Happy Thursday, everyone. Alabama got some tough injury news yesterday, ahead of the SEC Championship Game vs. Georgia.
Alabama running back Jam Miller is questionable for the SEC Championship Game, according to the availability report released Wednesday.
Miller left the Iron Bowl on crutches after sustaining a lower-body injury.
Tight end Josh Cuevas, tight end Danny Lewis Jr. and left guard Kam Dewberry are all questionable as well. Cuevas and Dewberry are both starters.
Meanwhile, starting defensive lineman LT Overton, one of Alabama’s top pass rushers, has been ruled out for the game. He is the only new addition to the “out” list from a week ago among starting players.
We don’t yet know what happened to Overton, but he has been a somewhat indispensable piece on the defensive front. With Jah-Marien Latham already out for the season, Alabama is down to Jordan Renaud and Keon Keeley at the Bandit position. This is less than ideal against a Georgia offense that loves to run the ball on the edges. Josh Cuevas is also out as expected, and he is another key missing piece.
As far as Jam Miller goes, the worst case scenario is playing him hurt. The running game has missed some juice this season, until last week anyway, and I’d much rather see healthy Daniel Hill and AK Dear get the reps. Reserve RB Kevin Riley is still out as well.
On the Georgia side, they’re definitely healthier overall but have ruled center Drew Bobo out. Alabama DL Tim Keenan III and James Smith will need to have a day.
DeBoer spoke about the matchup on his radio show.
— DeBoer on Georgia’s strengths: “When you look at them, I think their quarterback play has really continued to improve.” DeBoer said Georgia is good at finishing drives. “They’re a well-rounded team.” “Defensively, Coach Smart is always going to have those guys dialed in.” DeBoer said it will be key to stay one step ahead and make adjustments.
— DeBoer highlights Zachariah Branch as a threat in the return game.
This game may well come down to the quarterbacks.
Simpson’s production has been consistent with minimal turnovers since the start of the season, but a Week 1 loss to Florida State prevented him from gaining national attention until Alabama’s success became hard to ignore. Simpson finished the regular season with 3,056 passing yards and 25 touchdowns. He added 126 rushing yards and two touchdowns on foot.
The Alabama quarterback reflected on his growth this season ahead of the biggest game of his career.
“I think it goes back all the way from Florida State to now,” Simpson said on Monday. “Everything that you go through, everything that you experience, is just another thing that you can learn from. That’s why I’m just appreciative of the growth in my journey of being here.”
Stockton’s journey shares similarities. After two seasons under Stetson Bennett and a 2024 regular season behind Beck, Stockton’s performance in the SEC championship game turned heads and set him up for the starting nod in 2025 after Beck transferred to Miami.
His first season leading the Bulldogs was an undeniable success. Stockton led Georgia to an 11-1 record with 2,535 yards and 20 touchdowns in the air and 403 yards and eight touchdowns on the ground.
Both Stockton and Simpson have had some very strong games this season, and both have had struggles. Both struggled mightily last weekend as Auburn and Georgia Tech were able to get pressure. Alabama has one big matchup advantage outside as Dijon Lee and Zabien Brown have rounded into legitimate superstars at corner and will be up against a nondescript group of Georgia receivers. Alabama was able to hold Stockton to only 130 yards through the air in Athens, but gave up too many explosive plays on the ground.
Georgia’s defense has rounded into form in recent weeks, but there should be opportunities for Simpson to make plays in the passing game. He will need to be at his best if Alabama is to win.
If you’re planning to go to the game, tickets ain’t cheap.
An opportunity to punch a guaranteed ticket to the 2025 College Football Playoff is on the line this Saturday.
Starting at 4 p.m. ET on Dec. 6, Ty Simpson’s No. 9 Alabama Crimson Tide will go head-to-head with Gunner Stockton’s No. 3 Georgia Bulldogs in the 2025 SEC Championship at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
If you’d like to be there, last-minute tickets are still available for this season-defining contest.
At the time of publication, the lowest price we could find on tickets was $253 including fees on Vivid Seats.
100-level seats start at $411 including fees.
The Dr Pepper SEC FanFare, with games, interactive displays and pep rallies, will be held from 1 p.m. until 7 p.m. Dec. 5 and from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. Dec. 6 in the Georgia World Congress Center.
Admission to the FanFare is free.
On game day, ESPN’s College Gameday will broadcast from 9 a.m. until noon from the FanFare with host Rece Davis and analysts Kirk Herbstreit, Desmond Howard, Pat McAfee and Nick Saban. Doors to the Georgia World Congress Center will open at 8 a.m.
The SEC Network will present the “Marty & McGee” show along with “SEC Nation” live from FanFare beginning at 1 p.m.
The T-Mobile SEC Championship Concert will begin at noon, featuring three-time Grammy winner Ludacris.
Last, we will have our own recap later, but Kalen DeBoer pulled in a very nice high school class.
4 signees that are five-star prospects by at least one major outlet (Ezavier Crowell, Jorden Edmonds, Jireh Edwards and Xavier Griffin) and 13 players that are four-star recruits by at least one of the following: 247Sports, 247Composite, Rivals.com, Rivals Consensus and/or ESPN.com
10 newcomers that were ranked in the top 150 of the ESPN300: Ezavier Crowell, Jorden Edmonds, Jireh Edwards, Zyan Gibson, Xavier Griffin, Jamarion Matthews, Cederian Morgan, Mack Sutter, Jett Thomalla, Nolan Wilson
14 players who were listed on the Rivals300: Chris Booker, Ezavier Crowell, Jared Doughty, Jorden Edmonds, Jireh Edwards, Zyan Gibson, Xavier Griffin, Kamhariyan Johnson, Tayden Kaawa, Jamarion Matthews, Cederian Morgan, Mack Sutter, Jett Thomalla, Nolan Wilson
10 players in the Top247: Ezavier Crowell, Jorden Edmonds, Jireh Edwards, Zyan Gibson, Xavier Griffin, Jamarion Matthews, Cederian Morgan, Mack Sutter, Jett Thomalla, Nolan Wilson
That’s about it for now. Have a great day.
Roll Tide.
