Many University of Alabama students have been waiting for the Crimson Tide to return to the SEC football championship, and for a lot of these students, it’s because the Atlanta area is what many of them call home.

Chris Bryant, a University spokesperson, said this year’s freshman class includes 543 students from Georgia, with 435 of them hailing from the Atlanta area. Total enrollment from Georgia also continues to rise, surging from 2,227 students in fall 2011 to 2,322 in fall 2012.

Attending and winning this game means a lot to most of these students, as many of their high school friends chose to attend The University of Georgia. One student traveling to the game this weekend, Sean Reach, a junior majoring in operations management, is actually from Athens, Ga., the hometown of the Tide’s opponent.

“This game is just as important to me as last year’s national championship and this year’s too,” Reach said. “I’ve had to grow up listening to their delusional expectations every year and would love nothing better than to see all my friends’ disappointed faces while they watch me celebrate again.”

Some students from Atlanta heading back for the game are excited to avoid the steep hotel room prices and will invite friends to stay in their homes for the game. Riley Snider, a junior majoring in finance, said all students should make the effort to come, whether they have a ticket or not.

“All of my roommates, as well as many other friends, will be arriving at my house on Friday afternoon for the game,” Snider said. “For those who do not have a ticket, I would recommend tailgating around the Georgia Dome before the game and taking Marta to the Buckhead area to watch it at the many sports bars around the area. This is where most college kids will be hanging out and cheering on the Tide.”

Another student heading back to her Atlanta home, Mary Katherine Sweeney, a junior majoring in chemistry, said she knows a lot of students from both schools will be traveling to Atlanta, providing plenty of fun tailgates for college students.

“I know a ton of people are going to watch the game in Buckhead, and a few of the popular bars there are Stout, Peachtree Tavern and East Andrews,” Sweeney said. “I’ve already talked to my friends who go to UGA, and they are just as excited for the game. It will be a great matchup, especially with the national championship on the line.”

Maggie Dixon, president of the Alabama Alumni group in Atlanta, invited all students and fans to attend the tailgates they host before and during the game at Hudson Grille in midtown and Twisted Taco in Roswell.

“Hudson Grille is more of a younger crowd and can hold up to 1,000 people, while Twisted Taco caters more to a family environment,” Dixon said. “People should get there early if they want a seat because even though we’re an Alabama bar, some of the Georgia people might come since, unfortunately, they’re all over the place.”

Dixon said she is not concerned with Alabama fans acting too wild, despite the large crowds expected.

“I’ve told all of the alumni that Alabama is classy, and we keep our comments to ourselves,” Dixon said. “At the end of the game, the score will speak volumes. I admit I have a distaste for Auburn, but nothing will be more glorious than beating Georgia.”