What we learned as Alabama football turns focus from Georgia win to Vanderbilt
The Tuscaloosa News’ Colin Gay talks through a few takeaways as Alabama football turns focus from Georgia to Vanderbilt.
The heavyweight matchup between Alabama and Georgia in Week 5 of the college football season lived up to all its pregame hype, with the Crimson Tide earning its third straight win since its Week 1 upset to Florida State.
That also includes television ratings.
According to Sports Media Watch, the Crimson Tide’s 24-21 win at Sanford Stadium against then-No. 3 Georgia drew 10.42 million viewers on ABC as the primetime “SEC on ABC” game of the week. It was the sixth-largest TV audience of the college football season.
Alabama and Georgia’s viewership was the highest of Week 5, with the next closest game being No. 2 Penn State’s double-overtime loss to No. 5 Oregon State in the Nittany Lions’ “White Out.” The game drew in 8.5 million viewers in the competing window on NBC.
Alabama’s win over Georgia not only helped the Crimson Tide move up five spots in the US LBM Coaches Poll, but also dropped Kirby Smart’s record against Alabama to 1-7 all-time. It also marked the 16th win against a ranked opponent for Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer (fourth at Alabama).
Crimson Tide quarterback Ty Simpson completed 24 of 38 passes for 276 yards and two touchdowns in the win, adding a 2-yard rushing touchdown just before halftime.
Alabama is set to face Diego Pavia and No. 17 Vanderbilt on Saturday, Oct. 4 at 2:30 p.m. CT at Bryant-Denny Stadium, where it will look to avoid its first back-to-back loss to the Commodores since 1955-56.
