ATLANTA (AP) 鈥� Kalen DeBoer spoke with pride Sunday about his Alabama team returning to the Southeastern Conference title game after missing it last year.
That appreciation of having another opportunity to play for the conference title prompted DeBoer to give credit to coach Kirby Smart for (11-1) reaching Saturday’s game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium for the fifth consecutive year.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 pretty impressive, just doing it over and over at the highest level in the toughest conference in the country,鈥� DeBoer said. 鈥淭ip of the hat to Coach Smart and what he鈥檚 done.鈥�
Georgia was No. 4 in the last College Football Playoff ranking and will be playing to protect the first-round playoff bye that comes with a top-four finish.
鈥淗umility is a week away,鈥� Smart said.
Alabama鈥檚 spot in the 12-team playoff field also may be set no matter the outcome of the conference championship game, but the Crimson Tide might have reason to worry about the playoff if it loses to the Bulldogs. DeBoer said that should not be the case.
鈥淚 just think if you鈥檙e really, really trying to have a playoff you need your best teams in there and there鈥檚 no doubt in my mind we鈥檙e one of the best teams,鈥� DeBoer said. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 say that arrogantly. I just really believe that鈥檚 what it is.
“If you鈥檙e considering us to even be a bubble team, we definitely are above those teams that are in that realm, in terms of bubble teams. Playing in your conference championship in the SEC shouldn鈥檛 be something that we鈥檙e worried about as far as what that would do to our playoff hopes. We got here by earning it.鈥�
Each team took care of its state rivalry game before advancing to the conference championship. Alabama (10-2) capped its regular season by on Saturday night. Georgia on Friday, also at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
The first of Smart’s back-to-back national championships at Georgia came with the victory over Alabama. Otherwise Smart, the former Alabama defensive coordinator, has struggled against the Crimson Tide.
Georgia fell to 1-7 against Alabama under Smart with a on Sept. 27. It was the Bulldogs’ first home loss in six years. Alabama ended Georgia鈥檚 home winning streak 鈥� then the longest active streak among FBS schools 鈥� at 33 games.
Georgia will be playing for its fourth SEC championship under Smart after last year’s over Texas in Atlanta. Smart said having the opportunity to play for the SEC title is 鈥渁 very rare thing鈥� despite the Bulldogs qualifying for their fifth straight championship game.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a credit to having a really good administration, a really supportive athletic department and a lot of good players,鈥� Smart said, adding “a lot of those players are playing in the National Football League.
鈥淭he best thing you can say about our program and our years here is consistency. … We鈥檙e going to be physical, we鈥檙e a tough out and we鈥檙e going to play consistently.鈥�
Alabama is 4-0 against Georgia in the SEC title game, including a in 2023. This will be the Crimson Tide’s first conference championship game under DeBoer, in his second season in Tuscaloosa.
鈥淚t鈥檚 what your goals are, what you come here to do and what you want to be part of at Alabama,鈥� DeBoer said. 鈥淵ou鈥檙e here to carry that on and honor those who came here before you.鈥�
DeBoer said tight end Josh Cuevas 鈥渨ill probably not be with us鈥� against Georgia after missing the Auburn game with an injury. DeBoer said running back Jam Miller, who ran for 83 yards against Auburn before suffering a lower leg injury and leaving the field on crutches, 鈥渨ill continue to go through testing鈥� Sunday and Monday before more is known about his status.
Georgia lost center Drew Bobo with what appeared to be a foot or ankle injury against Georgia Tech. Smart had no update on Bobo’s chances of returning this week.
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