NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Chase Elliott overcame the worst season of his career to maintain his hold on the NASCAR most popular driver award for the sixth consecutive year. Elliott missed seven races this season, failed to make the playoffs and wasn't required to attend Thursday night's season-ending awards ceremony at the Music City Center. But he showed to pick up the only award solely voted on by fans.

ATLANTA (AP) — The Southeastern Conference championship game will remain at Mercedes-Benz Stadium through at least 2031 under a contract extension announced Thursday. The SEC joined stadium operator AMB Sports and Entertainment and the Georgia World Congress Center Authority in announcing the agreement ahead of the 32nd annual title game Saturday, matching No. 1 Georgia — the two-time defending national champion — against No. 8 Alabama.

ATLANTA (AP) — When Kirby Smart returned to his alma mater as head coach, Alabama was the top dog. Now, the roles are reversed. The No. 1 Georgia Bulldogs are the two-time defending national champions and haven't lost a game in nearly two years. Everyone is chasing them. Alabama included.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Justin Hill hit a jumper with 1.5 seconds remaining as Georgia rallied from a 17-point deficit to beat Florida State 68-66 on Wednesday night in the ACC/SEC Challenge. De’Ante Green split a pair of free throws for Florida State that tied the game 66-all with 27 seconds remaining.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Shakur Poteat's 31 points led Albany State (Ga.) over Florida A&M 92-85 in double overtime on Wednesday night. Poteat also had five assists for the Golden Rams. Reggie James scored 14 points while shooting 5 for 9 (2 for 3 from 3-point range) and 2 of 3 from the free-throw line.

DELAND, Fla. (AP) — Jalen Blackmon scored 32 points as Stetson beat Coastal Georgia 94-49 on Wednesday night. Blackmon was 11-of-20 shooting, including 6 for 12 from 3-point range, and went 4 for 4 from the line for the Hatters (5-2).

Carson Beck and Jalen Milroe had to replace big-name quarterbacks at programs with national title-or-bust expectations. No sweat, right? Beck has kept No. 1 Georgia rolling after replacing two-time national champion quarterback Stetson Bennett.

ATLANTA (AP) — Mississippi State coach Chris Jans tried to warn his No. 21 Bulldogs that a Georgia Tech team coming off back-to-back losses and playing at home would provide a more difficult challenge than they had seen while winning their first six games. Jans says the message didn't get through.

The four-team College Football Playoff is going out with the most crowded field of contenders and the most consequential championship weekend in the 10-year history of the system. Eight teams have at least a glimmer of hope to make the field. Yes, that means you, too, Ohio State. The penultimate CFP rankings will be released Tuesday night. The field for the playoff will be announced Sunday.

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) — Syracuse hired Georgia defensive backs coach Fran Brown as its head coach on Tuesday, giving the Orange a highly regarded recruiter with roots in the Northeast. The 41-year-old Brown, a native of Camden, New Jersey, spent the past two seasons with Georgia and has never been a head coach. He was part of a national championship team last season, and the top-ranked Bulldogs are preparing for a third straight Southeastern Conference championship game appearance Saturday against No. 8 Alabama.

Alabama's national championship hopes came down to fourth-and-31 with a loss and some less dramatic close calls along the way. The Georgia Bulldogs, two-time defending champs, are still No. 1 and had a much less treacherous path to the Southeastern Conference Championship Game meeting of powerhouses Saturday in Atlanta despite some key injuries.

ATLANTA (AP) — The New Orleans Saints spent time during their bye week working on their red zone offense. That work did not pay off Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons. The Saints managed to get inside the Falcons 40 on eight possessions, but those resulted in just five field goals, two turnovers and a missed field goal during a 24-15 loss.

ATLANTA (AP) — Kendall Milton ran for a career-high 156 yards and two touchdowns and No. 1 Georgia held off Georgia Tech 31-23 on Saturday night to cap its third consecutive undefeated regular season with its sixth straight victory in the state rivalry.

BOONE, N.C. (AP) — Joey Aguilar threw four touchdown passes and Appalachian State blew past Georgia Southern 55-27 on Saturday, clinching a berth in the Sun Belt Championship in the process.

MACON, Ga. (AP) — Quarterback Carter Peevy ran for two touchdowns in the second quarter and the Mercer defense made that stand up for a 17-7 win over Gardner-Webb on Saturday in the Bears' first-ever game in the FCS playoffs.

NORFOLK, Va. (AP) — Grant Wilson ran three yards for the go-ahead touchdown as time expired to cap a furious, 12—0 rally in the final four minutes as Old Dominion edged Georgia State 25-24 on Saturday afternoon.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Trae Young had 26 points and 10 assists and the Atlanta Hawks handed the Washington Wizards their ninth consecutive loss, 136-108 on Saturday night.

ATHENS, Ga. (AP) — Noah Thomasson had 24 points, Justin Hill scored 13 of his 15 points in the second half and Georgia beat Winthrop 78-69 on Friday night. Georgia led 55-41 with 12:39 remaining after a 3-pointer by Hill, but Winthrop scored 12 of the next 14 points to get within four points.

ATLANTA (AP) — Trae Young scored a season-high 43 points, including 14 in overtime, and the Atlanta Hawks outlasted the Brooklyn Nets 147-145 on Wednesday in their second shootout in two nights.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Toneari Lane scored 23 points as Georgia State beat Little Rock 93-90 in overtime on Wednesday. Lane added seven rebounds for the Panthers (3-2). Jay'Den Turner scored 16 points and added eight rebounds. Lucas Taylor had 13 points and shot 5 for 18, including 1 for 6 from beyond the arc.

CINCINNATI (AP) — Viktor Lakhin scored 15 points and John Newman III scored 12 points and Cincinnati routed Georgia Tech 89-54 on Wednesday night.

No. 1 Georgia will be playing to wrap up its third consecutive unbeaten regular season when it plays rival Georgia Tech. The Bulldogs will try to extend their school-record, 28-game winning streak …

ATLANTA (AP) — Tyrese Haliburton scored 37 points, Buddy Hield hit a tiebreaking 3-pointer in the final minute and the Indiana Pacers beat the Atlanta Hawks 157-152 on Tuesday night to clinch a spot in the NBA In-Season Tournament quarterfinals.

GREENVILLE, N.C. (AP) — Bobby Pettiford Jr. knocked down a half-court 3-pointer at the buzzer to give East Carolina an 85-84 victory over Kennesaw State on Tuesday night. Pettiford dribbled the floor and then heaved the game winner from near the logo.

GREENVILLE, N.C. (AP) — Quentin Diboundje scored 27 points as East Carolina beat Georgia Southern 82-64 on Monday night at the TowneBank Holiday Classic hosted by the Pirates. RJ Felton scored 19 points and added eight rebounds for the Pirates (3-2).