Nick Saban vs. Kirby Good: Remembering Alabama, Georgia coaches’ championship duels

For the second time of the School Soccer Playoff period, Alabama’s Nick Saban and Georgia’s Kirby Good will meet in an all-SEC championship matchup within the School Soccer Playoff.

The highest-ranked Crimson Tide secured their journey to Lucas Oil Stadium with an old-school 27-6 victory over No. 4 Cincinnati within the Cotton Bowl. The third-ranked Bulldogs earned their probability to rematch towards Alabama with a 34-11 beatdown of Michigan within the Orange Bowl.

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The 2 have had an eventful rivalry since Good left Alabama to turn into head coach at Alabama. This would be the fifth time the coaches will meet with each groups ranked within the prime 5, and Saban owns a 4-0 file. Alabama has come from behind in all 4 video games to win, 3 times erasing double-digit deficits.

Friday’s semifinal victories assure the SEC will earn yet one more nationwide championship. The one query now could be which of Saban and Good will emerge victorious. The 2 have already met this season, as Alabama scored a stunning 41-24 victory over the Bulldogs within the SEC championship recreation to safe its bid to the playoff.

The victory got here as a shock to many faculty soccer observers, not solely as a result of Alabama put up 41 factors on what was thought of a doubtlessly all-time nice defensive unit, but in addition as a result of the Crimson Tide had struggled to victories over Florida, LSU, Arkansas and Auburn. Georgia, in the meantime, ran roughshod over every of its opponents all season, by no means dealing with a critical risk till its first lack of the season.

That recreation was simply the most recent of high-profile conferences between Saban and Good, which observe again to the 2018 School Soccer Playoff championship recreation. It is becoming, then, that their newest assembly ought to as soon as once more be for the School Soccer Playoff championship.

With that, Sporting Information appears to be like again on the historical past of Saban vs. Good:

BENDER: Georgia resets national title hopes, gives Alabama rematch renewed hype

What’s Nick Saban’s file vs. Kirby Good?

Previous to the 2022 School Soccer Playoff championship recreation, Saban’s file vs. Good is 4-0, a file that started with the 2018 CFP title recreation. Alabama additionally secured victories over Georgia within the 2018 SEC championship recreation, a 2020 regular-season assembly and the 2021 SEC championship recreation.

BENDER: Alabama, Nick Saban flex the old-fashioned way in blowout

Nick Saban vs. Kirby Good all-time collection

Jan. 8, 2018: Alabama 26, Georgia 23 (time beyond regulation)

The 2017 nationwide championship recreation between No. 4 Alabama and No. 3 Georgia marked the primary assembly between Saban and Good because the former left Alabama as its defensive coordinator to take over as head coach of his alma mater. The Bulldogs jumped out to a 13-0 lead, prompting Saban to bench two-year starter Jalen Hurts on the half in favor of Tua Tagovailoa.

The freshman helped Alabama get on the board earlier than Georgia, below then-quarterback Jake Fromm, lengthened its result in 20-7. Tagovailoa led the Crimson Tide to 13 straight unanswered factors (together with the game-tying rating on fourth down) to ship the sport to time beyond regulation. Rodrigo Blankenship put the Bulldogs up on the board first with a 51-yard area aim. Tagovailoa took a 16-yard sack on the Tide’s first offensive play earlier than hitting DeVonta Smith for a 41-yard go-ahead landing — their first lead of the sport — to win 26-23 in time beyond regulation.

Dec. 1, 2018: Alabama 35, Georgia 28

No. 4 Georgia rematched towards top-ranked Alabama within the SEC championship recreation with a School Soccer Playoff berth on the road. It appeared as if the Bulldogs would precise revenge on the Crimson Tide after they jumped out to a 28-14 third-quarter lead. Tagovailoa managed to get the Crimson Tide to inside one rating after a 51-yard landing to Jaylen Waddle, however was misplaced for the sport after struggling an ankle damage.

As soon as once more, Saban turned to his backup — Hurts, this time — to guide the comeback victory. He led Alabama to 14 unanswered fourth-quarter factors, together with the go-ahead 15-yard landing run with 1:04 left in regulation — to safe the 35-28 victory over Georgia.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1C5GqZoQxrw

Oct. 17, 2020: Alabama 41, Georgia 24

Saban and Good as soon as once more met in a top-four assembly, this time within the 2020 common season. As soon as once more, the primary half recommended the sport can be a back-and-forth affair, with each groups buying and selling blows en path to a 24-20 halftime lead for Georgia. The Bulldogs could have secured their third halftime lead in as many tries, however Alabama managed to wrest momentum with a 52-yard area aim as time expired on the half. Georgia managed to carry onto the lead for the primary 11 minutes of the second half earlier than Heisman Trophy finalist Mac Jones hit Waddle for a 90-yard go-ahead landing with 4 minutes remaining within the quarter.

Alabama was capable of safe a 41-24 victory over the Bulldogs after two extra touchdowns and a second-half shutout by the protection.

Dec. 4, 2021: Alabama 41, Georgia 24

Georgia as soon as once more took an early lead over Alabama, leaping out to a 10-0 benefit. However Alabama rattled off three straight scoring drives — two touchdowns and a area aim — to take its first lead of the sport within the second quarter. Georgia tied the sport at 17 apiece with a 32-yard go from Stetson Bennett to Ladd McConkey with 2:06 remaining within the half. However Heisman Trophy winner Bryce Younger gave Alabama the lead once more with an 11-yard landing run with 26 seconds left within the half.

Alabama did not relinquish the lead once more. Younger hit Jameson Williams for a 55-yard landing strike for his second lengthy landing of the sport following a 67-yarder earlier within the second quarter. A 42-yard interception return for landing by Jordan Battle made the rating 38-17 in favor of Alabama with 11 minutes remaining. The Bulldogs scored a late landing to make it nearer, however could not shut the space within the loss.