Georgia football QB Carson Beck on SEC championship loss to Alabama: 'It eats me alive'

Carson Beck owns a sparkling record as Georgia football starting quarterback with just one blemish on the docket.

It came on the first Saturday last December and sticks with him seven months later.

So when Beck met with reporters on day one of the Manning Passing Academy in Thibodaux, La., last week after a morning session, he spoke bluntly about the only loss during a 13-1 2023 season for him and the Bulldogs.

He was asked how much the 27-24 loss to Alabama in the SEC championship game that knocked Georgia out of the College Football Playoff has “eaten” at him and his teammates.

“Well, I can speak for myself,” Beck said. “Obviously, I mean it eats me alive. But it is what it is. Obviously a big loss like that in such a big game, I mean you're gonna think about it. But every season is separate of itself.”

Georgia looks poised to make a run at another national title this year in the first season of the expanded 12-team playoff. Georgia must handle an imposing road slate of Alabama on Sept. 28, Texas on Oct. 19 and Ole Miss on Nov. 9.

Beck played true road games last season at Auburn, Vanderbilt, Tennessee and Georgia Tech.

The game against the Longhorns, which officially became an SEC member Monday, will be a first look at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium for Beck.

“I've actually never been to the stadium,” said Beck, who served as a counselor at the camp. “I heard it's a great environment. I'm super excited. Obviously up there, they’ll be a top team, we’ll be a top team. I'm very excited for the competition and to play in their stadium. I think that'd be a cool place to play on the road.”

Beck, projected as a top 2025 NFL draft pick, passed for 3,941 yards with 24 touchdowns and 6 interceptions last season, but was held without a touchdown pass in the loss to Alabama on a day he completed 21 of 29 passes for 243 yards and was sacked twice.

Georgia had to settle for playing Florida State, a team that was decimated by players opting out after being left out of the playoff after going 13-0.

Georgia crushed the Seminoles in a 63-3 destruction after also missing out on the playoff.

“That would have been awesome if maybe they expanded a year earlier,” Beck said with a laugh.

--USA Today Sports’ David Eckert in Thibodaux, La. contributed to this report.