Controversial non-pass interference call helps No. 2 Georgia to 20-17 win over No. 6 Alabama

What is pass interference?It's a question that's going to dominate the Southeast all week after No. 2 Georgia's 20-17 win over No. 6 Alabama.As the Bulldogs were up three with 3:28 to go, Alabama quarterback Keelon Russell threw a second-down pass into the end zone towards Rico Scott. As a corner trailed in coverage, Georgia's KJ Bolden closed in from the middle of the field and didn't play the ball. Bolden made contact with Scott without turning his head to the backfield just before Russell's pass hit Bolden in the leg.Watch the play here. Was it pass interference?A no-call on pass interference on this play 😬 pic.twitter.com/UtlUkwemtu— The Next Round (@NextRoundLive) October 11, 2026 The officiating crew on the game said it wasn't. No flag was thrown, much to the anger of Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer. And after Russell was sacked on third down — by Bolden, nonetheless — Alabama was forced to punt the ball to the Bulldogs and never got it back.It's a massive win for a Georgia team that will assuredly be the No. 1 team in Sunday's AP Top 25 following No. 1 Texas' loss to Oklahoma earlier in the day. After beating Alabama in the SEC title game in December, the Bulldogs had a much bigger challenge in Tuscaloosa against a far more dynamic Crimson Tide team than the one that took the field in Atlanta 10 months ago.But Georgia showed why Gunner Stockton is one of the best QBs in the SEC and how the program's depth is still impeccable in college football's NIL world.With both Nate Frazier and Chauncey Bowens out, RB Dwight Phillips Jr. stepped up. He had 17 carries for 120 yards after rushing for 160 yards across Georgia's first five games of the season. Sophomore Bo Walker also chipped in with 10 carries for 69 yards.Stockton was 18-of-22 passing for 249 yards with a TD and an interception. Those 18 completions went to 10 different players as no one had more than four catches or the 53 yards Jaden Reddell had on his lone catch of the day.Georgia's receiving depth has been on display all season. Talyn Taylor entered the game leading the team with 12 catches through five games. He had three grabs for 43 yards against Alabama.The defense, meanwhile, prevented Alabama's passing game from having any completions over 30 yards. Keelon Russell was 16-of-30 passing for 185 yards and a score, while no Alabama receiver had more than 39 total yards.Ryan Coleman-Williams led the Tide with three catches for 39 yards, but left the first half early due to a lower-body injury sustained while attempting to catch a pass in the end zone. He returned in the second half — though clearly not at 100% — before leaving the game again after a hard hit.An SEC championship game preview?After Texas couldn't put Oklahoma away in its loss earlier in the day, it was hard not to think about how the game between the Bulldogs and Crimson Tide could be the first of three matchups this season. After all, they met twice in 2025 after Alabama won in September. And there's always a chance they could meet in the playoff too.Of course, the odds of a three-game series are slim. But this does seem like the likeliest matchup in Atlanta in December. Especially now that LSU has a second conference loss after falling to Kentucky on Saturday night.Both teams have rivalry games in Week 7, too. Georgia plays Auburn while Alabama travels to Knoxville to face No. 15 Tennessee after the Volunteers won at Arkansas on Saturday.