What playing in SEC Championship means to Alabama players in 12-team playoff era

As the Tide secured a fumble with just 33 seconds left in the Iron Bowl, it effectively secured Alabama’s 27-20 lead and the win, which automatically propelled the Crimson Tide into the SEC Championship game.

Alabama would have faced the Texas A&M Aggies, but with their loss to Texas on Friday night, SEC tiebreakers and standing gave the Georgia Bulldogs the nod, meaning fans will get an Alabama-Georgia matchup for the second time this season.

When the Tide made the trip to Athens earlier in the year, it came out on top by just three points, winning 24-21. It was a great win that got the Tide rolling, but both teams are in different spots 10 weeks later.

Defensive lineman Tim Keenan III, a senior who’s played a major role on the defensive line throughout his career in Tuscaloosa, spoke on Monday about what it means to play in the SEC Championship.

“This game definitely holds a lot of weight,” Keenan said. “It’s just the next game. We’re used to playing in big-time moments, especially being here at Alabama, where every week is kind of like an SEC Championship because you know we get everybody’s best game. Go 1-0, do what we’ve been doing, keep climbing, keep the main thing the main thing.”

The Tide will have to treat it like any other game, because if it doesn’t, then it can easily get caught up in the moment. Senior linebacker and Alabama native, Deontae Lawson, also spoke about what the opportunity to play in Atlanta means.

“Man, it will be a great experience to get them guys in that environment,” Lawson said. “I’m just telling them another big game, another challenge that we got to get over to get to our goals. I’m sure we’ll be ready to go when the game comes. It starts with a great week of practice. Obviously, I’m fired up, another opportunity to get another SEC Championship. It means the world to me.”

Both Lawson and Keenan have had the opportunity to play for the SEC Championship in their time with the Crimson Tide. But many younger players have not, meaning Lawson, Keenan and other seniors will need to act as leaders and mentors as Alabama looks to travel to the state of Georgia to face the Bulldogs, with the College Football Playoffs likely on the line.