Why Georgia football benched All-SEC RB against Alabama

Georgia Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart explained why All-SEC running back Nate Frazier did not play in the second half of Georgia's 24-21 loss to the Alabama Crimson Tide. Frazier fumbled in the second quarter, which set up an Alabama field goal. He did not play after the fumble.

"Yeah, just that I love him and want him to get better," Smart said on Frazier. "It's not his first one (fumble).

"There's nothing, he's doing technically wrong. He's just got to hang onto the ball. That comes with confidence. It comes with confidence in how you practice. You've got to practice it, and you got to have confidence and show it. It was more about Chauncey (Bowens) being the hot back more than it was anything Nate (Frazier) was doing."

It was Frazier's fifth fumble (three fumbles lost) over the past 10 games. Frazier's 30 rushing yards were his lowest total since Oct. 2024. His five fumbles over his last 116 carries is concerning. It is hard for coaches to trust a running back that keeps fumbling the football.

Frazier will have to earn back the trust of the Georgia coaching staff. Right now, Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton has no interceptions, so it could be argued that Frazier is Georgia's biggest turnover risk.

Against Alabama, Georgia did not want to risk another fumble and elected to play Chauncey Bowens, Josh McCray, Dwight Phillips and Cash Jones over Nate Frazier. We expect that Georgia will give Frazier another opportunity against the Kentucky Wildcats this week.

This article originally appeared on UGA Wire: Why Georgia benched RB Nate Frazier against Alabama