Georgia fell 5 yards short in its bid to earn a spot in the BCS National Championship game as they were beat by Alabama, 32-28, in the SEC championship game on Saturday.

Todd Gurley scored on a 10-yard run to give the Bulldogs a 28-25 lead with 12:54 left in the fourth quarter. Alabama answered when A.J. McCarron connected with Amari Cooper for a 45-yard touchdown reception to put the Crimson Tide ahead, 32-28, with 3:15 to play in the game.

Aaron Murray marched Georgia down to the Alabama 5-yard line but the Bulldogs had no way to stop the clock after a 3-yard pass completion to Chris Conley with five seconds remaining in the game. The clock ran out and Alabama was victorious.

Georgia coach Mark Richt told Steve Hummer of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that the loss "hurts a lot" as his team prepared all year to get back to the SEC Championship game for the second consecutive season.

Richt said that both teams played well but "the clock ran out" on the Bulldogs.

Alabama coach Nick Saban said it would be a "crying shame" if Georgia didn't play in a BCS bowl game this season.