Alabama beats Georgia in all-time great college football matchup

The GIST: When a phenomenal performance from college football’s chosen one takes a back seat in the news, it means an all-time great game hit the weekend’s gridiron. Here’s what had us shook in Week 5:

Alabama tops Georgia in an instant classic: Expectations couldn’t have been higher for the Georgia Bulldogs’ Saturday visit to Alabama’s Crimson Tide, yet it still managed to exceed the hype. From wild momentum swings to game-saving plays to Miss Terry’s College GameDay appearance to Holly Rowe’s outfit, the tilt was a spectacle from start to finish — and college football at its best.

• The first half belonged to the Tide, who entered the break up 30–7. But the Dawgs stormed back, taking the lead with under three minutes to play and delivering one of the most thrilling quarters of football fans have seen this season.

• In the end, the Tide sealed the dub with an unbelievable touchdown (TD) and an endzone interception, boosting Bama from No. 4 to No. 1 in the AP poll and dropping Georgia from No. 2 to No. 5. Unreal.

Top-10 teams stunned at home: Just two weeks after they almost toppled Georgia, the Kentucky Wildcats snagged a Top-10 road win by humbling then–No. 6 Ole Miss with a 20–17 upset. Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart’s Heisman odds took a major hit, while Kentucky proved their near-upset over Georgia was no fluke.

• Out west, Utah took a brutal 23–10 Saturday beating by fellow Big 12 newbie Arizona, sliding the Utes from No. 10 to No. 18 in the rankings. QB Cam Rising’s hand can’t heal fast enough.

No. 8 Miami survives Virginia Tech: Despite the Hurricanes’ narrow 38–34 escape from the Hokies on Friday, Miami QB Cam Ward remains the Heisman frontrunner thanks to his 343 passing yards and five TDs — four in the air, one on the ground.