The NFL evaluation community smelled an upset brewing in the SEC title game, with Georgia boasting a star-studded roster featuring nearly as much talent as Nick Saban’s Crimson Tide in the first clash between the SEC titans since 2008.

An opportunistic special-teams package that caught Alabama off-guard for three big plays, including  a 55-yard blocked field-goal return by Alec Ogletree, combined with the explosive arm of QB Aaron Murray, who connected with Tavarres King on three big-play strikes, kept Georgia alive until the final play.

In a sensational second half that featured four lead changes, Murray took the field with 1:08 to play and 85 yards to go and drove downfield, setting up at the five-yard line for the game-winning TD. Instead, a pass intended for the endzone was tipped into the hands of Georgia WR Chris Conley, who couldn’t get out of bounds, and the Tide held on for a 32-28 win to earn another shot at the national title.

A powerful offensive line, led by senior OLG Chance Warmack and junior ORT D.J. Fluker, was the star of the game, paving the way for Alabama junior RB Eddie Lacy and freshman T.J. Yeldon. The bulldozing Lacy, who could be the third first-round runner the program has produced the past three drafts, plowed his way through a defense that knew what was coming and could not stop it.