Dozens of records will be on the line when Georgia faces Alabama for championship

List of current record-holders include a who’s who of today’s most dazzling NFL stars

The two SEC powerhouses first met on the gridiron 126 years ago. The Bulldogs all-time record vs. Alabama stands at 25 wins, 42 losses and 4 ties. Georgia is currently on a 7-game losing streak against the Tide, which dates back to 2008.

Georgia and Alabama first faced each other in 1895. In that game, Georgia won 30-6. Billy Kent was Georgia's team captain in those days. The second meeting between the two teams in 1901 ended in a 0-0 tie. Overall, Alabama leads this series over Georgia by a record of 42-25-4.

The rivalry was in full swing by the early 20th century. Georgia won five in a row between 1910 and 1916, but lost five in a row between 1922 to 1926. The Bulldogs also lost four in a row between 1930 and 1941; and lost another five in a row between 1949 and 1953. Shown is Georgia's home field, Sanford Stadium, packed for a game in 1946.

Georgia's Wally Butts coaches against Alabama in 1955. Alabama was dominant during the era, but Georgia beat Alabama that year 35-14.

In 1958, the Bulldogs lost 12-0 to Alabama in Tuscaloosa despite the efforts of star Georgia quarterback Fran Tarkenton.

The Bulldogs lost five in a row between 1960 and 1964, before Georgia coach Vince Dooley led Georgia to a huge upset of Alabama in 1965. The final score in Athens was 18-17.

Fast forwarding through the years, wins and losses have gone back-and-forth between both teams, but the Bulldogs are now on a six-game losing streak and have not beaten the Crimson Tide since 2007. In this photo from Sept. 22, 2007, Georgia's Knowshon Moreno (24) stiff-arms Alabama's Prince Hall (21) during the first half in Tuscaloosa. The Bulldogs won 26-23 in overtime.

The rivalry reached a pinnacle in 2018. In January that year, Alabama beat Georgia 26-23 in the College Football Playoff National Championship; and in December the same year, the Tide beat Georgia again in the SEC Championship game, 35-28.

In 2020, Georgia had a 24-20 halftime lead over Alabama, but the Tide shut out the Bulldogs in the second half and won 41-24.

After the 2021 SEC Championship game, Nick Saban remains undefeated against his former assistant coach Kirby Smart. Both shown here when Smart was defensive coordinator for the Tide in 2013.

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Credit: File Photo

The two SEC powerhouses first met on the gridiron 126 years ago. The Bulldogs all-time record vs. Alabama stands at 25 wins, 42 losses and 4 ties. Georgia is currently on a 7-game losing streak against the Tide, which dates back to 2008.

By AJC Sports staff

Jan 6, 2022

Multiple CFP National Championship game records could come tumbling down Monday night when Georgia and Alabama face off at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Here are a few, along with many familiar names and unforgettable highlights.

Most yards rushing

246 — Ezekiel Elliott, Ohio State vs Oregon, 2015 (36 carries, 4 TDs)

Most passing attempts

56 — Deshaun Watson, Clemson vs. Alabama, 2017 (36-56-0,420 yds, 3 TDs)

Most pass completions

36 — Mac Jones, Alabama vs. Ohio State, 2021 (36-45-0, 464 yds, 5 TDs)

Most passing yards in a half

336 — Mac Jones, Alabama vs. Ohio State, 2021 (25-30-0, 4 TDs first half)

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Most yards passing

464 — Mac Jones, Alabama vs. Ohio State, 2021 (36-45-0, 464 yds, 5 TDs)

Most passes intercepted

2 — Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama vs. Clemson, 2019

2 — Jake Fromm, Georgia vs. Alabama, 2018

Most receptions

12 — DeVonta Smith, Alabama vs. Ohio State, 2021 (215 yards, 3 TDs)

Most yards receiving

221 — Ja’Marr Chase, LSU vs. Clemson, 2020 (9 receptions, 2 TDs)

Most yards receiving in a half

215 — DeVonta Smith, Alabama vs. Ohio State, 2021 (12 receptions, first half)

Most total yards

521 — Joe Burrow, LSU vs. Clemson, 2020 (463 passing, 58 rushing)

Longest play

80 yard receiving TD — Mecole Hardman, Georgia vs. Alabama, 2018

Longest rushing TD

50 yards — Derrick Henry, Alabama vs. Clemson, 2016

Longest pass and longest passing TD

80 yards — Jake Fromm, Georgia vs. Alabama, 2018

Longest field goal

52 yards — B.T. Potter, Clemson vs. LSU, 2020

Longest punt

58 yards — Will Spiers, Clemson vs. LSU, 2020

Longest punt return

19 yards — DeVonta Smith, Alabama vs. Ohio State, 2021

Longest kickoff return

95 yards — Kenyan Drake, Alabama vs. Clemson, 2016 (TD)

Longest interception return for TD

44 yards — A.J. Terrell, Clemson vs. Alabama, 2019

Most rushing touchdowns

4 — Ezekiel Elliott, Ohio State vs. Oregon, 2015 (4 rushing TDs)

Most passing touchdowns

5 — Mac Jones, Alabama vs. Ohio State, 2021

Most points scored

24 — Ezekiel Elliott, Ohio State vs. Oregon, 2015 (4 rushing TDs)

Most points responsible for

36 — Joe Burrow, LSU vs. Clemson, 2020 (5 passing TDs, 1 rush TD)

Most points by a kicker

11 — Rodrigo Blankenship, Georgia vs. Alabama, 2018

Most field goals

3 — Rodrigo Blankenship, Georgia vs. Alabama, 2018

Most kickoff returns for a touchdown

1 — Kenyan Drake, Alabama vs. Clemson, 2016 (95 yards)

Notable: During the CFP era, which began at the end of the 2014 season, there have been no punt returns for a touchdown and also no fumble recoveries for a touchdown in any national championship game.

Compiled by ArLuther Lee for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Source: College Football Playoff Record Book

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