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ATLANTA, Ga. — Regardless of a 28-7 loss to No. 3 Georgia within the SEC championship recreation Saturday, Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer stated the No. 9 Crimson Tide are deserving of a spot within the School Soccer Playoff, saying a convention title recreation loss should not be punishment.
“If this recreation applies to and takes away from our résumé, I do not suppose that is proper,” DeBoer stated. “I actually do not. I feel the precedent’s been set and I do not know how one can go right into a convention playoff recreation whenever you’re the No. 1 seed and did all this stuff all year long — and enjoying on this recreation in opposition to one of many prime groups within the nation as effectively — how that may harm you and preserve you out of the playoff when once more, we have executed what we have executed all yr.”
The Tide opened the season with a 31-17 loss on the street to Florida State, then received eight straight, together with victories over Georgia, Vanderbilt, Missouri and Tennessee. Regardless of a 23-21 loss to then-No. 11 Oklahoma at residence on Nov. 15, the Tide certified for a rematch with Georgia in Atlanta.
The Bulldogs held Alabama to 16 carries for minus-3 yards speeding, simply the second time at school historical past the Tide have been held to adverse yards speeding, after the 1968 Gator Bowl. They grew to become the primary group to not rush for a primary down in an SEC championship recreation, in accordance with ESPN Analysis. Their longest carry of the night time was 5 yards.
Nonetheless, Alabama remained in hanging distance till 8:13 remained, when, trailing 21-7, DeBoer opted to go for it on fourth-and-2 from the Tide’s personal 12. Quarterback Ty Simpson threw the ball towards the sideline for Germie Bernard, but it surely sailed excessive and huge and out of bounds. Three performs later, Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton threw a 13-yard landing move to Zachariah Department to stretch the result in 28-7.
“If we’re actually apprehensive in regards to the rating, you then in all probability punt it by yourself 11,” DeBoer stated. “I am right here to win an SEC championship. In case you lose by one otherwise you lose by extra, it is nonetheless a loss. And that is what I used to be caring about. We’re right here to win an SEC championship. We won’t get apprehensive about how a lot we lose by.”
DeBoer stated Alabama was lacking a couple of key gamers who would have helped in opposition to Georgia, all of whom would return earlier than a playoff recreation, together with operating again Jam Miller.
“Two of our three losses are when Jam does not play,” he stated.
Within the first quarter, Georgia’s Cole Speer blocked Blake Doud’s punt, and it was recovered and returned by Justin Williams to the Alabama 21. 4 performs later, Stockton threw his first landing move to Roderick Robinson II to offer the Bulldogs a 7-0 lead. DeBoer stated the block got here from the spot normally manned by defensive lineman LT Overton, who was out for this recreation.
“There is a verify we have got to make we make all season lengthy,” DeBoer stated. “We missed it, and so they received an additional hat that we could not block.”
DeBoer stated that was the story of the sport, that the Tide gave the Bulldogs 4 quick fields and needed to maintain up in opposition to them. However he touted Alabama’s resilience, the identical means he stated the group bounced again all season.
“In case you’re actually taking a look at this recreation, I imply it was a 14-point recreation with 7½ minutes to go and we had the ball,” DeBoer stated. “I do not wish to take something away from what Georgia did.”
SEC commissioner Greg Sankey advised ESPN {that a} loss to Georgia on this recreation shouldn’t be a adverse within the eyes of the CFP choice committee.
“That could be the perfect group within the nation proper now,” Sankey stated of Georgia. “And you have to keep in mind, Alabama went to Athens, received a recreation, received a variety of different ranked video games, performed powerful schedule. It is a reward tonight. It is not a penalty for taking part in in that recreation.”
He stated that if the loss does value Alabama a CFP spot, he is certain it’s going to increase questions on the way forward for championship video games in a big means.
“However that query’s been there for many years and Georgia and Alabama performed right here a few years in the past, and Alabama beat an undefeated Georgia group within the four-team playoff [in 2018],” Sankey stated. “We nonetheless saved the championship recreation.”
Simpson completed 19-of-39 for 212 yards and one landing and one interception, his first begin wherein he accomplished lower than 50% of his throws. He was pressured all night time and stated the Georgia protection had plan. He additionally stated that, whatever the loss, his group’s résumé holds as much as scrutiny.
“We went by way of a gauntlet of the schedule,” Simpson stated. “The SEC is the perfect convention within the nation. That is a very good group, and it is just about so simple as that.”
ESPN’s Mark Schlabach contributed to this report.
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