams gains seven or eight extra yards (it seems) every catch with his footwork. He’s like a dancer out there with his footwork.

— It was interesting watching the TV version of Milroe’s TD pass to Jam Miller to make it 14-0. The camera angle didn’t do that throw justice but our angle in the press box did. We were right on the line of the throw that Milroe had to throw so far ahead of the RB to bend around the pursuing linebacker. That thing went through a window barely bigger than the ball, nearly kissing the LB’s helmet before landing in Miller’s breadbasket. I thought you could argue that was among the best of Milroe’s throws at Alabama, even more impressive for Miller to haul that in as a RB and not a WR.

— The third-down play on the following Georgia drive was among the most important in the game. The crowd was a factor here too. Down in the Alabama student section end, Beck tried to change the call at the line seeing Alabama had more pass rushers than they had blockers. Well the WRs didn’t get the message, Kirby Smart said after the game. Alabama DB Domani Jackson sniffed it the whole way, stepping in for an INT that changed the game. The Tide had the shortest field of the game and it cashed in. Suddenly 21-0 and the first quarter wasn’t even over.

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— Alabama CJ Dippre had an impressive game catching passes where he’s been almost primarily a blocker. He had four receptions for 38 yards.

— The most surprising thing to me early in the second quarter was the trick plays Alabama tried. It was gashing the Dawgs the traditional way before trying two tricks in three plays. The first was stopped for a one-yards loss on a WR pass that Kendrick Law ultimately ate.

— The fourth Alabama TD was a message. Jam Miller took the helmet off LB Jalon Walker as Milroe somehow turned a corner and dashed upfield for the 36-yard score. Taking you behind the scenes, that play was the subject of the opening few paragraphs of a column that never saw the light of day. The way the game changed meant scrapping that lede, but here’s what you would have seen:

Jalon Walker took a knee in the dark, helmet-less looking stunned.

The Bryant-Denny Stadium lights strobed as its seating bowl pulsed in perhaps the most stunning moment on a baffling night at the center of the universe.

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The Georgia linebacker had just been separated from his headgear as Alabama QB Jalen Milroe made a cut and dashed upfield. His 36-yard run gave the Crimson Tide a fourth touchdown on four possessions but it was the helmet-rattling block on the Bulldog ’backer that was the insult to the injury.

— Alabama had a 258-27 yardage advantage after taking that 28-0 lead that was clearly as good as it would get for the home team. The Tide ultimately finished with a narrow edge (547-519).

— There was serious whiplash from Alabama getting stuffed on fourth down late in the half, followed directly by Beck’s second INT of the half thrown to LB Jihaad Campbell. He made an impressive play on the ball for a linebacker but that was wasted when Dippre batted a Milroe pass into the air for the first INT of the year (compared to 10 TDs).

— Was impressed with Alabama’s sell-out blitz that led to the intentional grounding safety three plays after the INT. They sent EIGHT pass rushers at Beck. Robinson and Koht sandwiched the QB because Georgia just didn’t have enough blockers to stop eight blitzers.

— Totally forgot about the failed flea flicker late in the half when Alabama was driving up 30-7 before halftime. It lost eight yards on 2nd-and-5 from the 40. The Tide ultimately punted when there was blood in the water.

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— Can only imagine how Saban would’ve handled a post-half unsportsmanlike penalty like the one Alabama got with a dust up going to halftime.

— I remember thinking the third-down sack of Beck on the first drive of the second half was huge. It forced a three-and-out when Georgia was in desperate need of momentum.

— The level of desperation peaked on the next Bulldog drive down 30-7. Georgia went for it on three fourth downs on its own side of the 50. That included plays at the 29, 37 and 46. Getting stuffed on any and Alabama has a short field and a play from making it 37-7. Impressive play under pressure to keep this game competitive.

— Malachi Moore played with an edge all night.

— A stat of note, Alabama defenders were credited with nine pass break-ups. Moore and DeVonta Smith led with two apiece.

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— To show how quickly this game changed, Georgia was behind the 50 down 30-7 with 5:45 left in the third quarter. It would come all the way back to take the lead in just over 17 football minutes.

— What more could be said about this insane Ryan Williams catch. Here it is. Watch it again.

— It’s crazy to think Alabama brought in Graham Nicholson, the reigning Lou Groza Award winner, and his first field goal came late in the third quarter of his fourth game. And the 28-yarder barely missed the upright to make it 33-14 with 1:23 left. Again, it was a three-score lead with just over a quarter to play.

— Georgia outgained Alabama 275-115 in the fourth quarter with 75 of those Tide yards coming on the game-winning touchdown pass to Williams.

— Alabama defenders started to looked gassed in the fourth quarter, just as Georgia hit another gear and scored three straight touchdowns.

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— Just noticed Ryan Williams did the Dirty Bird dance after scoring the game-winning TD.

— A stat that was huge: Georgia was 1-for-3 on 2-point conversions. Alabama was 1-for-1.

Michael Casagrande is a reporter for the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @ByCasagrande or on Facebook.





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IU football game 14: Early facts, odds, projections, details vs. Alabama

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IU football game 14: Early facts, odds, projections, details vs. Alabama


Three wins to a national title.

Every game from here out is the biggest in IU football history.

In a national quarterfinal matchup, the No. 1 Hoosiers (13-0) will face No. 9 Alabama (11-3) on Thursday, Jan. 1 at 4 p.m. ET at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. (ESPN).  The game marks the first ever meeting of these programs.

Indiana and Alabama could not have more different histories.

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Alabama claims 18 national titles and 30 conference championships, while IU has never won a national title and can claim just three league titles.  Alabama has the third-most wins in college football history, while the Hoosiers have the second-most losses.

But while the game is a historical mismatch, Indiana will take the field as the favorite.

Most sports books have IU as a 6.5 to 7-point favorite over the Crimson Tide in The Rose Bowl.

In the analytical models, ESPN’s Football Power Index gives No. 1 Indiana a 71.4% chance to beat No. 8 Alabama.  ESPN’s SP+ likes No. 2 Indiana over No. 15 Alabama by 13.1 points.

Alabama played five games against teams currently ranked in the CFP Top-25:  Two games against Georgia and Oklahoma, and a game against Vanderbilt.  The Tide went 3-2 in those games.

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FPI says Alabama played the sixth-hardest schedule this season, while IU played the 28th most difficult.  Meanwhile IU has the No. 1 strength of record, and Alabama No. 10.

The lone common opponent for Indiana and Alabama is Wisconsin, a team both the Hoosiers and Crimson Tide beat on their respective home fields by 24 points.

Alabama is led by head coach Kalen DeBoer, who is in his second season in charge in Tuscaloosa.  DeBoer is 20-7 in his two seasons at Alabama, and 124-19 overall as a head coach.  He and former IU quarterback Michael Penix, Jr. led Washington to the national championship game in 2023.

DeBoer is one of several members of the Alabama coaching staff who were once coaches at Indiana.

DeBoer was the IU offensive coordinator in 2019.  Crimson Tide quarterbacks coach Nick Sheridan was at IU from 2017-2021 and was offensive coordinator the last two years.  Defensive coordinator Kane Wommack was at IU from 2018-2020 and defensive coordinator the last two years.  Defensive backs coach Jason Jones was the IU safeties coach from 2020-2022.  And strength coach David Ballou is an IU alumnus and was the IU strength coach from 2018-2020.

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Alabama is No. 39 nationally in scoring offense, putting up 31.4 points per contest.  Indiana is the nation’s No. 2 scoring defense at 10.8 points allowed per game.

The Crimson Tide are No. 13 in scoring defense, allowing just 17.9 an outing.  IU is No. 4 in scoring offense at 41.9 points per contest.  The most points scored by any team against Alabama this season was 31 by Florida State in a season-opening loss.

6-foot-2 junior quarterback Ty Simpson has completed 64.1 % of his throws for 3,500 yards, with 28 touchdowns and just five interceptions.  Including sacks, he has rushed for just 76 yards and two touchdowns this season.

PFF grades Alabama as having the No. 31 offense, the No. 14 defense, and the No. 22 special teams in the country.

The weather shouldn’t be a factor in this game.  Rain is rare in Southern California this time of year, and the temperature should be pleasant.  The current long-term forecast calls for partly cloudy skies and a high of 67 degrees.  We’ll check back on this as the game gets closer.

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We will of course have much more on this game in the days to come.

TICKETS AND PARKING

The game is sold out.

If you are looking for tickets and/or parking, consider using our StubHub affiliate links at no additional cost to you:

  • For game tickets via StubHub:  TICKETS
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THE UPDATED CFP BRACKET

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For complete coverage of IU football, GO HERE.


The Daily Hoosier –“Where Indiana fans assemble when they’re not at Assembly”



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January 1 Indiana vs. Alabama Rose Bowl tickets, game time, TV channel

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January 1 Indiana vs. Alabama Rose Bowl tickets, game time, TV channel


In the quarterfinals of the College Football Playoff, the No. 2 Indiana Hoosiers (13-0) will play the No. 10 Alabama Crimson Tide (11-3) in the Rose Bowl, starting at 4 p.m. ET in Pasadena, California. Indiana is favored by 7 points.

Learn how to get tickets to the Hoosiers vs. Crimson Tide matchup.

Shop Alabama football tickets at StubHub

Indiana vs. Alabama tickets for sale

Indiana vs. Alabama location, livestream, TV channel

  • When: Thursday, January 1, 2026 at 4 p.m. ET
  • Location: Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California
  • TV: ESPN
  • Live stream: Watch LIVE with Fubo! (Regional restrictions may apply)

Indiana leaders

  • Fernando Mendoza has 2,980 yards through the air (229.2 per game) and a 71.5% completion percentage (226-for-316), pitching 33 touchdown passes and six interceptions. He also has 240 rushing yards on 69 carries (with six touchdowns).
  • Roman Hemby has run for a team-high 918 yards (70.6 per game) and tallied six touchdowns.
  • So far this season Kaelon Black has rushed for 798 yards (61.4 per game), with seven touchdowns.
  • Omar Cooper Jr. has grabbed 59 passes for a team-high 828 yards plus 11 touchdowns. He averages 63.7 receiving yards per game.
  • Elijah Sarratt has been targeted 73 times and added 663 yards (on 50 catches) plus 12 touchdowns.
  • Charlie Becker has caught 26 passes on 35 targets for 515 yards and two touchdowns.

Indiana schedule and tickets

Indiana vs. Wisconsin

  • Date: 11/15/2025
  • Score: W 31-7
  • Home/Away: Home
  • Tickets: StubHub

Indiana vs. Purdue

  • Date: 11/28/2025
  • Score: W 56-3
  • Home/Away: Away
  • Tickets: StubHub

Indiana vs. Ohio State

  • Date: 12/6/2025
  • Score: W 13-10
  • Home/Away: Away
  • Tickets: StubHub

Next game: Indiana vs. Alabama

  • Date: 1/1/2026
  • Home/Away: Home
  • Spread: -7
  • Tickets: StubHub

Shop Indiana football tickets at StubHub

Alabama leaders

  • Ty Simpson has thrown for 3,500 yards while completing 64.1% of his passes, with 28 touchdowns and five interceptions (250.0 yards per game).
  • Jamarion Miller has run for a team-high 504 yards on 130 attempts (50.4 yards per game) and three touchdowns.
  • Daniel Hill has 271 yards on 70 carries (24.6 yards per game), with six rushing touchdowns. He also has 21 catches for 198 yards and one touchdown.
  • Germie Bernard has racked up 60 catches for 802 yards, best on his team, and seven touchdowns. He averages 61.7 receiving yards per game.
  • Ryan Williams has chipped in with 43 catches for 636 yards and four touchdowns this year. He has been targeted 70 times, and averages 53.0 receiving yards.
  • Isaiah Horton has caught 40 passes on 58 targets for 495 yards and eight touchdowns.

Alabama schedule and tickets

Alabama vs. Auburn

  • Date: 11/29/2025
  • Score: W 27-20
  • Home/Away: Away
  • Tickets: StubHub

Alabama vs. Georgia

  • Date: 12/6/2025
  • Score: L 28-7
  • Home/Away: Home
  • Tickets: StubHub

Alabama vs. Oklahoma

  • Date: 12/19/2025
  • Score: W 34-24
  • Home/Away: Away
  • Tickets: StubHub

Next game: Alabama vs. Indiana

  • Date: 1/1/2026
  • Home/Away: Away
  • Spread: -7
  • Tickets: StubHub

Shop Alabama football tickets at StubHub

Watch college football on Fubo!

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LOOK: Alabama football celebrates comeback win over Oklahoma in CFP

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LOOK: Alabama football celebrates comeback win over Oklahoma in CFP


The Alabama Crimson Tide are headed back to the Rose Bowl for the College Football Playoff.

One hundred years after Alabama football’s first appearance in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1, 1926, the Tide will face No. 1 Indiana (13-0) in the CFP quarterfinals in Pasadena on New Year’s Day.

Alabama (11-3) rallied from a 17-0 first-half deficit to win its first-round playoff game, 34-24, against the Oklahoma Sooners (10-3) Friday night at Memorial Stadium in Norman.

Ty Simpson threw two touchdown passes to freshman receiver Lotzeir Brooks, cornerback Zabien Brown had a 50-yard interception return for touchdown, and Daniel Hill capped the scoring with a 6-yard touchdown run as the Tide closed the game by out-scoring Oklahoma 34-7 over the final 36:52.

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Conor Talty added two clutch field goals in Alabama’s win, its 10th victory overall in the College Football Playoff since 2014, and its first since the Crimson Tide defeated the Cincinnati Bearcats, 27-6, in the Cotton Bowl on New Year’s Eve 2021.

After Alabama’s rally, Tide players did some celebrating on the Sooners’ field.

Alabama football celebrates on Sooners’ home field after CFP win over Oklahoma

More Alabama football photos from thrilling CFP win over Oklahoma

Alabama football schedule 2025

  • Aug. 30: at Florida State (L, 31-17)
  • Sept. 6: vs. UL Monroe (W, 73-0)
  • Sept. 13: vs. Wisconsin (W, 38-14)
  • Sept. 27: at Georgia (W, 24-21)
  • Oct. 4: vs. Vanderbilt (W, 30-14)
  • Oct. 11: at Missouri (W, 27-24)
  • Oct. 18: vs. Tennessee (W, 37-20)
  • Oct. 25: at South Carolina (W, 29-22)
  • Nov. 8: vs. LSU (W, 20-9)
  • Nov. 15: vs. Oklahoma (L, 23-21)
  • Nov. 22 vs. Eastern Illinois (W, 56-0)
  • Nov. 29: at Auburn (W, 27-20)
  • Dec. 6: vs. Georgia (L, 28-7)
  • Dec. 19: at Oklahoma (W, 34-24)
  • Jan. 1: vs. Indiana (CFP quarterfinals, Rose Bowl)

Follow us at @RollTideWire on X and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Alabama Crimson Tide news, notes and opinions.





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