The two bordering state schools were charter members of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) in 1933 and played every season from 1944 to 1965.

The Supreme Court ruled in favor of Butts, with the publisher eventually being ordered to pay more than $3 million in damages.

[11] Following the scandal, the schools decided to end their annual series after the 1965 meeting, which the Bulldogs won 18–17 on a last-second controversial flea-flicker touchdown.

[12] They have played only sporadically since, including just four meetings from 1971 to 1982, an era in which the Tide or Bulldogs won at least a share of every SEC title.

Because Alabama and Georgia were not paired as permanent rivals, they would play only on a rotating basis (twice in an eight-year cycle) or in the newly created SEC Championship Game.

[13] Later scheduling modifications, as well as the SEC's expansion to 14 teams, have resulted in just one permanent cross-division rival for each team, with Alabama playing Tennessee as part of the Third Saturday in October, and Georgia facing off against Auburn in the Deep South's Oldest Rivalry.

By 2012, both Georgia and Alabama had seen successes under head coaches Mark Richt and Nick Saban, respectively.

The loss would prevent Georgia from making their second-straight College Football Playoff appearance, and Alabama would end up losing the national championship to Clemson.

This was a highly anticipated game, with both teams ranked in the top three and Alabama hosting College GameDay.

Alabama would go on to finish with a perfect 13–0 record and win their 18th national title in program history.

Unlike in 2021 though, Georgia would not receive an invite to the College Football Playoff, and would be denied the opportunity to win three consecutive national titles.

The game was advertised as another marquee College GameDay matchup, with #4 Alabama hosting #2 Georgia, the seventh time in 12 years the two teams met both ranked in the top five.

Georgia then answered by orchestrating a 28-point comeback, eventually leading 34–33 late in the fourth quarter.