The Red & Black | SEC Championship Post Game, December 7, 2023

EXTRA EDITION | DECEMBER 7, 2023

SO CLOSE. Georgia’s three-peat dreams dashed by Alabama’s 27-24 victory

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Thursday, December 7, 2023

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In Georgia’s next opportunity, quarterback Carson Beck fumbled the ball and Alabama recovered it at Georgia’s 11-yard line.

Outside of Smith’s reception, Bowers and McConkey weren’t able to produce much.

Bowers finished with five receptions for 53 yards while McConkey had three receptions for 38 yards.

It’s been a great little streak. ... You can’t win them all at the end of the day.

K E N D A L L M I LT O N | GEORGIA RUNNING BACK

Georgia wide receiver Ladd McConkey (84) in action during the second half of the 2023 SEC Championship game between Georgia and Alabama at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023. P H O T O / L A N E Y M A R T I N

Back to the drawing board

Tide rolls to 27-24 victory in SEC championship Tori Newman Heading into halftime of the 2023 SEC Championship, Georgia fans were left with an unsettling sense of déjà vu.

An undefeated Georgia struck first, while holding its own on the defensive side of the ball. Then, a one-loss Alabama flipped the switch in the second quarter to surge ahead of the No. 1 team in the nation. Georgia never managed to make up the deficit. It

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Georgia rushed for 78 yards against Alabama, the Bulldogs’ lowest total of the season. Georgia lost 27-24.

was all eerily reminiscent of the 2021 SEC title game, which Georgia also lost.

Georgia head coach Kirby Smart now has a 1-5 record against Alabama, the university where he won his first national championship. The Bulldogs made several late pushes to get back into the game — they narrowed the deficit to three on two separate occasions during the fourth quarter — but they simply couldn’t overcome a combination of injuries, inconsistent offense and a porous rushing defense.

In Georgia’s final regular season outing against Georgia Tech, Brock Bowers, Ladd McConkey and Tate Ratledge were all sidelined. Taking on the Crimson Tide, Georgia had to do so with all three players not at full health, and receiver Rara Thomas out for another game.

McConkey was visibly not at full strength, as the redshirt junior limped off the field several times between plays. To make matters worse, offensive lineman Amarius Mims suffered a knock to the ankle

he had tightrope surgery on in September.

“It’s tough when Brock Bowers doesn’t practice for 15 days, Ladd hasn’t practiced for 15 days and they try to go out in the game,” Smart said. “Timing and rhythm is critical.”

With a banged-up offense, Georgia struggled to compare to the success of Alabama’s rushing attack. All seemed well after Kendall Milton carried for a 17-yard touchdown, but the Bulldogs couldn’t score another touchdown until 10 minutes remained in the game.

“We didn’t necessarily execute the way we were supposed to, to be cut and plain,” center Sedrick Van Pran said.

The Bulldogs struggled to convert third downs throughout the game. They went 4-for-12 on those attempts, which cut a majority of their drives short. When the offense did push the ball into Alabama territory after a 51-yard reception from Arian Smith, two incomplete looks to Bowers forced kicker Peyton Woodring out on the field.

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“Brock and Ladd man, they’ll go down as those guys [that] just battle and compete,” Smart said. “They’ve been in rehab every morning. They wanted to play so bad against Tech, and they couldn’t.”

Georgia’s rushing attack was also stifled, partly due to the unexpected shuffling of the offensive line. With Mims gone, Xavier Truss took over at right tackle after having to step in for Ratledge at right guard against Georgia Tech.

“It’s been a gruesome season, these big guys out, fighting to get back,” Beck said.

“Just like coach Smart said earlier, Ladd, Brock … guys that are going to play football for a long time, haven’t really practiced at all for the last 15 days, two weeks.”

The Crimson Tide held the Bulldogs to 78 total rushing yards, their lowest total of the season.

Georgia couldn’t stop Alabama on the ground, either. The Tide ran for 50 yards in the first quarter alone, even without starting running back Jase McClellan, who missed the game due to injury. Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe rushed for a pair of crucial first downs to seal the game in the fourth quarter, locking Georgia out of the College Football Playoff conversation.

“With how good of an athlete [Milroe] is, you know he’s a real big challenge,” linebacker Smael Mondon Jr. said. “As far as defending him, there were some plays we did good on and some plays we could’ve done better on, and then on that last drive, just gotta fit it better.”

With the loss, Georgia’s program and SEC record of 29 consecutive wins has been snapped. The streak began after the Bulldogs beat Michigan 34-11 in the 2021 Orange Bowl after a loss to Alabama in the 2021 SEC Championship.

“Any given Saturday, like this, is just top of the line college football,” Milton said.

“You can’t have them all. It’s been a great little streak, it’s been a while, but you can’t win them all at the end of the day.”

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Georgia celebrates after defeating Michigan 34-11 in the Orange Bowl in Miami Gardens, Florida, on Friday, Dec. 31, 2021. P H O T O / K A T H R Y N S K E E A N

Bulldogs by the beach Georgia heading to Miami to face Florida State in the Orange Bowl on Dec. 30 John James One more game.

Georgia has one final chance to salvage what remains of the 2023 college football season. One more opportunity to recover from the letdown in the SEC championship and put those emotions on the field, to prove to everyone — the fans, the other teams and the College Football Playoff Selection Committee as a whole — that Georgia should still be considered one of the best teams in the nation.

Florida State also has its fair share of grievances. The team will enter Miami as a 13-0 conference champion. Both other undefeated conference champions qualified for the College Football Playoff. Florida State was snubbed in favor of 12-1 Texas and 12-1 Alabama, and has to recover from that disappointment against the reigning two-time national champions.

“It’s been an emotional day,” Florida State head coach Mike Norvell said. “This is a special team that we’re going to go against. This is a team that’s really set the standard over the last few years and the work that’s gone in. I’ve got a lot of respect for coach Smart.”

The Seminoles’ primary flaw is fairly obvious. Their star quarterback, sixth-year senior Jordan Travis, suffered a broken leg in Florida State’s penultimate game of the regular season. Tate Rodemaker and Brock Glenn have each started a single game in his absence, both with lackluster results.

Rodemaker completed 12 of his 25 passes for 134 yards in a 24-15 victory over Florida, and Glenn threw for 55 yards while he completed eight of his 21 passes in a 16-6 victory over Louisville. Neither of the quarterbacks recorded a touchdown in either of their starts.

Florida State will likely need more of-

fensive production against Georgia, but if the quarterbacks can’t manage that, then the defense will need to step up. The Seminoles boast the No. 6 scoring defense in all of college football. Louisville has averaged 31 points per game this season and Florida State held the Cardinals to only six points in the Atlantic Coastal Conference championship.

The Seminoles clearly have the talent to pose a threat to the Bulldog offense, but there is uncertainty about which players will take the field in Miami. Both teams have plenty of NFL-caliber talent, but players bound for the NFL draft often sit out of bowl games to maintain their health. If that happens here, Georgia could be missing valuable pieces such as Brock Bowers, Ladd McConkey, Javon Bullard and others.

Carson Beck is another player who could theoretically sit out of this game. Beck has been one of the best quarterbacks in the

THE RED & BLACK

SEC this year. He’s second in the conference with 3,738 passing yards, while throwing 22 touchdowns and only six interceptions.

If Beck doesn’t play, then the Bulldogs will be relying on more unproven options such as Brock Vandagriff or Gunner Stockton. Neither have seen much playing time this year, but both could see the field in Miami. In that event, the Bulldogs could opt to lean on a run game likely helmed by Kendall Milton and Daijun Edwards.

Georgia’s rushing game combined for 78 yards against Alabama — its lowest total of any game this season. Georgia wasn’t able to get much production on the ground, which had been one of the team’s strengths this season.

“Only thing I can say is [Alabama] whipped us up front,” head coach Kirby Smart said. “I mean even late there in the two-minute drive, we had a third and one and they whipped us.”

The Seminoles might have the talent to slow down the Bulldogs’ rushing attack, but on the other side of the ball, things are looking more bleak for the ACC champions. Standout receiver Keon Coleman is the headliner for the receiving corps, but he could also opt to sit out and preserve his health for the NFL draft.

Between his potential absence and Florida State’s untested quarterbacks, the Orange Bowl might turn out to be a run-heavy affair. Redshirt junior Trey Benson rushed for 905 yards and 14 touchdowns this season, the second-highest total in the ACC. His play, along with a strong showing from the Seminole defense, will be crucial to Florida State’s hopes in this matchup.

Benson could exploit a glaring hole in the Bulldogs’ defense this season, namely an inability to defend the run. They surrendered 114 rushing yards to Alabama — including several key runs on the game-sealing drive — 205 yards to Georgia Tech and a season-high 219 yards to Auburn.

After Georgia’s win over Georgia Tech, Bullard said he and the defense were going to focus on improving the run defense.

“We’ve got to make plays,” Bullard said.

“At the end of the day — I’m going to keep saying it over and over again — we can’t win giving up 200 rushing yards … If we give up 200 rushing yards against Alabama, it’s not going to end pretty.”

It didn’t end pretty for Georgia against Alabama, and if Georgia can’t get better at containing the run, it might not end pretty against Florida State. Georgia’s offense potentially missing key contributors isn’t a great sight either, as it may potentially hamper the team’s ability to produce on that side of the ball.

Still, these are two of the top two teams in college football. This is a battle for bragging rights, for conference supremacy and to prove — more than anything — that one of these teams deserved a spot in the College Football Playoff.

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Georgia running back Kendall Milton (2) runs the ball during the first half against Georgia Tech at Bobby Dodd Stadium in Atlanta on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023. P H O T O / M A D Y M E R T E N S

Running back to the forefront Kendall Milton’s late season surge Bo Underwood Kendall Milton’s Georgia career has been a bit odd.

The senior running back arrived at Georgia as part of a loaded 2020 recruiting class — a stacked list that includes now-pros Jalen Carter, Broderick Jones and Kelee Ringo as well as current Bulldog standouts Sedrick Van Pran, Ladd McConkey and Carson Beck.

Milton ran for over 4,000 yards and 70 touchdowns in high school and was named the 2019 California Running Back of the Year. He joined a 2020 Georgia team that had just lost star back D’Andre Swift to the NFL. Milton, a highly-rated Fresno, California native, was expected to become

the latest in a dynasty of legendary Georgia runners.

Milton’s massive 6-foot-2-inch, 220-pound frame immediately drew comparisons to former Georgia great Nick Chubb, who became a premier running back in college football as a freshman. Even Swift was a key contributor for a playoff team when he was a freshman in 2017. Legendary back Herschel Walker almost won the Heisman in his first year in 1980. In any case, Georgia fans expect a lot out of their running backs right away, and Milton was no exception.

It’s not that Milton has been a bad player at Georgia. He’s averaged an eye-popping 6.2 yards per carry for his career, was named to the freshman All-SEC team and was part of two straight national championships.

However, for essentially his whole time at Georgia, fans have wanted more. He’s only rushed for about 1,700 yards in his fouryear career, and has generally struggled to separate himself from the other backs on Georgia’s roster — a group that for the most part doesn’t have the same raw talent that Milton does.

“Kendall was a very mature young man coming in,” head coach Kirby Smart said.

“He was very intelligent, very mature, so it wasn’t the same progression where a kid comes in that’s not accustomed to hard work. He had a brother that played college football. He was more aware of what he was getting himself into, so the learning curve was not as steep as maybe some kids’ was.”

Injuries have played a significant role in the underwhelming feeling surrounding Milton’s college career up to this point.

He missed three games due to injury in his freshman year, and then eight as a sophomore. He was out for two games last season before missing most of spring practice with a hamstring injury.

That ailment, along with an MCL injury, continued to nag him well into the 2023 season. He couldn’t play against UAB and Auburn, and Georgia’s running game struggled to find its footing early in the season.

“During the time of dealing with the hamstring and the MCL, there’s a whole lot of mind games to convince yourself that you’re 100% back and ready,” Milton said.

“It was a whole lot of trial and error, a whole lot of different cuts I had to make. I had to feel what it felt like to get tackled again, to get twisted up. There were a whole lot of things that I had to put my body through again to get that full confidence.”

It was clear that Georgia needed a real lead back. Daijun Edwards has worked best as a change-of-pace runner, sophomore Branson Robinson is out with his own injury and freshmen Roderick Robinson and Andrew Paul don’t look ready just yet. As he continued to work back and get healthy, Milton seized the leading role in the backfield.

In an emergence that feels years in the making, Milton set a new career-high in rushing yards in Georgia’s blowout win over No. 9 Ole Miss when he turned just nine carries into 127 yards and two touchdowns. Two weeks later, he broke it again with a 156-yard, two-touchdown outburst against Georgia Tech.

“I’m excited for him,” safety Javon Bullard said. “What better person to do the things he’s been doing than Kendall? That guy has been through so much as far as injuries and things not going the way he wanted them to.”

Milton’s college career has been defined by bad luck. Every time he looks like he’s about to turn the corner, another injury limits that combo of explosiveness and raw power that once had Georgia fans so excited about him. Now, he looks as healthy as ever and the results have been speaking for themselves.

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Georgia wide receiver Mekhi Mews runs with the ball against Ball State at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Georgia, on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023. P H O T O / M A D Y M E R T E N S

The Bulldogs’ best Top plays from Georgia’s 2023 regular season Samuel Higgs There were lots of highlights throughout Georgia’s undefeated regular season. From comeback victories on the road to dominant showings under the lights of Sanford Stadium, the Bulldogs have put a lot of impressive plays on tape. Here are some of the best of the bunch.

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Walk-on wide receiver Mekhi Mews started the 2023 season off well, especially against Ball State in the second game of the season. To start, he returned the opening kickoff 47 yards to set the offense up with excellent field position. That play was ultimately outshined by his next touch. Mews, after a successful defensive possession that forced a Ball State punt, bounced the ball outside for a 69-yard return where he made multiple defenders miss on his way to score Georgia’s first touchdown of the day.

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It took the Bulldogs a while to get going on the road against Auburn. They trailed for most of the game and didn’t take their first lead until the fourth quarter. Even though the Bulldogs struggled early in enemy territory, Brock Bowers still showcased why he’s considered the best tight end in college football. Bowers headed into the fourth quarter with only two catches for 27 yards but caught an additional four passes for 121 yards in the final frame.

One of those catches was a 40-yard touchdown that Bowers ran into the endzone to put the game out of reach.

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Georgia tight end Brock Bowers runs with the ball against Auburn in Auburn, Alabama, on Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023. P H O T O / L A N D E N T O D D R A R A T H O M A S ’ 1 5 - YA R D T O E - TA P T O U C H D O W N A G A I N S T K E N T U C K Y

Rara Thomas’ first touchdown in Athens was nothing short of spectacular. In Georgia’s 51-13 beatdown of Kentucky, Thomas made one of the best catches in all of college football this season. Thomas leapt in the air and hauled in a 15-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Carson Beck where he tapped one foot in the endzone before his other foot landed out of bounds. It was initially ruled incomplete, but after an official review, the play was called a touchdown.

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One of the most exciting things in football is when a lineman gets to showcase their athleticism. Defensive tackle Nazir Stackhouse made Georgia fans aware of his speed when he returned an interception from Missouri quarterback Brady Cook for 44 yards. Georgia was only up six at the time, and Missouri threatened to take the lead. However, the 320-pound lineman’s interception shifted the game into Georgia’s hands with a fourth-quarter takeaway and eventually set the Bulldogs up in field goal range to put the game out of reach.

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Typically, Beck is the one that showcases his arm talent on Saturdays, but wide receiver Dillon Bell did not squander his chance to show off his ability as a passer. The Bulldogs were set up in the red zone with Bell lined up in the backfield. He caught a pitch on what seemed to be a run play to the perimeter, but as Bell was getting ready to bounce outside, wide receiver Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint slipped downfield on a trick play. Bell found the wide open receiver in the end zone for an 18-yard touchdown to give Georgia its first lead of the matchup.

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After missing the first four games of the season, wide receiver Ladd McConkey made sure fans wouldn’t forget about him. In Georgia’s neutral-site matchup against Florida, McConkey led the team in receiving in Bowers’ absence, who was injured in the previous game. McConkey finished with a team-high six catches for 135 yards, but his most exciting play came on Georgia’s first touchdown of the game. McConkey caught the ball for what probably should have just been a gain of about 15 yards, but cut back outside and outran multiple Florida players to reach the endzone for a 41-yard touchdown.

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Points from the press box Bulldogs face uncertainty after postseason letdown John James

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A thing isn’t beautiful because it lasts forever.

29 games. Two national championships. Seven firstround draft picks. One of the best College Football Playoff games of all time. Countless smiles on the faces of the Bulldog faithful.

This was a special time for Georgia football. The Bulldogs became the first team to win back-to-back national titles in a decade. They nearly became the first team to win three consecutive national titles since Franklin D. Roosevelt was president.

They conquered their demons, vanquished the Crimson Tide and ascended to the top of the college football food chain. They claimed their first national title in over 40 years, with a walk-on quarterback under center.

Then, they doubled down on their success. Georgia ran through every challenger that stepped up and put an exclamation point on a near-flawless undefeated season with a 65-7 thrashing of TCU. But ultimately, all things must come to an end. The Bulldogs ran into the Crimson Tide once more, and the Tide rolled on, just like they have in the past against Georgia.

Nick Saban improved to 4-0 against Georgia in the SEC championship and improved his team’s playoff positioning in the process.

Meanwhile, Georgia has fallen out of the playoff field, and therefore out of contention for a national championship.

There will be no trophy. There will be no three-peat.

The season isn’t over, though. Georgia will move on to the Orange Bowl to face Florida State and attempt to salvage the remaining weeks before the offseason arrives.

Win or lose against the Seminoles, players, coaches and everyone involved with the Bulldogs should be proud of the run they’ve been on. They’ll be remembered as one of the greatest teams in college football history, and they’ll be beloved by generations of Georgia fans to come.

Yes, Georgia lost to Alabama in the SEC championship

… again. Setbacks are a part of progress, and this streak of dominance had to hit a roadblock eventually.

Georgia will enter the offseason with a list of questions, just like they have for the past few years. Who will be leaving over the spring? Who will be staying? How can they address the holes on the roster? How can they improve on what they did this season? How can they return to the national championship?

Setbacks are a part of progress, but to get over those setbacks, Kirby Smart and his staff will have to find a way to answer those looming questions. If his tenure thus far has been any indication, though, Smart and the Bulldogs will be restless in their quest for another taste of national championship gold.

In life, a lot of times, you really can’t get better until you lose. You have to find out what you can do better.

K I R B Y S M A R T | GEORGIA HEAD COACH

“I love [this team],” Smart said. “There’s two classes of our kids [in the locker room] who have not lost a game.

They’re resilient, they’re fighters — in life, a lot of times, you really can’t get better until you lose. You have to find out what you can do better. A lot of guys really care about this team, and the culture is really good on this team. They were hurt in there, and rightfully so, but the message doesn’t change. It’s [about] looking inward and figuring out what we can do.”

NUMBERS TO KNOW: ORANGE BOWL Georgia quarterback Carson Beck Quarterback Carson Beck keeps facing the toughest tests of his career. He’s gone on the road to take on SEC opponents and faced off against top-10 teams, but he’s coming off a loss to Alabama in the SEC championship. Beck wasn’t at his best against Alabama though he threw for 3,738 yards on the season, the fourth-most in college football. He has also thrown 22 touchdowns, improving his impressive resume. Beck has been key in nearly every game he’s played in, and the Bulldogs will need him once more in potentially the final game of his Georgia career.

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Florida State quarterback Tate Rodemaker

Florida State’s quarterback situation isn’t exactly cut and dry. After starter Jordan Travis broke his leg, Tate Rodemaker took over and played in two games toward the end of the year. Rodemaker sat out of the ACC championship against Louisville due to a concussion, and was replaced by freshman Brock Glenn. Rodemaker will likely be game-ready by the Orange Bowl on Dec. 30. The former three-star, between his two extended opportunities and entering into the game during blowouts, has put up 510 yards and five touchdowns this season.

Georgia kicker Peyton Woodring When it comes to postseason play, a talented kicker can be necessary for success.

Freshman kicker Peyton Woodring will have the test of making sure special teams aren’t a liability against Florida State. Woodring missed three field goals at the beginning of the year — including two from 20 yards — but has turned his season around. Since then, he’s been perfect aside from a missed 50-yard kick in the SEC championship. If not for the missed kick in that game, Georgia could’ve been in a better position, further proving that Woodring has to maintain his performance for Georgia to defeat Florida State.

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Florida State linebacker Kalen DeLoach

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Linebacker Kalen DeLoach leads the Seminoles in several important defensive categories. He’s second in tackles with 66, second in sacks with seven and has a single interception. DeLoach is also tied for first in forced fumbles with two, as the team has found a knack for punching out the football. DeLoach took one forced fumble for a touchdown against Clemson early in the year — a key play that allowed the Seminoles to defeat the Tigers and remain undefeated.

DeLoach’s pass-rushing abilities could be key in exploiting a Georgia offensive line that was overwhelmed against Alabama in the SEC championship.

Georgia defensive back Malaki Starks

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On a day when the defense struggled to find any success, safety Malaki Starks was the one bright spot against Alabama. He led the team in tackles, but he played tight coverage and made a key pass breakup. Starks is currently fourth on the team in tackles with 51 and tied for second in interceptions with two.

Several of Georgia’s top players may sit out to preserve their NFL draft stock, which would quickly give the keys of the defense to Starks. With so many leaders likely on the sideline, Starks will have the chance to prove himself as one of Georgia’s leaders for next season.

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By Owen Warden

Thursday, December 7, 2023

Showcase

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Highlights from the SEC championship against Alabama

Georgia wide receiver Dominic Lovett (6) in action during the SEC championship game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023. Alabama won 27-24. P H O T O / M A D Y M E R T E N S

Georgia running back Kendall Milton (2) scores a touchdown at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023. P H O T O / M A D Y M E R T E N S

Alabama fans celebrate during the SEC championship game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023. P H O T O / L A N E Y M A R T I N

Georgia kicker Peyton Woodring (91) looks down during the SEC championship game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023. P H O T O / L A N E Y M A R T I N

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