Georgia vs. Alabama score, highlights: Bulldogs lose SEC championship in close contest

No. 1 Georgia's bid for a third straight College Football Playoff national championship took a massive blow on Saturday in the SEC championship game.

Kirby Smart's Bulldogs (12-1, 8-0 in SEC play) lost yet another game to Alabama (12-1, 8-0) in the SEC championship game in Atlanta, falling 27-24 and 0-4 all time vs. the Crimson Tide. With that, the Bulldogs must now contend with whether they will make the CFP as a one-loss non-champion.

The Bulldogs played perhaps their most physical opponent of the season against Alabama, which limited an injured Georgia squad to just 78 yards rushing. While quarterback Carson Beck was efficient, completing 21 of 29 passes for 243 yards. But he was held without a passing touchdown as running back Kendall Milton and Beck combined for three rushing scores.

Meanwhile, Georgia had tremendous difficulty containing Jalen Milroe, even as he had an up-and-down game passing and running the ball. He completed 13 of 23 passes for 192 yards and 192 yards and two touchdowns, including one to Georgia transfer Jermaine Burton. He also had another pass to running back Jam Miller, the latter's first TD reception of the year.

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Check out all the updates and scores from the SEC championship game.

Georgia vs. Alabama score

REQUIRED READING: Alabama football vs. Georgia: Score prediction, scouting report for SEC Championship Game

Georgia vs. Alabama updates, highlights

Final: Alabama 27, Georgia 24

Touchdown Alabama: Alabama 27, Georgia 24

7:24 p.m.: One more does it. Alabama wins the 2023 SEC champonionship game, snapping Georgia's win streak.

7:23 p.m.: There's a kneeldown.

7:22 p.m.: Georgia takes its last timeout after a brief gain on first down by Alabama. The Crimson Tide need only to kneel it out.

7:21 p.m.: Milroe fakes the toss right and runs it up the gut for what appears to be a first down.

7:20 p.m.: Williams gets a 3-yard carry to bring up sefocnd-and-7. Georgia takes its second timeout with 1:58 remaining.

7:19 p.m.: Milroe takes a QB keeper up the left sideline and runs 30 yards to the Georgia 45. He slides inbounds to keep the clock moving.

7:14 p.m.: Touchdown Georgia! Milton punches it in with no issues to bring the score to 27-24 Alabama with 2:52 remaining in the game. The Bulldogs have two timeouts remaining.

7:12 p.m. -- Georgia can't punch it on on first-, second- or third-and-goal and Smart is forced to call timeout with 2:54 left in the game.

7:11 p.m.: -- Georgia going hurry-up and now is driving inside the 10-yard line.

7:10 p.m. -- Georgia gets a bit of help from Alabama as Jaheim Oatis is called for a facemask on a would-be sack of Beck. That's an extra 15 yards and the Bulldogs are driving at the Alabama 40.

7:09 p.m. -- Georgia has fourth-and-inches deep in its own territory, but gets to the 45-yard line with a big run from Edwards.

Touchdown Alabama: Alabama 27, Georgia 16

7:06 p.m. -- Alabama scores! Just two plays later, it's punched in by Williams. Georgia has no more room for error.

7:05 p.m. -- Bond with four catches for 57 yards on this drive. This is what teams do. They turn to their elite players.

7 p.m. -- Alabama is just doing everything right. First shovel pass to Bond on third-and-2 to pick up 13 and a first. Next play it gets down to the 1-yard line with Bond. Initially called a touchdown but it was overturned.

6:59 p.m. -- Milroe immediately hits Bond on a slant over the middle and gains 21 out to the 46-yard line. Great start after the offense has sputtered, and Williams runs for nine more.

Touchdown Georgia: Alabama 20, Georgia 17

6:54 p.m. -- Georgia gets in the end zone just two plays later, with a pass and a QB sneak. Huge bounce-back from Georgia to get back into this game.

6:52 p.m. -- Really tough spot there Terrion Arnold on third down, as he gets hit with interference on a back shoulder throw from Beck. Tough play, but first down Georgia.

6:51 p.m. -- No panic from Georgia yet, but there should be some urgency. Now third-and-2, there's under 11 minutes left. Washington showed last night what can happen if an offense is effective in killing a game.

6:50 p.m. -- Georgia's defense continues to hold its own. After another punt, The Bulldogs force a three-and-out featuring a sack, and Alabama has to punt it. Georgia gets a huge return as well to the Alabama 35-yard line. Brings some life to the Bulldogs.

6:45 p.m. An incompletion and dropped pick later, and Georgia has to punt it away.

6:44 p.m. -- At times it doesn't even look like Georgia football. Beck went to run and ran into an idling lineman, losing three on the play.

End of third quarter: Alabama 20, Georgia 10

6:38 p.m. -- Alabama is very happy to let Georgia attack underneath, and the third quarter ends with a first down for Georgia.

Field Goal Alabama: Alabama 20, Georgia 10

6:35 p.m. -- The Georgia defense answered in a big way, as Milroe had Burton in the end zone but Burton dropped it. Quick three downs, and Alabama settles for a field goal from the automatic Reichard.

6:32 p.m. -- The Alabama defense makes another big play. Beck muffed a handoff to Bell on an end-around in apparent miscommunication, and Alabama's Marshall recovers. Tough turn here for the Bulldogs.

6:31 p.m. -- With a defender draped over his back, Dillon Bell makes a catch on third down to keep this drive alive. Big play there for Georgia.

6:27 p.m. -- Insane play there. Milroe gets sacked and the back of his shin skimmed the turf. Milroe took off to run but the play was blown dead. Alabama now finds itself in fourth-and-16 out of field goal range and will punt. Wild sequence.

6:25 p.m. -- Georgia gets hit with a horsecollar on Kendrick Law going outside. Tough call there, but that's how it breaks at times. Alabama gets all the way to the Georgia 40-yard line.

6:23 p.m. -- Milroe is so hard to sack. Good pressure on second down from Georgia, but Milroe escapes. He only gains two, however, setting up third-and-8, but he finds Burton for another first down.

Field Goal Georgia: Alabama 17, Georgia 10

6:18 p.m. -- Beck got caught up trying to do too much on a broken play. Pocket collapsed, he rolled out, threw it across to the middle of the field, nearly got picked off. Woodring comes out for a field goal attempt and hits from 34. Bulldogs draw to within seven.

6:17 p.m. -- McKinstry headed into the medical tent. Next play, Beck went to Bowers in the end zone challenging the replacement. Good coverage by Trey Amos forces an incompletion.

6:15 p.m. -- Dallas Turner and Kool-Aid McKinstry are both injured for the Crimson Tide. Would be devastating injuries for Alabama.

6:11 p.m. -- Beck tosses a bomb to Arian Smith down the left side and it was on the mark for 51 yards. Terrific pass, but the play is now going to be stopped for review.

6 p.m. -- Georgia has the ball to start the half, and goes to the ground quickly. Opens the half with a first down on its first series, and then goes outside to Rosemy-Jacksaint for a short gain.

Halftime: Alabama 17, Georgia 7

5:31 p.m. -- Georgia can't get anything going after getting the ball back, and we get to the half with Georgia down 10.

Touchdown Alabama: Alabama 17, Georgia 7

5:29 p.m. -- Milroe finds Jermaine Burton over the middle, and Alabama scores again to make it a two-possession game as the first half winds down.

5:28 p.m. -- Alabama lines up to go for it and does. Milroe makes an outstanding throw to Isaiah Bond, and Alabama clutches out a first down with 1:15 in the half.

5:25 p.m. -- Alabama tried to draw Georgia offsides and burned a timeout, and we are right back to commercial.

5:22 p.m. -- Georgia tried to get to Milroe but the Alabama offensive line held strong. Milroe completed a pass to Amari Niblack for 17 yards, and it'll be fourth-and-5 for Alabama on the other side of a Georgia timeout.

5:19 p.m. -- Milroe was sacked on second-and-10 for a big loss for Alabama, and on third-and-21 Saban takes a timeout. Alabama will try to get back into field goal range.

5:16 p.m. -- A criminally underthrown ball by Milroe turns out fine with a pass interference. Alabama is now rolling and back over midfield for Georgia.

5:10 p.m. -- Alabama's defense makes a huge statement, stuffing Georgia again and sacking Beck. A false start is going to make it a 50-yard attempt for Peyton Woodring. He doinks it, and the score remains 10-7.

5:08 p.m. -- Beck takes advantage of a wide open middle of the field on third-and-6, and gains nine on the ground for a first down. Georgia is now inside the Alabama 20. Milton got stuffed on first down on the next play.

5:06 p.m. -- A buttonhook to Dillon Bell and a trap to Daijun Edwards gives the Bulldogs another first down to the Alabama 31-yard line.

5:05 p.m. -- Georgia answers with three straight running plays and barrels ahead for a first down on third. Georgia then goes play action and Beck finds Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint for a big gain into Alabama territory. Great, great find by Beck.

Touchdown Alabama: Alabama 10, Georgia 7

4:59 p.m. -- Alabama was called for a questionable hold on the next play, making it first-and-20. It doesn't matter, however, as Milroe hits an unchecked Jam Miller for a touchdown from 28 yards out. Alabama takes the lead early in the second.

4:57 p.m. -- On third and a long 1, Milroe powers forward and gets stacked up to set up fourth-and-1. The Crimson Tide line up to go for it, and convert the first down to Williams. Good, gutsy call from Alabama.

4:55 p.m. -- There's Alabama's biggest play so far, as Milroe finds Kobe Prentice for 19 and an additional 15 for a facemask. Alabama then rushes for nine and is going up-tempo.

End of first quarter: Georgia 7, Alabama 3

4:50 p.m. -- The first quarter ends with Milroe making an awkward throw that was nearly picked off by Bullard. There was a penalty, but Georgia declines it to let the quarter end.

4:48 p.m. -- Nice run by Williams to start this Alabama drive and give the Tide some breathing room. Then, from the 20-yard line, he bursts up for eight to make it second-and-2.

4:46 p.m. -- What a play by the Alabama defense. Georgia went pitch and Caleb Downs and Dallas Turner completely blew up the play. The following Georgia punt will put Alabama inside the 10-yard line. To note, Amarius Mims is hurt for Georgia.

4:45 p.m. -- Georgia burns a first quarter timeout as it lines up for third-and-2, seemingly unhappy with the look. Play will come at the other side of the break.

4:44 p.m. -- Alabama has done a nice job of settling down, and now Georgia looks to reclaim some momentum. A pair of running plays has put the Bulldogs in third-and-2, still where they want to be.

Field Goal Alabama: Georgia 7, Alabama 3

4:39 p.m. -- Third-and-9 for Alabama and Milroe heaved one into the end zone and it went incomplete. Reichard then squeezes one in through the uprights to set an FBS record for points at 533. Alabama draws to within four.

4:37 p.m. -- What a play by Milroe. He rolls right and goes against the grain before sauntering for a first down to the Georgia 27. He runs again by design on the next play to get inside the Georgia 20.

4:31 p.m. -- Malachi Moore nearly had a pick on a Beck overthrow but adjusted just a bit late. Georgia's punt barely clears midfield, and the Crimson Tide will start with their best field position in the early-going.

4:29 p.m. -- Georgia goes back underneath to Bowers and this time Alabama makes the Bulldogs pay. The defense swarmed the TE in the backfield for a three-yard loss, and the Crimson Tide defense gets off to a good start. Beck then goes five-step drop and heaves one to McConkey, who nearly made the catch but it was trapped. Third-and-long upcoming.

4:26 p.m. -- Another three-and-out for Alabama on the ensuing series. It had a promising start with a six-yard gain from Roydell Williams, but a drop and an overthrow force Alabama to punt. It drops to Georgia's 13, and the Bulldogs get the ball back with the lead.

Touchdown Georgia: Georgia 7, Alabama 0

4:21 p.m. -- That is a very encouraging start for Georgia. Three-and-out and a touchdown on the next drive. Kendall Milton bursts through and scores just over five minutes into the game from 17 out. Terrion Arnold never even realized it was a running play. Georgia goes 83 yards in eight plays and just under four minutes.

4:18 p.m. -- Georgia found itself in third-and-1 and a quick sneak from Beck gives the Bulldogs a first down. No-nonsense playcalling.

4:17 p.m. -- Stars. Make. Plays. Beck dropped one underneath to Brock Bowers for 23 yards and a big gain. One play later and Georgia is already in Alabama territory. Aggressive start on some underneath throws.

4:15 p.m. -- Georgia's speed goes on display, brilliant play by the spy, and Alabama punts inside the Georgia 20 to flip the field. Carson Beck takes the field.

4:13 p.m. -- Alabama took a shot on the first play of the game but Milroe saw pressure and slipped on the throw. It falls into no-mans land, and Alabama then gains two running on the next play to set up third-and-8. Behind schedule early.

4:12 p.m. -- Georgia deferred to start the game and kick it to the Tide. The opening kickoff goes out of bounds, and Alabama will start at is own 35-yard line.

Pregame

4:08 p.m. -- The teams take the field, and Alabama was met by more than a few boos in Atlanta.

4 p.m. -- Georgia enters as 4.5-point favorites against Alabama, per BetMGM.

3:28 p.m. -- And, of course, the Dawgs.

3:26 p.m. -- Nick Saban and the Tide are in the building.

3:25 p.m. -- Welcome to the SEC Championship live thread! Georgia and Alabama will kick off in under an hour, as the two squads vie for the final SEC title between divisions.

What channel is Georgia vs. Alabama on today?

• TV channel: CBS

• Streaming info: Paramount+, Fubo (free trial)

Georgia-Alabama will air on CBS. Paramount+, the network's dedicated streaming site, is one option to stream the game. Another is Fubo, which offers a free trial for potential subscribers.

REQUIRED READING: Alabama College Football Playoff path: Win vs. Georgia in SEC championship is only first step

Alabama vs. Georgia start time

• Date: Saturday, Dec. 2

• Time: 4 p.m. ET

The Bulldogs and Crimson Tide will kick off at 4 p.m. ET on Saturday, Dec. 2 from Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

Alabama vs. Georgia betting odds

BetMGM as of Friday, Dec. 1

• Spread: Georgia (-5.5)

• Over/under: 55.5

• Moneyline: Georgia -225 | Alabama +180

Georgia football schedule 2023

* SEC Game** SEC Championship

Alabama football schedule 2023

* SEC Game** SEC Championship

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This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Georgia vs. Alabama score, updates, highlights from SEC championship