Kirby Smart Explains Georgia’s Struggles Against Alabama and Jalen Milroe
In a highly anticipated Week 5 college football showdown, the No. 2 Georgia Bulldogs faced off against the No. 4 Alabama Crimson Tide. Georgia entered the game riding a 42-game regular season winning streak and as the reigning national champions in two of the last three years. Despite being slight favorites against Alabama’s new head coach, Kalen DeBoer, the Bulldogs struggled at Bryant-Denny Stadium, particularly in the first half.
Alabama’s star quarterback, Jalen Milroe, was a dominant force, scoring four touchdowns in the first half alone, and Alabama added a safety to lead 30-7 at halftime. Despite two weeks of preparation, Georgia’s defense was unable to contain Milroe’s dual-threat capabilities as both a passer and runner. This was particularly surprising, given that Georgia had faced Milroe in the 2023 SEC Championship Game under Nick Saban, where they narrowly lost 27-24. Many expected Georgia to adjust their approach this time around.
Despite having a talented defense led by two-time All-American Malaki Starks, Georgia couldn’t slow down Milroe. Though the Bulldogs mounted a comeback and took a 34-33 lead, Milroe found true freshman receiver Ryan Williams for a game-winning 75-yard touchdown late in the fourth quarter, sealing Alabama’s victory. Reflecting on the challenge of defending Milroe, Georgia head coach Kirby Smart acknowledged the difficulty of limiting his versatility. “He’s really hard to defend,” Smart explained. “You have to pick your poison—do you let him beat you with his legs or try to contain him in coverage? He ran well on the perimeter, and we lost contain, but he also threw the ball effectively, which made it tough.”
Georgia’s defense, which had not allowed a touchdown all season before this game, was caught off guard by Alabama’s early onslaught. However, the second half was a different story. Georgia’s defense tightened, allowing only one score—the game-deciding touchdown by Williams. Smart noted the adjustments made during halftime, praising the team’s improved coverage and defensive stops. “In the second half, we played tighter coverage, made stops, and controlled the ball on offense. When you make stops, you give yourself a chance,” he said.
With the loss, Georgia (3-1) dropped to No. 5 in the AP Poll, marking their first regular season defeat since 2020. As they look ahead to tough matchups against No. 2 Texas, No. 12 Ole Miss, and No. 4 Tennessee, the Bulldogs will need a stronger first-half performance to stay competitive in the race for the SEC title and a spot in the College Football Playoff.
