The Instant Classic that was Georgia/Alabama will likely be talked about for a while and rightfully so.
The game had everything.
A Heisman-worthy performance from Tide quarterback Jalen Milroe.
Crazy plays from Bama wide receiver Ryan Williams, who isn’t even old enough to vote yet.
A huge comeback from the Dogs.
It was a fantastic college football game. And with the expansion of the College Football Playoff we could get it again. I, for one, won’t complain about that at all.
Some online chatter following the Tide’s 41-34 win centered on the game not meaning anything because both teams are likely to still earn a spot in the playoff. Tell that to the fans in the stadium who experienced every possible emotion over three hours. Tell that to Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer, who experienced Big Time SEC football for the first time. Tell that to Williams, who was in high school four months ago. Tell that to Georgia coach Kirby Smart, who with the loss fell to 1-6 against Alabama.
The games continue to matter in college football. It’s the one sport where the week-to-week results have the most consequential long-term effects. It’s why fans still get goosebumps thinking about games like 2007 Pittsburgh/West Virginia. It’s why coaches get fired shortly after winning conference and national titles. It’s why I’ll always remember exactly where I was and what I was doing for the “Little Giants” game and 2015 Michigan State/Michigan.
Those are all regular season games. Rivalry games. That’s what makes college football what it is. Even as realignment changes things, those moments will always remain.
And you know what would create more moments? Georgia/Alabama meeting in the Playoff.
The “If I Voted” Top 25
1. Alabama
2. Texas
3. Ohio State
4. Georgia
5. Tennessee
6. Penn State
7. Miami (FL)
8. Oregon
9. Clemson
10. Notre Dame
11. Michigan
12. USC
13. Missouri
14. LSU
15. Ole Miss
16. BYU
17. Louisville
18. Kansas State
19. Utah
20. Oklahoma
21. Iowa State
22. Boise State
23. UNLV
24. Indiana
25. Arizona
Week 5 Heisman Ballot
1. Jaylen Milroe, Alabama QB
2. Ashton Jeanty, Boise State RB
3. Travis Hunter, Colorado DB/WR
4. Cam Ward, Miami (FL) QB
Ranking the best of the Week 6 slate
1. Missouri at Texas A & M
2. SMU at Louisville
3. Iowa at Ohio State
4. Miami (FL) at Cal
5. Rutgers at Nebraska
6. Michigan at Washington
7. Tennessee at Arkansas
8. Ole Miss at South Carolina
9. Clemson at Florida State
10. Syracuse at UNLV (Friday)
11. Michigan State at Oregon (Friday)
12. Texas Tech at Arizona
