Alabama is about to fight for its life on Saturday when Georgia rolls into town, and this year’s matchup will be very different from previous years.

The Crimson Tide will not have their hall-of-fame head coach Nick Saban on the sidelines, who got the best of the Bulldogs most of the time and beat them in the last SEC game he ever coached in.

Alabama’s Jalen Milroe Could Be The Leader For The Heisman After This Week

USATSI 24184501 168400517 lowres 1 — Sep 7, 2024; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer gives some encouragement to quarterback Jalen Milroe (4) at Bryant-Denny Stadium after defeating the South Florida Bulls. Mandatory Credit: Gary Cosby Jr.-Imagn Images

Even though Saban will not be coaching in the game, the Crimson Tide still has one of the biggest reasons why they won last year’s game against the Bulldogs on their roster: quarterback Jalen Milroe.

Milroe is one of the best quarterbacks in college football and an elite playmaker with his legs, but his arm and passing ability are getting better under new head coach Kalen DeBoer. There is a chance that if Alabama pulls off the upset this week, the second-year starting quarterback could be the favorite to win the Heisman.

According to FanDuel Sportsbook, Milroe has the third-best odds to win the award, right behind Miami quarterback Cam Ward and Ole Miss Jaxson Dart.

UPDATED: College Football Heisman Trophy Odds per @FDSportsbook🏆

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— On3 (@On3sports) September 25, 2024

USATSI 21823687 168400545 lowres — Nov 4, 2023; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Jalen Milroe (4) scrambles up the field against LSU Tigers linebacker Harold Perkins Jr. (4) during the second half at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Alabama Crimson Tide defeated the LSU Tigers 42-28. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

If Milroe beats Georgia this weekend, he could easily be the favorite to win the Heisman. If the Crimson Tide pulls the upset, that means Milroe would’ve had an elite game.

There is no way Alabama will be able to beat Georgia if Milroe doesn’t play great, so this could be a great chance for him to either lead the Heisman trophy race after this week or find himself out of it.

Texas’s Quinn Ewers was the favorite to win the award two weeks ago after he beat Michigan, but Ewers has been sidelined the last two weeks with an injury, and it’s hard to win an award in college football, missing games.

Alabama vs Georgia could be the game of the season, and it will be awesome to see the two teams go at it Saturday night in a new era without Nick Saban.