The Alabama Crimson Tide lost one of the wilder games in the Alabama-Georgia rivalry, as the Georgia Bulldogs came into Tuscaloosa and got the job done. It was an up-and-down night for Alabama from start to finish, with big plays on both sides, a controversial finish, and a few performances that will be talked about all week.

So who were the biggest winners and losers for the Crimson Tide against Georgia? Let’s start with the positives before getting into a long list of losers.

Winners

Trae’shawn Brown

Brown was Alabama’s leading rusher, and he ripped off a huge chunk play that showed exactly what he brings to this offense. He continues to look like a Josh Jacobs-type runner, and he is extremely jittery with the ball in his hands. Alongside E.J. Crowell, Brown brings an element to the backfield that guys like Daniel Hill (who has been very good as well) simply don’t. In my opinion, he needs to get the ball more.

Bray Hubbard

Hubbard had his struggles early on, and we’ll get to that. However, he finished with an interception and a big-time pass breakup on third-and-goal that forced Georgia to settle for a field goal. That stop gave the Crimson Tide a chance to win the game late.

Ryan Coleman Williams

Coleman-Williams didn’t blow anyone away on the stat sheet, but it didn’t matter. If anyone was questioning his toughness, he answered every one of those questions.

He played with a knee brace, limped back to the locker room, and then came back out and took another hit. He was evaluated for a concussion and did not return to the game. He battled all night long, and that matters.

Keelon Russell

The stats won’t blow you away, and Russell did have a turnover. Still, he remained poised and used his legs to move the football when nothing was open downfield.

This was his first time facing a Kirby Smart defense. I believe that if Alabama had gotten the ball back, he would have had a real shot to go down the field and win it. That is a tremendous sign for both Russell and Alabama despite the outcome.

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Losers

Dijon Lee

Dijon Lee was the biggest loser of the night, and quite frankly, the biggest loser of the season so far. He struggled in coverage, couldn’t get his head turned around, and gave up multiple deep completions.

The truth is, he cost Alabama the football game. It’s one thing to have a bad game. It’s another thing to let your frustrations boil over. When the Crimson Tide had a chance to stuff Georgia on third down and get the ball back with two minutes or more remaining, Lee drew a personal foul after the play.

It doesn’t get much lower than that, and he may have cost himself his future in Tuscaloosa. Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer was incensed. I’ve never seen DeBoer as angry as he was over those final two to three minutes, and for good reason.

Front 7

Alabama faced a Georgia offense that was down to its third-string running back. Even so, Dwight Phillips went for more than 100 rushing yards before he got injured.

There was very little penetration from the defensive line, and certainly not from the second level. Linebackers Luke Metz, QB Reese, and Caleb Woodson struggled with their eyes all night, which led to big runs for the Bulldogs. That has to get cleaned up, especially if Alabama sees Georgia again in the SEC Championship Game or the College Football Playoff.

Kane Wommack

At some point, you have to pull Dijon Lee. At some point early in the game, you also have to recognize that Bray Hubbard does his best work going forward, not backward.

Hubbard was asked to run with the No. 3 receiver, play the apex, and come off the hash, and he got burned. Sure, the Lee situation and the failure to get off blocks fall on personnel. But Wommack didn’t help his defense out multiple times, and a lot of the struggles land on him.

Officiating

I hate doing this, and I rarely blame the officiating. But the refs had a rough night.

For one, Alabama had what looked like an interception overturned despite no clear evidence. Then came the call that really hurt, beyond the Lee penalty. Rico Scott got run over as he tried to make a catch, and there was no pass interference. Ryan Coleman-Williams clearly got hit in the head…No targeting.

Those calls can go either way. However, when the rules analyst on the broadcast says it was a bad call, and seemingly all of social media agrees, it’s safe to say the officials didn’t have a good night either.

It was a disappointing showing for the Crimson Tide, and Alabama will have to clean up plenty before its next big test