Top 5 matchups for Week 5 of the 2024 college football season
1. No. 2 Georgia vs. No. 4 Alabama – Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET, ABC
Georgia and Alabama have a storied rivalry dating back to 1895. However, the two programs鈥� biggest games against each other have come over the past decade or so as the Bulldogs and Crimson Tide have matched up in four SEC championships and two national championships. Alabama got the best of Georgia in last season’s SEC championship game and has won eight of the last nine matchups against its rival to the east.
The Bulldogs are actually slight favorites heading to Tuscaloosa in what will be just the third regular-season matchup between the two programs in the last 15 years. Like Alabama, Georgia should be well-rested coming off a bye but had an ugly performance prior in a 13-12 win over Kentucky. The Bulldogs鈥� No. 4-ranked defense has been fantastic overall through three weeks and is again littered with future NFL talent again led by safety Malaki Starks. However, Kirby Smart鈥檚 offense led by preseason Heisman candidate Carson Beck has yet to truly get going heading into arguably Georgia鈥檚 biggest matchup of the year.
Meanwhile, Alabama鈥檚 offense has been consistently impressive in its three wins to begin the Kalen DeBoer era, scoring 42 points or more in each game as a top-25 unit in the country. Jalen Milroe has looked sharp as a passer while Jam Miller and Justice Haynes have formed a nice tandem in the backfield. The Tide鈥檚 defense has also shined, giving up just 26 points all season while most recently looking dominant in a solid road win at Wisconsin. The No. 13-ranked unit in the country led by coordinator Kane Wommack is capable of giving Georgia fits just as Kentucky did which could lead to another significant victory over the Bulldogs.
