Nick Saban and Alabama have arrived at Mercedes Benz Stadium ahead of Saturday’s SEC championship game vs. Georgia.

Waiting for Saban in the tunnel upon his arrival were wife Terry, son Nicholas and daughter Kristen. Saban gave each of them a hug before proceeding to the Crimson Tide locker room.

The eighth-ranked Crimson Tide (11-1) is a slight underdog against the No. 1 Bulldogs (12-0) in the SEC title game, which takes place as always in Atlanta. Alabama must win the game to advance to the College Football Playoff, while the Bulldogs are probably in a lose-or-stay-home scenario in relation to the playoff as well.

RELATED: ‘GameDay’ predicts CFP madness, Corso’s upset and McAfee’s wild Alabama-Georgia pick

Alabama has won all three of its meetings with Georgia in the SEC championship game, beating the Bulldogs in 2012, 2018 and 2021. The teams have also met twice in the College Football Playoff national championship game, splitting meetings that took place at the end of the 2017 and 2021 seasons.

Georgia carries an SEC record 29-game winning streak into Saturday’s game, having not lost since that defeat to Alabama in Atlanta two years ago. The Crimson Tide has won 16 straight games played in Atlanta, dating to a loss to Florida in the 2008 SEC championship game.

RELATED: Nick Saban’s key to SEC championship game and last thing he’ll tell Tide