74. Meeting. Deep-rooted rivalry. Top 5 matchup. There’s a lot to be excited about when it comes to the primetime Georgia-Alabama battle.

Since there are so many perspectives, here are three storylines that will make matters even more interesting on Saturday:

Welcome to SEC football, Kalen DeBoer

Coach DeBoer’s first rodeo in Tuscaloosa didn’t have many bumps in the road, as Alabama beat its first three opponents by an average of over 40 points per contest.

That changes Saturday when Georgia comes to town for one of the most anticipated college football games of the regular season. The rivalry, steeped in history, goes far beyond borders as both programs have ties to the other side. Wherever the game is played, a high-scoring event with numerous viral snapshots is guaranteed.

DeBoer is no newcomer to the big stage and led Washington to the national title game last season, but Georgia-Alabama is a different animal. There is no better, yet more difficult, way for the head coach to begin conference play.

As Nick Saban’s successor, it will be interesting to see how DeBoer fares in the rivalry game.

The performances will factor into the Heisman race

As both quarterbacks prepare to face a top defense, the question is how a top-notch performance can impact their Heisman chances. Carson Beck and Jalen Milroe hope to remain firmly in the mix among the other top contenders.

Although a win is the top priority, a strong performance could give them a leg up on one another and, more importantly, the remaining field.

Throw DIMES. 🎯
pic.twitter.com/3y466diC6D

— Alabama Football (@AlabamaFTBL) September 14, 2024

Impact on the College Football Playoff

Even though it’s only week five, a top-five win motivates both programs and brings them one step closer to the SEC title game. Additionally, her resume is being put together for the College Football Playoff.

The Bulldogs have three currently ranked teams remaining on their regular season schedule, and they are all currently in the top 10: No. 1 Texas (Oct. 19), No. 6 Ole Miss (Nov. 16) and No. 5 Tennessee (November 23).

The Crimson Tides’ schedule includes four more ranked opponents after Georgia, three of which are back-to-back: No. 5 Tennessee (Oct. 19), No. 11 Missouri (Oct. 26), No. 14 LSU (Nov. 9) and No. 21 Oklahoma (Nov. 23).

Expanding the CFP to 12 teams allows teams with just one loss to still build a strong case for a spot. However, two defeats complicate the argument in this case.