ATLANTA — Five takeaways from the SEC Championship where the old guard refuses to give up its grip on the league. Georgia, behind riding a backup quarterback, the momentum from a daring fake punt and a wave of Texas penalties held off the Longhorns 22-19 to win the championship.

The first time the Longhorns and Bulldogs met, Texas turned the ball over a season-high four times, resulting directly in 17 Georgia points. That undermined an outstanding defensive performance. The Longhorns held the Bulldogs to 4.0 yards per play — that's happened just five times since coach Kirby Smart took over in Athens for the 2016 season.

The road to college football’s national championship is often paved through the SEC Championship Game, and that could be the case again in 2024, as Georgia and Texas face off not just for the conference crown,