2023 SEC Championship Game

College football game

2023 SEC Championship Game

Conference Championship
| Georgia Bulldogs | Alabama Crimson Tide

|

(12–0) | (11–1)
24 | 27
Head coach:
Kirby Smart | Head coach:
Nick Saban
| AP| Coaches| CFP

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|

1| 1| 1
| AP| Coaches| CFP

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8| 8| 8
|  | 1| 2| 3| 4 | Total

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Georgia | 7| 0| 3| 14 | 24
Alabama | 3| 14| 3| 7 | 27
Date| December 2, 2023
Season| 2023
Stadium| Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Location| Atlanta, Georgia
Favorite| Georgia by 5.5
Referee| Kyle Olson [1]
Attendance| 78,320
United States TV coverage
Network| CBS
Westwood One
SEC Radio
Announcers| Brad Nessler (play-by-play), Gary Danielson (color), and Jenny Dell (sideline) (CBS)
Mike Watts (play-by-play), Derek Rackley (analyst) and Taylor Davis (sideline) (Westwood One)
Dave Neal (play-by-play), Cole Cubelic (analyst) and Stephen Hartzell (sideline) (SEC Radio)
|  SEC Championship Game

< 2022 |  2024 >
2023 Southeastern Conference football standings

* v
* t
* e

| Conf |  |  | Overall

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Team |  | W |  | L |  |  |  |  | W |  | L |
East Division
No. 4 Georgia xy  |  | 8  | - | 0  |  |  |  |  | 13  | - | 1  |
No. 8 Missouri |  | 6  | - | 2  |  |  |  |  | 11  | - | 2  |
No. 17 Tennessee |  | 4  | - | 4  |  |  |  |  | 9  | - | 4  |
Kentucky |  | 3  | - | 5  |  |  |  |  | 7  | - | 6  |
Florida |  | 3  | - | 5  |  |  |  |  | 5  | - | 7  |
South Carolina |  | 3  | - | 5  |  |  |  |  | 5  | - | 7  |
Vanderbilt |  | 0  | - | 8  |  |  |  |  | 2  | - | 10  |
West Division
No. 5 Alabama xy$^  |  | 8  | - | 0  |  |  |  |  | 12  | - | 2  |
No. 9 Ole Miss |  | 6  | - | 2  |  |  |  |  | 11  | - | 2  |
No. 12 LSU |  | 6  | - | 2  |  |  |  |  | 10  | - | 3  |
Texas A&M |  | 4  | - | 4  |  |  |  |  | 7  | - | 6  |
Auburn |  | 3  | - | 5  |  |  |  |  | 6  | - | 7  |
Mississippi State |  | 1  | - | 7  |  |  |  |  | 5  | - | 7  |
Arkansas |  | 1  | - | 7  |  |  |  |  | 4  | - | 8  |
Championship:  Alabama 27, Georgia 24

* ^ - College Football Playoff participant
* $ - Conference champion
* x - Division champion/co-champions
* y - Championship game participant

Rankings from AP Poll

The 2023 SEC Championship Game was a college football game that was played on December 2, 2023, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. It was the 32nd edition of the SEC Championship Game. The contest featured the Alabama Crimson Tide, the West Division champions and the Georgia Bulldogs the East Division Champions.[2] The game began at 4:00 p.m. EST and was televised on CBS for the twenty-third consecutive year, and also the final SEC Championship game to be televised on the network. Alabama won the game by a score of 27–24 and, therefore, became champions of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) for the 2023 season, while ending Georgia’s 29-game winning streak that began in the 2021 Orange Bowl CFP Semifinal.

This was the final SEC Championship Game with a divisional format. On June 1, 2023, after Oklahoma and Texas were confirmed to be joining the conference in 2024, the SEC announced that it would eliminate its football divisions at that time. Future championship games will feature the top two teams in the conference standings.[3]

## Teams

[edit]

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (November 2023)

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Main article: Alabama–Georgia football rivalry

The 2023 SEC Championship Game featured the Georgia Bulldogs, champions of the East Division, and the Alabama Crimson Tide, champions of the West Division. It was the teams' 73rd meeting, with Alabama leading the series 42–26–4. Georgia won the latest meeting between the teams in the 2022 College Football Playoff National Championship, which was Georgia's first win against Alabama since 2007. This was the fourth time Georgia and Alabama played for an SEC Championship, with the Crimson Tide winning each of the previous three meetings in 2012, 2018 and 2021.

This was the 11th SEC title game appearance for Georgia and their third consecutive appearance; they first appeared in 2002 and are 4–6 overall in previous appearances, though the Bulldogs have won 14 SEC championships in total, dating back to 1942. Alabama made their 15th SEC championship game appearance, dating back to the inaugural game in 1992; the Crimson Tide entered the game 10–4 in SEC title games. Including titles earned before the championship game format, Alabama leads the conference with 29 in total, dating back to 1933. Georgia and Alabama have appeared frequently in recent SEC Championship Games; entering the game, 12 of the last 13 title games featured at least one of the two teams, with Georgia's last appearance being in 2022, and Alabama's in 2021.

### Alabama Crimson Tide

[edit]

Main article: 2023 Alabama Crimson Tide football team

The Crimson Tide clinched a spot in the game on November 11, following a 49–21 rout of Kentucky.[4] Alabama's last appearance, and victory, in the game was in 2021. This would be Nick Saban’s last SEC Championship game appearance, as he retired following the conclusion of the 2023 season.

### Georgia Bulldogs

[edit]

Main article: 2023 Georgia Bulldogs football team

The Bulldogs clinched a spot in the game following Missouri's 36–7 defeat of Tennessee on November 11. Georgia's last appearance, and victory, in the game was in 2022.

## Scoring summary

[edit]

2023 SEC Championship

Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3| 4| Total

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No. 1 Georgia | 7 | 0 | 3| 14| 24
No. 8 Alabama | 3 | 14 | 3| 7| 27

at Mercedes-Benz Stadium • Atlanta, GA

* Date: December 2, 2023
* Game time: 4:11 p.m. EST
* Game weather: n/a (game played indoors)
* Game attendance: 78,320
* Referee: Kyle Olson
* TV announcers (CBS): Brad Nessler (play-by-play), Gary Danielson (analyst), Jenny Dell (sideline)

Game information

First quarter

* (9:31) UGA – Kendall Milton 17 yd Run (Peyton Woodring Kick) (Drive: 8 plays, 83 yards, 3:50; Georgia 7–0)
* (3:43) BAMA – Will Reichard 43 yd Field Goal (Drive: 8 plays, 26 yards, 3:48; Georgia 7–3)

Second quarter

* (12:04) BAMA – Jam Miller 28 yd pass from Jalen Milroe (Will Reichard Kick) (Drive: 10 plays, 92 yards, 4:32; Alabama 10–7)
* (0:48) BAMA – Jermaine Burton 15 yd pass from Jalen Milroe (Will Reichard Kick) (Drive: 9 plays, 69 yards, 3:49; Alabama 17–7)

Third quarter

* (8:51) UGA – Peyton Woodring 34 yd Field Goal (Drive: 5 plays, 54 yards, 1:45; Alabama 17–10)
* (0:48) BAMA – Will Reichard 28 Yd Field Goal (Drive: 4 plays, 1 yard, 1:26; Alabama 20–10)

Fourth quarter

* (10:16) UGA – Carson Beck 1 yd Run (Peyton Woodring Kick) (Drive: 4 plays, 35 yards, 1:37; Alabama 20–17)
* (5:47) BAMA – Roydell Williams 1 yd Run (Will Reichard Kick) (Drive: 9 plays, 75 yards, 4:29; Alabama 27–17)
* (2:52) UGA – Kendall Milton 1 yd Run (Peyton Woodring Kick) (Drive: 10 plays, 75 yards, 2:55; Alabama 27–24)

### Statistics

[edit]

Statistics  | UGA  | ALA

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First downs | 19 | 20
Plays–yards | 60–321 | 64–306
Rushes–yards | 31–78 | 41–114
Passing yards | 243 | 192
Passing: comp–att–int | 21–29–0 | 13–23–0
Time of possession | 28:51 | 31:09
Team | Category | Player | Statistics

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Georgia  | Passing | Carson Beck | 21/29, 243 yards
Rushing | Kendall Milton | 13 carries, 42 yards, 2 TD
Receiving | Brock Bowers | 5 receptions, 53 yards
Alabama  | Passing | Jalen Milroe | 13/23, 192 yards, 2 TD
Rushing | Roydell Williams | 16 carries, 64 yards, 1 TD
Receiving | Isaiah Bond | 5 receptions, 79 yards

## Broadcasting

[edit]

CBS broadcast their 23rd consecutive and final SEC Championship Game. Under a new ten-year agreement that begins the following season, ABC will broadcast the championship game, with CBS beginning a full-slate of Big Ten football games, including the Big Ten Football Championship Game next season and in 2028.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Officiating crews for the 2023 college football conference championship games". December 2023.
2. ^ "2023 SEC Championship Game: Date, time, history". www.ncaa.com. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
3. ^ "SEC Establishes 2024 Football Schedule Format" (Press release). Southeastern Conference. June 1, 2023. Retrieved April 15, 2024.
4. ^ Stahl, Matt (November 11, 2023). "Alabama football clinches SEC West title with win over Kentucky". al. Retrieved November 11, 2023.

* v
* t
* e

2023 NCAA football conference championship games

Division I FBS|

* ACC
* American
* Big 12
* Big Ten
* Conference USA
* MAC
* Mountain West
* Pac-12
* SEC
* Sun Belt

Division I FCS|

* SWAC

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SEC Football Championship Game

Years|

* 1992
* 1993
* 1994
* 1995
* 1996
* 1997
* 1998
* 1999
* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024

Venues|

* Legion Field (1992–1993)
* Georgia Dome (1994–2016)
* Mercedes-Benz Stadium (2017–present)

* v
* t
* e

Alabama Crimson Tide football

Venues|

* University of Alabama Quad (1893–1914)
* Denny Field (1915–1928)
* Bryant–Denny Stadium (1929–present)
* Rickwood Field (alternate, 1912–1927)
* Cramton Bowl (alternate, 1922–1954)
* Ernest F. Ladd Stadium (alternate, 1948–1968)
* Legion Field (alternate, 1927–2003)

Bowls & rivalries|

* Bowl games
* Auburn: Iron Bowl (James E. Foy, V-ODK Sportsmanship Trophy)
* Clemson
* Florida
* Georgia
* Georgia Tech
* LSU
* Mississippi State
* Ole Miss
* Penn State
* Tennessee: Third Saturday in October

Culture & lore|

* History
* Saban era
* Traditions
* Big Al
* "Yea Alabama"
* "Dixieland Delight"
* A-Day
* 1922 Penn game
* Million Dollar Band
* Walk of Fame
* Paul W. Bryant Museum
* The Bear
* The Bear Bryant Show
* Porter Cup
* 1943 Informals
* Forrest Gump
* Punt Bama Punt
* Bo Over the Top
* 1992 SEC Championship Game
* 2009 SEC Championship Game
* 2011 "Game of the Century"
* Kick Six (Kick Bama Kick)
* 2019 "Game of the Century"
* 2024 Vanderbilt game

People|

* Head coaches
* All-Americans
* College Football Hall of Fame inductees
* NFL draftees
* Starting quarterbacks
* Statistical leaders
* Yearly leaders
* Champ Pickens

Seasons|

* 1892
* 1893
* 1894
* 1895
* 1896
* 1897
* 1898
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* 1900
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* 1903
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* 1905
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* 2015
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* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024

National championship seasons in bold

* v
* t
* e

Georgia Bulldogs football

Venues|

* Herty Field (1892–1910)
* Sanford Field (1911–1928)
* Sanford Stadium (1929–present)

Bowls & rivalries|

* Bowl games
* Alabama
* Auburn: Deep South's Oldest Rivalry
* Clemson
* Florida
* Georgia Tech: Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate
* South Carolina
* Tennessee
* Vanderbilt

Culture & lore|

* History
* Hairy Dawg
* Uga
* "Glory, Glory"
* Georgia Redcoat Marching Band
* First forward pass
* 1927 Yale game
* Prayer at Jordan-Hare

People|

* Head coaches
* Steadman V. Sanford
* Georgia Joker
* Larry Munson
* Morgan Blake
* NFL draftees
* Starting quarterbacks
* Statistical leaders

Seasons|

* 1892
* 1893
* 1894
* 1895
* 1896
* 1897
* 1898
* 1899
* 1900
* 1901
* 1902
* 1903
* 1904
* 1905
* 1906
* 1907
* 1908
* 1909
* 1910
* 1911
* 1912
* 1913
* 1914
* 1915
* 1916
* 1917–1918
* 1919
* 1920
* 1921
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* 1925
* 1926
* 1927
* 1928
* 1929
* 1930
* 1931
* 1932
* 1933
* 1934
* 1935
* 1936
* 1937
* 1938
* 1939
* 1940
* 1941
* 1942
* 1943
* 1944
* 1945
* 1946
* 1947
* 1948
* 1949
* 1950
* 1951
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* 1953
* 1954
* 1955
* 1956
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* 1958
* 1959
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* 1963
* 1964
* 1965
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* 1969
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* 1972
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* 1976
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* 1978
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* 2020
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* 2022
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* 2024

National championship seasons in bold
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template
*[Conf]: Conference record
*[W]: Wins
*[L]: Losses
*[comp]: Completions
*[att]: Attempts
*[int]: Interceptions