Alabama
These were Alabama’s 10 fastest-shrinking cities in 2023
Most of the fastest-shrinking Alabama cities in 2023 were in the Birmingham metro area – continuing the trend of a declining population around what was long the state’s largest city.
But the Jefferson County cities aren’t losing population as fast as Selma, the Black Belt’s iconic civil rights town, which was the fastest-shrinking city from 2022 to 2023, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
From July 1, 2022 to July 1, 2023, Selma lost 341 residents, bringing its official population estimate to 16,666. That’s a decline of 2% in a single year – the largest drop among Alabama cities with more than 10,000 residents.
The second fastest-shrinking city, Center Point, saw a 1.1% decrease. Located in Jefferson County, Center Point is now home to 15,705.
Six other cities in Jefferson County, home of Birmingham, were among the 10 fastest-shrinking. The city of Birmingham lost 243 people in a single year and now has 196,444 residents. But Montgomery is shrinking much faster. And Birmingham slipped ahead of Montgomery at this latest count and is once again the second most populous city in Alabama. For now.
Like Birmingham, both Mobile and Montgomery shrank in population. Mobile lost 695 people and Montgomery dropped 1,657, to fall behind Birmingham. However, Mobile recently voted to add nearly 20,000 new residents to the city limits. At this time next year, when the next federal estimates come out, Mobile will officially be the second largest city in Alabama.
Huntsville, the most populous city in Alabama, grew by 3,534 residents from 2022-2023 for a total population of 225,564.
(Can’t see the chart? Click here.)
While Alabama saw population decreases in the Black Belt and three of the four major cities – the state’s beach and college towns grew rapidly.
- Selma -2% The Dallas County city now has a total population of 16,666 after losing 341 residents in 2023.
- Center Point -1.1% Jefferson County’s fastest-shrinking city lost 175 people in 2023 bringing the total population to 15,705.
- Alexander City -1% Located in Tallapoosa County, the city now has 14,470 residents. In 2023, it lost 150 people.
- Bessemer -1% Also in Jefferson County, the North Birmingham city lost 251 residents, bringing the total population to 25,037
- Hueytown -.9% Another Jefferson County city to dwindle in population, Hueytown lost 154 people in 2023. The city now has a population of 16,202.
- Mountain Brook -.9% The affluent city now has a population of 21,737 after losing 204 residents.
- Montgomery -.8% Alabama’s capital city lost 1,657 people in 2023 and now has a population of 195,287.
- Gardendale -.7% Another Jefferson County city to see a decline, Gardendale lost 117 residents for a 2023 population of 16,096.
- Vestavia Hills -.7% Vestavia’s population of 38,020 came after the city lost 266 in 2023.
- Eufaula – .7% Located in southeastern Barbour County, Eufaula lost 84 people for a population of 12,451.
See if your city grew from 2022 to 2023.
(Can’t see the map? Click here.)
Alabama
Alabama vs. Georgia live updates: Start time, TV channel for SEC championship
Is Kalen DeBoer’s record the key to Alabama beating Georgia?
Is Kalen DeBoer’s undefeated record against Georgia the key to Alabama’s SEC title win?
Georgia football will look for revenge when it rematches Alabama in the SEC championship game.
Bulldogs coach Kirby Smart has a 1-7 record against the Crimson Tide, though, including an 0-2 mark against second-year Crimson Tide coach Kalen DeBoer. Smart was 1-5 against former Alabama coach Nick Saban, whom he coached under as a defensive coordinator from 2008-15.
Watch the SEC championship game on Fubo (free trial)
Alabama upset Georgia 24-21 on the road in their last outing on Sept. 27. Both teams also still have plenty to play for in the College Football Playoff race, with Alabama looking to avoid bubble status and Georgia aiming to lock up a first-round bye.
The two teams have developed a rivalry as the two most dominant teams in the SEC in the last decade, with Georgia and Alabama winning 10 of the last 11 SEC championships.
USA TODAY is bringing you live updates, scores and highlights from the game. Follow along:
Alabama vs Georgia score
| TEAM | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | FINAL |
| Georgia | — | — | — | — | — |
| Alabama | — | — | — | — | — |
Alabama vs Georgia live updates
This section will be updated.
Georgia coach Kirby Smart has a 116-20 record in 10 seasons with the Bulldogs, although seven of those losses have come against Alabama, where he was the defensive coordinator from 2008-15.
Smart has a 1-7 record against the Crimson Tide in his career, with his lone win coming in the 2021 national championship game. He’s also 0-2 against Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer.
Alabama tight end Josh Cuevas isn’t expected to play, according to ESPN. He’s listed as questionable on the SEC availability report due to a foot injury.
Cuevas, who has 30 receptions for 341 yards with four touchdowns this season, also didn’t play against Auburn or Eastern Illinois to finish the regular season. He had six receptions for 80 yards and a touchdown against Oklahoma in his last outing.
Here’s a look at the most recent SEC availability report for the SEC championship game:
Georgia
Out:
- WR Colbie Young
- TE Ethan Barbour
- RB Bo Walker
- DB Kyron Jones
- DL Jordan Hall
- OL Drew Bobo
Questionable
Alabama
Out
- DB Kameron Howard
- LB Kelby Collins
- LB Jah-Marien Latham
- DB Dre Kirkpatrick Jr.
- DL LT Overton
- RB Kevin Riley
- OL Mal Waldrep Jr.
- DL Jeremiah Beaman
Questionable
- RB Jam Miller
- OL Kam Dewberry
- TE Josh Cuevas
- TE Danny Lewis Jr.
What time does Alabama vs Georgia start?
- Date: Saturday, Dec. 6
- Time: 4 p.m. ET
- Where: Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta)
Alabama vs Georgia will kick off at 4 p.m. ET on Saturday, Dec. 6 from Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
What TV channel is Alabama vs Georgia on today?
The SEC championship game between Alabama and Georgia will be broadcast on ABC. Streaming options for the game include Fubo, which carries ABC and offers a free trial to new subscribers.
Alabama vs Georgia predictions, picks, odds
Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Friday, Dec. 5.
- Spread: Georgia (-2.5)
- Over/under: 47.5
- Moneyline: Georgia -140 | Alabama +115
Austin Curtright, USA TODAY Sports: Smart wins his second game ever against Alabama as Georgia’s head coach, getting revenge on the Crimson Tide to lock up a top-four seed in the CFP. Alabama falls to bubble status, hoping BYU doesn’t beat Texas Tech in the Big 12 championship game to potentially steal a bid from the Crimson Tide.
Alabama football schedule 2025
Here’s a look at Alabama’s schedule in 2025, including past scores.
- Saturday, Aug. 30: Florida State 31, Alabama 17
- Saturday, Sept. 6: Alabama 73, UL Monroe 0
- Saturday, Sept. 13: Alabama 38, Wisconsin 14
- Saturday, Sept. 20: BYE
- Saturday, Sept. 27: Alabama 24, Georgia 21 *
- Saturday, Oct. 4: Alabama 30, Vanderbilt 14 *
- Saturday, Oct. 11: Alabama 27, Missouri 24 *
- Saturday, Oct. 18: Alabama 37, Tennessee 20 *
- Saturday, Oct. 25: Alabama 29, South Carolina 22 *
- Saturday, Nov. 1: BYE
- Saturday, Nov. 8: Alabama 20, LSU 9 *
- Saturday, Nov. 15: Oklahoma 23, Alabama 21 *
- Saturday, Nov. 22: Alabama 56, Eastern Illinois 0
- Saturday, Nov. 29: Alabama 27, Auburn 20 *
- Saturday, Dec. 6: Alabama vs Georgia | ABC, 4 p.m. ET **
* – denotes SEC game
** – denotes SEC championships game
Georgia football schedule 2025
Here’s a look at Georgia’s schedule in 2025, including past scores.
- Saturday, Aug. 30: Georgia 45, Marshall 7
- Saturday, Sept. 6: Georgia 28, Austin Peay 6
- Saturday, Sept. 13: Georgia 44, Tennessee 41 (OT) *
- Saturday, Sept. 20: BYE
- Saturday, Sept. 27: Alabama 24, Georgia 21 *
- Saturday, Oct. 4: Georgia 35, Kentucky 14 *
- Saturday, Oct. 11: Georgia 20, Auburn 10 *
- Saturday, Oct. 18: Georgia 43, Mississippi 35 *
- Saturday, Oct. 25: BYE
- Saturday, Nov. 1: Georgia 24, Florida 20 *
- Saturday, Nov. 8: Georgia 41, Mississippi State 21 *
- Saturday, Nov. 15: Georgia 35, Texas 10 *
- Saturday, Nov. 22: Georgia 35, Charlotte 3
- Saturday, Nov. 29: Georgia 16, Georgia Tech 9
- Saturday, Dec. 6: Alabama vs Georgia | ABC, 4 p.m. ET **
* – denotes SEC game
** – denotes SEC championships game
Alabama
SEC Championship injury updates: Alabama vs. Georgia Friday availability report revealed
It’s the night before the SEC Championship in Atlanta, with us once again set to see a matchup of Alabama vs. Georgia. And now, ahead of kickoff tomorrow afternoon in Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the final availability report of the season is out from the Southeastern Conference for both the Crimson Tide and the Bulldogs.
The SEC posts injury reports three days out from league games, including this as the conference title game. An initial one is released on Wednesdays, with updates to it coming on Thursday and Fridays.
Here is that final update to the report for Alabama and Georgia ahead of the SEC Championship. Both teams playing for a title as well as for their respective spots in the College Football Playoff:
Alabama
Georgia
Alabama made one addition to their designations from Wednesday to Thursday, with Collins now being officially labeled out as well, with two-thirds of their names on the report from last night being already unavailable for the game, for the Tide. Four then remained questionable for ‘Bama, with all of those being among the key names offensively for them like Miller, Cuevas, and Dewberry.
Georgia then also made one addition to their designations, with Branch, one of their top players in the secondary, added as questionable on Thursday to bring it to seven names for the Bulldogs. The other six, though, namely Young, Jones, Hall, and Bobo, were already labeled as out for UGA.
Alabama
SEC Championship game: Alabama vs. Georgia prediction, keys to game
Is Kalen DeBoer’s record the key to Alabama beating Georgia?
Is Kalen DeBoer’s undefeated record against Georgia the key to Alabama’s SEC title win?
Georgia vs. Alabama in Atlanta for the SEC Championship. Not bad.
The big storyline entering Saturday’s game is whether Alabama is in the College Football Playoff regardless of outcome. Alabama is ninth in the latest CFP rankings and previous history says losing in conference title games may not come with a penalty by the committee. However, Alabama would likely fall out of the at-large mix with a lopsided loss.
Alabama won the first meeting 24-21 back in September, the first of four wins in a row against ranked SEC opponents. But the Tide scuffled through November while Georgia answered the bell with wins against Texas and Georgia Tech.
Here’s what you need to know about Saturday’s game and who we think will win:
SEC Championship game: Alabama vs Georgia
- Records: Alabama (10-2), Georgia (11-1)
- Time/TV: Saturday, 4 p.m., ABC
- Where: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
SEC Championship game predictions
- Georgia 31, Alabama 24: Did Alabama peak too soon? The Crimson Tide got on a roll that started with their win at Georgia in September, but they didn’t look their best in a November loss to Oklahoma and a clunky Iron Bowl win at Auburn. Much like the first matchup, this rematch could come down to the quarterbacks. Ty Simpson won the battle in Round 1. I’ll take Gunner Stockton in the sequel, with an assist from Georgia’s improving defense. — Blake Toppmeyer
- Georgia 23, Alabama 16: If it doesn’t happen now for Kirby Smart and Georgia, if the Dawgs don’t finally, and forcefully eliminate the Alabama problem against a Tide team running on fumes, then what? This isn’t the same elite Georgia of years past on either side of the ball, and the Dawgs could have lost three games this season. They also could be unbeaten, but for a strange fourth down decision/play call in September against You Know Who. The Georgia defense dictates this game. ― Matt Hayes
- Georgia 28, Alabama 14: Alabama hasn’t looked like the best team in the SEC since October, if ever. The Tide were the better team in the matchup in Athens earlier this year. But there’s no way to look at the team that struggled against South Carolina and LSU, lost to Oklahoma and then barely beat Auburn in the Iron Bowl and think it has a real shot at stopping Georgia’s march back to the top the conference. — Paul Myerberg
SEC Championship game betting odds
Odds via BetMGM, as of Dec. 5
- Spread: Georgia (-2.5)
- Over/under: 47.5
- Moneyline: Georgia (-140)
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