Since 2018, No. 1 Georgia and No. 4 Alabama have faced each other six times, with only one being a regular-season match – a 2020 victory for Alabama. That year, the Crimson Tide went on to win the national championship while Georgia claimed the next two titles, suffering their only defeat during that time at the hands of Alabama.

Despite being in different divisions, these two giants have met in several major games:

• The College Football Playoff national championship for the 2017 season, which Alabama won in overtime.
• The 2018 SEC championship, another win for Alabama.
• The SEC championship in 2021, yet again claimed by the Crimson Tide.
• The 2022 national championship game, which marked Georgia’s only victory against Alabama with Kirby Smart as coach.
• And last year’s SEC championship, where Alabama’s win knocked the Bulldogs out of the playoff contention.

This upcoming match feels unique for multiple reasons, including Alabama’s new head coach, Kalen DeBoer, who took over for Nick Saban this offseason.

“You don’t have to pull anything as far as energy and enthusiasm out of them to prepare for our first SEC game against Georgia,” said DeBoer.

In terms of its national implications, the biggest difference this time around is the potential outcome of Saturday night’s encounter in Tuscaloosa. To paraphrase the SEC mantra, does this matchup mean … less?

Implications for College Football Playoff

The transition to a 12-team playoff format diminishes the win-or-go-home mentality that has characterized this rivalry since Smart’s reign has begun a new era for Georgia. Winning gives the victor a strong playoff position, but the losing team can still remain in the competition, avoiding a fall to the bottom tier of SEC hopefuls.

This brings up a crucial question: What does a single regular-season game truly signify in this new playoff structure, especially between these two powerhouse programs?

No team in the prior four-team playoff era qualified for the playoffs with more than one loss, although several did reach the national semifinals without securing a conference title.

Details surrounding the 12-team format will become clearer in December when the selection committee announces this year’s bracket. However, it’s anticipated that any Power Four team with two or fewer losses will vie for an at-large bid.

If that’s the case, this weekend’s game loses some of its previous stakes. Since 2018, their encounters have determined national championship outcomes or at least which team could vie for one. What impact does this matchup carry when it’s primarily about playoff rankings? What does this mean for college football’s regular season excitement?

“Whether we win or lose, the next games will all be challenging,” Smart acknowledged. “They are a tough team, and I respect Kalen DeBoer and the progress he’s made with them. They continue to improve with every game, and we must do the same this week.”

Significance for Alabama and Georgia

Despite the shifts caused by the new playoff structure, the outcome of Saturday night’s game will still play a pivotal role in determining which team emerges as the leading contender in the SEC, and, by extension, the entire FBS landscape.

Currently ranked No. 1 in the US LBM Coaches Poll since the season began, a victory would restore many of the first-place votes Georgia has lost to unbeaten No. 2 Texas. An Alabama win, on the other hand, would strengthen their claim to the top ranking.

From a playoff perspective, the match will influence the seedings and the respective path each team must navigate to conquer the national championship.

The victorious team is likely to secure the SEC title, finish among the top four in the final rankings, and earn a bye for the opening round of the playoffs. In this expanded format, a top-four team would need to win three games to clinch the national championship: one each in the quarterfinals, semifinals, and final.

The team that loses may fall into at-large bid territory, necessitating an opening game — likely hosted at their place — before advancing to face one of the Power Four conference champions in the quarterfinals.

Nonetheless, without divisions in the SEC this year, the losing team can still earn a top-four finish by competing in and winning the conference championship game.

This is why the significance of this year’s matchup is less dramatic than in recent years: Alabama and Georgia may likely meet again in December to claim the conference title, along with the potential for another playoff encounter, making Saturday’s game the first of possibly three matchups this season.

Saturday’s Impact on Kalen DeBoer

The Bulldogs will square off against the Crimson Tide, with this season’s most significant coaching narrative in focus: DeBoer’s recent move from Washington to succeed the creator of an eminent dynasty.

The early signs have been mostly encouraging over the first three games. Alabama kicked off the season with a comfortable win over Western Kentucky, faced some challenges against South Florida before overcoming them with a strong fourth-quarter performance, and then dominated Wisconsin in an unusual nonconference matchup in Big Ten territory.

Georgia marks the first of five SEC contests that the Crimson Tide will play against teams that are currently recognized in the Coaches Poll. They will also face No. 11 Missouri at home, along with No. 6 Tennessee, No. 13 LSU, and No. 18 Oklahoma while on the road.

“This team is a fresh start, this season is a fresh start, and that’s why I keep stressing that we are the 2024 Alabama Crimson Tide football team,” DeBoer stated. “However, there are definitely learning opportunities stemming from past experiences.”

DeBoer can look to his predecessor as an example of how a victory on Saturday could invigorate his coaching term. After finishing his debut season with seven wins, Saban energized Alabama’s resurgence in 2008 with a notable victory over Georgia. The 41-30 triumph, which was the Crimson Tide’s first win under Saban against a formidable SEC rival, highlighted a program that was rapidly climbing toward national championship status. The following season, they would capture the first of six titles under Saban.

A victory would serve a similar purpose for DeBoer. Conversely, a defeat would lead to swift and unfavorable comparisons to Saban, who had a commanding head-to-head record against Smart and the Bulldogs.

In an era where new coaches at prominent programs must achieve quick results to avoid the repercussions of early setbacks — as exemplified by Florida’s Billy Napier — Saturday’s outcome is poised to shape DeBoer’s debut with the Crimson Tide, whether positively or negatively.

“It’s like saying, ‘Welcome to the SEC,’ right? But this is something we will face ourselves,” DeBoer remarked. “We will encounter many excellent teams ahead.”