008 — Alabama vs. Georgia: Live from Tuscaloosa
October 10, 2026 · Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Words and photographs by Nathon Ruehl
LIVE UPDATES
9:23 p.m. Central — Georgia misses a field goal, Q4 13:41. Georgia’s attempt is unsuccessful early in the fourth quarter. Last confirmed score: Alabama 17, Georgia 17 at the end of Q3.
9:20 p.m. Central — Fourth quarter underway. Red stadium lighting washes over the stands as the game enters its final regulation quarter.
9:17 p.m. Central — End of Q3: 17–17. Georgia pushed toward the north end zone in the closing seconds. First-and-10 at the 25 was followed by second-and-8 before the quarter ended.
9:15 p.m. Central — Energy rising. The game is getting rowdy and exciting from the stands.
9:03 p.m. Central — Alabama field goal, Q3 5:07. Alabama adds three points. The 17–17 tie was confirmed by the later quarter-end update.
Independent image + culture
Tuscaloosa / Alabama
Alabama vs.GeorgiaGeorgia wins 20–17 in Tuscaloosa
Photograph by Nathon Ruehl
Alabama 17 / Georgia 20Georgia wins by three
10:05 p.m. Central
Game complete
From the stands / newest first
GAME UPDATES
Final: Georgia 20, Alabama 17
Georgia closes out the game by taking a knee. “UGA” chants rise from the crowd, and fans cheer as Kirby comes over to them. Georgia wins 20–17 in Tuscaloosa on October 10, 2026.
Alabama penalty; Georgia first down at midfield
A penalty is called against Alabama on third down, described from the stands as unsportsmanlike conduct or roughness. Georgia has first-and-10 at the 50. A timeout follows with two minutes remaining.
Georgia extends its possession
Facing third-and-8 at its own 9, Georgia completes a pass and reaches the 27. The next reported situation is second-and-3 at the 34. After a timeout, the clock is set to 2:27. From the stands, Nathon’s impression is that Georgia is trying to run down the clock.
Georgia takes over after Alabama punts
Georgia has the ball at its own 9, heading south. Second down is followed by a timeout with 3:06 remaining.
Georgia’s sack stalls Alabama’s drive
Alabama gets a first down at Georgia’s 34 with about four minutes left, moving north toward the end zone. Loud boos follow at 3:28 as Georgia comes back with an intense sack. Nathon reports an injured Alabama player and more boos. At 3:14, Alabama faces fourth-and-19 at the 43, then punts.
Georgia takes a 20–17 lead
Georgia makes the field goal to move ahead by three with 5:25 remaining in the fourth quarter. Key Glock starts playing in the stadium.
Pass ruled incomplete near the end zone
The pass is ruled incomplete. From the stands, Nathon thought it looked like a Georgia touchdown; the ruling stands as an incomplete pass.
Georgia pushes deep
Georgia has first-and-10 at the 45 with eight minutes remaining. By 7:22, Georgia has a first down at the 8. Second down follows at 6:53, then third down at the 5 with 5:55 left and counting.
Georgia misses the field goal
The attempt is unsuccessful early in the fourth quarter. Last confirmed score: 17–17 at the end of Q3.
Fourth quarter underway
Red stadium lighting washes over the stands as the game enters its final regulation quarter.
Tied at 17–17
Georgia pushed toward the north end zone in the closing seconds. First-and-10 at the 25 was followed by second-and-8 before the quarter ended.
Energy rising
The game is getting rowdy and exciting from the stands.
Alabama field goal
Alabama adds three points. The 17–17 tie was confirmed by the later quarter-end update.
Georgia defeated Alabama 20–17 in Tuscaloosa on October 10, 2026, closing the game with a kneel-down. From the stands, the night was electric, misty, and increasingly rowdy as the game tightened.
Georgia fans were fired up over an early fumble and recovery. Georgia’s hard-fought first drive ended with a field goal, and the Bulldogs led 3–0 at the end of the opening quarter.
Georgia led 10–0 with 7:09 left in the second quarter. By 5:49, Alabama had cut the deficit to 10–7. Alabama added a touchdown and a successful kick in the closing sequence of the first half.
Georgia came into the second half pushing hard and led 17–14 with 10:38 remaining in the third quarter. Alabama made a field goal at 5:07. The teams finished the quarter tied 17–17, with Georgia pressing toward the north end zone as the clock wound down.
Georgia took the lead with a fourth-quarter field goal. Alabama reached Georgia’s 34 on its next drive before a Georgia sack, an injury report, and a fourth-and-19 situation preceded a punt. Georgia extended its final possession, received a new first down after an Alabama penalty, and closed out the win.
There was history behind the noise. According to Mark Schlabach’s reporting for ESPN, this was Georgia’s first win in Tuscaloosa since 2007 and Kirby Smart’s first regular-season victory over Alabama as Georgia’s head coach.
ESPN identifies the decisive kick as Peyton Woodring’s 23-yard field goal with 5:25 remaining. KJ Bolden and Valdin Sone then combined for the sack that forced Alabama’s final punt. Gunner Stockton finished with 249 passing yards, a touchdown pass, and a rushing score; Dwight Phillips Jr. added 120 yards on the ground. The win came down to finishing possessions—and Georgia finished the last one.
Additional reporting: Mark Schlabach / ESPN — Georgia’s first Tuscaloosa win since 2007 ↗. Published October 11, 2026.
“UGA” chants rose from the crowd. After the game, fans cheered as Kirby came over to them—a closing moment captured in the video below.
002 — Alabama’s final plays of the first half against Georgia in Tuscaloosa. Video by Nathon Ruehl.
003 — Georgia’s closing kneel-down and the stadium reaction after its 20–17 win over Alabama. Tuscaloosa, October 10, 2026. Video by Nathon Ruehl.
004 — Kirby comes over to the fans after Georgia’s 20–17 win in Tuscaloosa. Video by Nathon Ruehl.
THE NIGHT SO FAR
Alabama and Georgia entered the fourth quarter tied in Tuscaloosa. From the stands, the night has been electric, misty, and increasingly rowdy as the game has tightened.
Georgia fans were fired up over an early fumble and recovery. Georgia’s hard-fought first drive ended with a field goal, and the Bulldogs led 3–0 at the end of the opening quarter.
Georgia led 10–0 with 7:09 left in the second quarter. By 5:49, Alabama had cut the deficit to 10–7. Alabama added a touchdown and a successful kick in the closing sequence of the first half.
Georgia came into the second half pushing hard and led 17–14 with 10:38 remaining in the third quarter. Alabama made a field goal at 5:07. The teams finished the quarter tied 17–17, with Georgia pressing toward the north end zone as the clock wound down.
Updates are reported from the stands. New entries appear above earlier updates as this story develops.
An independent publication documenting Alabama through art, music, film, and local stories—photographed, written, and published by Nathon Ruehl.