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5 storylines to follow at 2019 SEC Football Media Days

By Jake Mitchell

SANTA CLARA, CA - JANUARY 07: Head coach Nick Saban of the Alabama Crimson Tide reacts during the press conference after his teams 44-16 loss to the Clemson Tigers in the CFP National Championship presented by AT&T at Levi's Stadium on January 7, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA - JANUARY 07: Head coach Nick Saban of the Alabama Crimson Tide reacts during the press conference after his teams 44-16 loss to the Clemson Tigers in the CFP National Championship presented by AT&T at Levi's Stadium on January 7, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JANUARY 01: Trey Blount #14 of the Georgia Bulldogs reacts after losing to the Texas Longhorns 28-21 during the Allstate Sugar Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 01, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JANUARY 01: Trey Blount #14 of the Georgia Bulldogs reacts after losing to the Texas Longhorns 28-21 during the Allstate Sugar Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 01, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) /

2. Can Georgia get over the hump?

Georgia’s reputation, in the last two seasons, has become that of the Alabama clone. They’re recruiting in the top five. They’ve taken control of the eastern division of the SEC, opposite Alabama in the west. The Bulldogs are in a position to win big. Now, can they win?

Kirby Smart’s team is now the number one contender for Alabama in the SEC. For a long time, the Tide’s biggest challenger has been LSU, and the Tigers have spent the better part of a decade trying to climb that mountain.

Will Georgia plateau, like LSU, or will they conquer Alabama?

They weren’t able to in the 2017 national champiosnhip game, where they lost in overtime. They weren’t able to last season, when Jalen Hurts took over for an injured Tua Tagovailoa and completed a storybook tenure at Alabama.

The Bulldogs have a dependable starting quarterback and a Heisman candidate at running back. They lose some defensive leadership, but much like Saban, Smart has become one of the best recruiters in the country. They’ll reload, and maybe even get better, at several spots this year.

Can Georgia win the east and get to Atlanta? Absolutely. Can they overcome Alabama? That’s the next step.

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