The SEC Championship didn’t go the way that Kalen DeBoer and the Alabama Crimson Tide wanted it to, with the Georgia Bulldogs staking their claim on the title en route to a likely first-round bye in the College Football Playoff.
It was a brutal loss for Alabama, as Georgia dismantled them 28-7, which could make it harder for the Tide to get a CFP spot.
Georgia’s Gunner Stockton threw 20-of-26 completions for 156 yards and three touchdowns. In addition, Nate Frazier scored a rushing touchdown, and the Bulldogs’ defense stepped up with three sacks and three interceptions in a statement win.
Alabama’s Ty Simpson threw for 212 yards and a touchdown, but also had those costly mistakes in the game. Following his team’s loss, head coach DeBoer made a strong statement regarding his team’s overall resume and claimed it should be enough to sway the committee to put them into the CFP.
Read more: Iowa State AD Gets Emotional Over Matt Campbell Leaving for Penn State
“I’m here to win the SEC Championship. If you lose by one or you lose by more, it’s still a loss, and that’s what I was here to do,” he told reporters postgame, adding, “We can’t get worried about how much we lose by.”
“That’s the way I looked at this game, and if this game applies to and takes away from our resume, I don’t think that’s right. I really don’t,” DeBoer said postgame, adding, “I think the precedent’s been set, and I don’t know how you can go into a conference playoff game when you’re the No. 1 seed and did all these things throughout the year and playing in this game against one of the top teams in the country as well, how that can hurt you and keep you out of the playoff.”
Alabama’s loss to Georgia dropped its overall record to 10-3. The Crimson Tide’s other losses occurred against Florida State, 31-17 to start the season, and then-No. 11 Oklahoma, 23-21 in mid-November. During their season, they defeated then-No. 5 Georgia, 24-21, and Top-25 SEC opponents Vanderbilt, Missouri, and Tennessee.
There have been cases made that this double-digit SEC Championship Game loss to Georgia could prevent Alabama from getting into the CFP. There are also arguments that teams, including the Miami Hurricanes and Texas Longhorns, played challenging schedules and achieved decisive wins in their seasons, making them deserving of spots.
With a major announcement coming on Selection Sunday for 12 teams, many analysts, coaches, and fans continue to contend that there needs to be significant changes to the CFP system.
Read more: Ohio State QB Julian Sayin Sends Clear Message on Big Ten Title Game
For more about the Crimson Tide and college football, visit Newsweek Sports.
