Star quarterbacks Milroe, Beck gear up for rematch of SEC Championship Game

Jalen Milroe is always a threat to break loose for a long run or uncork a deep ball whenever the defense leaves an opening — or he creates one.

Carson Beck is a big-game veteran who makes few mistakes and could well wind up being the No. 1 NFL draft pick.

Now, the two quarterbacks are set to meet for Round 2 on Saturday night when Beck leads No. 2 Georgia against Milroe and fourth-ranked Alabama. It’s a rematch of last season’s Southeastern Conference Championship Game won by Milroe & Co.

The SEC's two most ballyhooed returning quarterbacks — Quinn Ewers and Texas were in the Big 12 last season — have lived up to their billing so far. And the opposing coaches are well aware of the challenges they present.

Beck is 16-1 as a starting quarterback and 6-1 against top 20 teams, throwing for 1,971 yards and 15 touchdowns against just two interceptions in those games against ranked opponents.

“I think their quarterback, Carson Beck, is as good as it comes in college football right now,” Alabama defensive coordinator Kane Wommack said.

Likewise, Georgia coach Kirby Smart said sometimes even the right way to defend can prove wrong against Milroe. It's the dual-threat whammy presented by a player capable of big plays both ways.

“With him, the challenges are immense because he’s an incredible football player,” Smart said. "There is no design to a play that you can draw up and then say, ‘Well, I’m pretty sure this is going to happen on this play,’ with him because you don’t know what’s going to happen.

“Sometimes the worst thing you can do is cover everybody with him, and sometimes the best thing you can do is cover everybody. It just depends.”

Beck has completed 68.3% of his passes, throwing for 680 yards and seven touchdowns. He has only been sacked twice and like Milroe hasn't thrown an interception.

“Incredibly efficient with his decision-making,” Wommack said. “Does not take many sacks. Rarely turns the ball over. Takes care of the football. I think he does a really tremendous job in the intermediate throwing game. He has great accuracy. Really quick release, a great decision-maker. Just so impressed by him the more I watch — and I’ve probably watched every game from the last couple of years here.”

Milroe is connecting at a 67.3% clip with 590 yards and eight touchdowns, albeit on 30 fewer passes than Beck. He has also run for 156 yards and six touchdowns.

He's the third-rated passer in the Bowl Subdivision but has also run for a pair of scores in each of the first three games.

“He is as different a football player in college football as I’ve played against in a long time because people think he’s just a runner, and that’s not the case,” Smart said. “He has a tremendous arm and can do things with his arm that other people can’t.”

Both quarterbacks played well in their previous matchup, but Milroe and the Tide won 27-24 in the SEC title game. Milroe was 13-of-23 passing for 192 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran for 29 yards even after 38 yards in sacks.

Beck was 21-of-29 passing for 243 yards.

Now for the rematch and easily the best competition either quarterback has faced this season.