In a thrilling SEC Championship Game, the Georgia Bulldogs edged the Texas Longhorns 22-19 in overtime at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. The victory marked Georgia’s third SEC title under head coach Kirby Smart and secured a first-round bye in the College Football Playoff.

   There were probably a dozen times or more when I thought Georgia’s chances to win were slim to none. But, somehow, they kept persevering.

   Texas dominated the first quarter and would have had more if not for a key Daylen Everette interception. The big plays were killing the Dawgs with 104 total yards off just three big third down conversions with deep pass completions.
   First quarter stats – Texas 170 yards to UGA’s 9. Time of possession – Texas 10:30 to UGA’s 4:30.

   Texas totally dominated the first half statistically. Somehow, UGA only trailed by 3 points with Texas accumulating 260 yards of offense, 228 of it in the air to Georgia’s 54. UGA had -2 yards rushing.
   The problem was the Longhorns kept the Dawgs offense off the field holding the ball for 20:02 to 9:58. But, in that 20 minutes of possession, they only could muster 6 points. The UGA defense had done a great job of keeping them out of the end zone time and time again.
   The question at this point was would Carson Beck be running the Bulldog offense or Gunnar Stockton after Beck suffered an arm injury on the last play of the half?

   It was the first time in the 33 year history of the game that neither team scored a touchdown in the first half.

   But, all season, Georgia had been a slow starting team somehow finding ways to flip the switch in the second half of multiple games including a 17 point deficit against Georgia Tech.

   Backup quarterback Stockton, who had seen limited action all season, stepped in and delivered a heroic performance. On his first drive of the second half, Stockton led Georgia to a touchdown, giving them their first lead of the game at 10-6.

   Adding to the adversity was star punter Brett Thorson going out with a leg injury. Two missed field goals by the Longhorns’ kicker Bert Auburn would prove to be critical, while UGA kicker Peyton Woodring was a perfect 3 for 3.

  The game remained tight throughout, with both teams trading tough defensive performances. The game was tied at 13.

   Everette picked Quinn Ewers off for a second time with three minutes left in the game giving UGA what appeared to be great chance to win with the ball at their 28. But, a few plays later, Stockton was picked off himself ending the drive and giving Texas the chance to tie it again at 16 with just 18 second left in regulation, forcing the first overtime in SEC Championship history.

  In overtime, the Georgia defense stiffened again holding the Longhorns to a field goal.
After Stockton had his helmet knocked off from a vicious hit after scrambling for a first and goal at the four, Beck returned to the field and handed off to running back Trevor Etienne, who scored the game-winning touchdown on a 4-yard run.

    After being dominated in the first half, the Dawgs had reversed the stats outscoring Texas 19-13 and outgaining them 223 to 129. They also flipped the TOP keeping the ball 22:10 to Texas’ 7:50.
Just like the first meeting when Georgia had seven sacks, this time they had six. Also like the first time, the only allowed 31 yards rushing in 28 attempts.

   After the game, Kirby Smart expressed pride in his team’s resilience. “This team never, ever says no,” he said amid the celebration. Smart also made headlines during his postgame interview when he took a jab at SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey over Georgia’s challenging schedule. “It means rest for a team that Greg Sankey and his staff sent on the road all! … year! … long!” Smart exclaimed, drawing cheers from Georgia fans as Sankey stood nearby.

The win not only secured Georgia’s 15th SEC title but also solidified their place in the College Football Playoff.

  The Bulldogs will get a much deserved and needed three weeks off to heal up and assess their QB situation as they prepare for their quarterfinal matchup in the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans.

  They’ll be aiming for their third national championship in four seasons as they face the winner of the Indiana/Notre Dame game.

   The 2024 SEC Championship Game is set to deliver a highly anticipated rematch between the No. 2 Texas Longhorns (11-1) and the No. 5 Georgia Bulldogs (10-2) at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

  For UGA this is their seventh appearance in the last eight seasons, something no other team has accomplished.
For Texas, it’s their first appearance after entering the conference. They won the Big 12 Conference Championship in 2023.

  This clash not only crowns the conference champion but also carries significant College Football Playoff implications. Both teams are vying for a top-two seed and a first-round bye in the expanded 12-team playoff format.

It’s likely that both teams will make it into the playoffs, win or lose.

   The Coaches’ Perspectives: Georgia head coach Kirby Smart praised Texas for its impressive first season in the SEC and acknowledged the challenges posed by Steve Sarkisian’s Longhorns. Both were assistants at Alabama under Nick Sabin.

   “What a tremendous job he’s done there,” Smart said. “Getting them into this game is a gauntlet, and it’s a reward to play in it. Both teams have earned that.” He highlighted Texas’ physicality in the run game and their versatility on offense, noting that they “attach RPO pass game to those runs” and are adept at mixing tempos. Smart also emphasized the importance of winning the SEC title, even in the playoff era, stating, “It’s a significant marker to your season… It also gets you a bye and an opportunity to rest and recover while others play tough opponents.”

   Sarkisian brought some off-field drama by taking a jab at Georgia fans earlier this week. Commenting on ticket prices, Sarkisian remarked, “Tell me how much the ticket prices are and I can probably tell you how many Longhorns are going to be there,” implying that Georgia fans might not show up in force due to affordability concerns. But, reports are that ticket prices are much lower than last season.

   His comments have added fuel to an already intense matchup, with Georgia fans eager to prove him wrong by dominating attendance at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

  Key Storylines: A Rematch with Stakes: The Bulldogs defeated Texas 30-15 earlier this season in Austin. That loss remains Texas’ only blemish, and they’ve since rattled off five straight wins. Georgia, meanwhile, has rebounded from two midseason losses with three consecutive victories.

   The saying goes that its very difficult to beat a team twice. But, the hardest part is beating them once. To counter that, there have been seven rematches in the SEC Championship game history and the team that won the first regular season game was 5-2 with Smart being one of those.

   Experience vs. Momentum: Georgia is making its fourth straight SEC Championship Game appearance and boasts extensive postseason experience under Smart. Texas, however, enters with momentum as the No. 1 seed after winning more SEC games than any other team this season.

   Georgia is 4-7 in this game. But, six of those seven losses came against nemesis Sabin. Without him on the other sidelines, UGA is 4-1. For the record, on ESPN’s College Gameday, Sabin picked Texas. Vegas has the Horns as 2.5 point favorites coming into the game.

   Of importance will be if the Dawgs’ defensive line can have the same success as in the first matchup in Austin where they recorded seven sacks and had the QB on the run all game.

   Quarterback Duel: Both teams feature experienced quarterbacks who have been battle-tested in high-pressure environments. Smart praised Texas QB Quinn Ewers for his toughness and ability to make plays under duress: “He’s got tremendous experience and arm talent.”
  Expect to see a healthy dose of backup QB Arch Manning as well.

  On the other side, Georgia’s Carson Beck will look to avoid turnovers after throwing three interceptions in their October meeting. He has improved significantly in that stat since.

   Defensive Showdown: Texas’ defense has been a standout unit all season, allowing just 11.7 points per game—second nationally only to Ohio State 4. Georgia’s defense is no slouch either, having stifled Texas’ rushing attack in their first matchup.

   What’s at Stake: While both teams are projected to make the College Football Playoff regardless of the outcome, winning the SEC Championship offers critical advantages: an automatic playoff bid, a first-round bye, and improved seeding. The loser risks dropping into an at-large position and potentially facing tougher early-round matchups.

  Prediction: This game promises to be a defensive battle with limited scoring opportunities. Georgia will lean on its experience and home-field advantage in Atlanta, while Texas seeks revenge for its earlier loss. Expect both coaches to pull out all the stops in what could be one of the most competitive SEC title games in recent memory.

   As Smart put it: “You don’t win in the SEC with a beauty contest.” This game will likely come down to grit, execution, and which team can make critical plays when it matters most.

  Texas’ non-conference games were against teams like Colorado State, UTSA, ULM and a bad 7-5 Michigan team that did beat Ohio State, but fell off sharply from their 2023 National Championship season.

   Their SEC schedule was against most of the bottom feeders in Mississippi State, Oklahoma, Florida, Arkansas, Kentucky, Texas A&M and an improved Vanderbilt team.

  The Longhorns’ only quality opponent was UGA, who beat them at home seven weeks ago 30-15.

   So, it’s difficult to justify their lofty #2 national ranking based on strength of schedule. And, it’s difficult to realistically analyze how well they will perform in the SEC Championship Game against that same Georgia team that ran the gamut of the toughest schedule in the country.

  Of concern for Dawg fans is the way the defense has allowed teams to run up and down the field against them in recent games.

  I’m going with Georgia beating Texas again, this time 31-24.

    Four hours and 18 minutes, 86 points and 8 overtimes…

  In a thrilling showdown that will be etched in the annals of college football history, the Georgia Bulldogs triumphed over arch-rival Georgia Tech, in an unprecedented eight-overtime match, finishing with a score of 44-42. This epic contest not only showcased the resilience of the Bulldogs but also marked the longest game in SEC history, the second longest game in college football history.

   As the game unfolded at Sanford Stadium, Georgia found itself in a precarious position. Trailing 17-0 at halftime and later 27-13 with just over five minutes left in regulation, the Bulldogs appeared to be on the brink of defeat with numerous dejected fans seen leaving the stadium early.

   However, Kirby Smart’s team demonstrated remarkable tenacity.

  “No matter if you’ve got the hardest schedule in the country, you keep fighting,” Smart emphasized after the game, highlighting his team’s determination to overcome adversity.

   The turning point came in a dramatic fourth quarter. Quarterback Carson Beck orchestrated a swift 75-yard drive that culminated in a touchdown pass to Dominic Lovett, narrowing the gap to 27-20. Following a crucial defensive stand that forced a fumble by Tech QB Haynes King, UGA seized momentum. With just over a minute remaining, Beck connected with Lovett again for a three-yard touchdown, tying the game at 27 and sending it into overtime.

   Overtime was a rollercoaster of emotions, with both teams trading scores and failed two-point conversions. Smart reflected on the physicality of both teams during this intense period: “They played really physical… I thought they won the line of scrimmage, especially in the first half.”

   Despite Georgia Tech’s strong performance, including King’s impressive rushing (110) and passing (303) efforts, it was Georgia’s defense that ultimately made critical stops when it mattered most.

   As the game progressed through multiple overtimes, each possession felt like a mini-game within itself. In the eighth OT, after both teams had exchanged scores and struggled with conversions, freshman Nate Frazier took center stage.

   After the Jackets failed to score on their possession, Frazier received a handoff from Beck and charged into the end zone for a two-point conversion that sealed the victory. The crowd erupted as fireworks lit up the night sky above Sanford Stadium.

   Smart praised his team’s resolve: “Our guys found a way to win… at the end of the day, that’s what this is all about.”

   This victory not only extended Georgia’s winning streak against Georgia Tech to seven games but, at 10-2, also solidified their position as contenders for the College Football Playoff. The Dawgs also extended their home winning streak to 31 games, tying Alabama for the most in SEC history.

   In reflecting on this unforgettable encounter, Smart noted that such rivalries are vital for college football: “This rivalry is good for our state… there’s a mutual respect for the way they play.” As fans celebrated this historic win, it was clear that this game would be remembered not just for its length but for its intensity and drama—a true testament to what college football embodies.

   Tech now waits to find out which bowl game they will play in while UGA moves on to the SEC Championship Game next Saturday to take on the winner of the Texas-Texas A&M game.

    Four hours and 18 minutes, 86 points and 8 overtimes…

   In a thrilling showdown that will be remembered for years to come, Georgia Tech faced off against the #7 Georgia Bulldogs in a historic football game that stretched into eight overtimes.

   The atmosphere at Sanford Stadium was electric, with fans from both sides filled with anticipation for the latest chapter in this fierce rivalry known as “Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate.”

  As the game unfolded, Georgia Tech jumped to an impressive start, leading 17-0 at halftime. Coach Brent Key’s team showcased resilience and determination, with quarterback Haynes King, described by both head coaches as a ‘warrior,’ delivering a standout performance by throwing for 303 yards and rushing for another 110. The Yellow Jackets seemed poised to secure their first victory over Georgia since 2016, jumping out to a 17-0 lead and shutting out out the Bulldogs in the first half for the first time since 2018.but the Bulldogs had other plans.

  When Tech went up 27-13 with just five minutes left in the game, frustrated UGA fans were seen leaving the stadium in large numbers.

   Most would regret that decision as Georgia clawed back from a 14-point deficit late in the fourth quarter, scoring three touchdowns in the final minutes to tie the game at 27 with just over a minute left. 

   Those that stayed got their money’s worth and then some. The tension in Sanford Stadium was palpable as both teams entered overtime, where the stakes were raised even higher.

  Key reflected on the intensity of the match during his post-game remarks: “It’s tough. I love that team in there. They fought their asses off. I’m proud of those guys.” His words resonated with the players, who had given their all on the field.

   As the game progressed through overtime periods, each team struggled to secure a decisive advantage. The Yellow Jackets and Bulldogs traded touchdowns and two-point conversions, showcasing incredible grit and determination. They moved back and forth from one end of the field to the other.

  Despite their best efforts, Georgia Tech ultimately fell short in the eighth overtime, losing 44-42 when Georgia’s Nate Frazier scored the winning two-point conversion.

  I the losing effort, Tech had rushed for 264 yards, almost half of that by King who passed for 303.

  Key admitted the emotional toll of such a loss: “What I know about these kids… this emotion will turn into fuel, and we’ll use that fuel…Losing stinks… I told them there are no moral victories.”

  Yet he remained optimistic about the future of his program: “Georgia Tech is special; these kids are special.”

  The game not only highlighted the fierce rivalry between these two teams but also underscored Key’s commitment to building a resilient program at Tech. His leadership and belief in his players shone through even in defeat, setting a foundation for future successes. As fans left the stadium that night, they knew they had witnessed something extraordinary—a classic battle that would be talked about for generations to come.

   Now the Yellow Jackets sit back and wait to see what bowl game they will be playing in while UGA moves on to the SEC Championship Game.

   A lot of empty seats… in part because of the opponent and maybe some people left town early for Thanksgiving.

   After all, 2-8 UMass was clearly a team in trouble, having just fired their head coach, Dan Brown. No one was expecting much. But, no one apparently told that to the Minutemen. The $1.9 million dollar payday didn’t hurt.

  Going in, I’m sure the plan was to play the starters for a quarter or so, then replace Carson Beck with Gunnar Stockton, then give the third stringers some valuable playing time.

   But, a 10 play 75 yard 5:45 minute scoring drive had UMass up 7-0 and fans scratching their heads.

   The UGA offense quickly responded to tie it at 7….then go up 14-7….then 21-7. All seemed to be on track, until the Minutemen launched another long 75 yard seven minute scoring drive gashing the Dawg defense to pull to within a score 21-14.

   The Bulldog offense again had no difficulties adding points to extend the lead to 28-14 going into the half.

   But, some disturbing stats. In the first quarter, the visitors accumulated 134 yards of total offense to UGA’s 65 with time of possession favoring them 10:50 to 4:10.

   Georgia had made up the yardage deficit in the quarter outgaining the Minutemen 183-75. They did well when they had the ball. The problem was the defense was unable to get on the field with UMass controlling the ball for 20:37 to UGA’s 11:15 at the half.
A concern was the Minutemen rushed for 176 yards in the half.

   The Dawgs kept pouring on the points with another score to make it 31-14.

   But, UMass was being stubborn and struck back quickly with a 75 yard catch by Jakobie Keeney-James, their leading receiver and it was back to a 10 point lead, 31-21.

   That’s as close as they would get as Beck and the offense added another score to make it 38-17 on freshman Nate Frazier’s 5th touchdown of the season. He wasn’t done going in on the next drive untouched from the 15 to make it 45-17. He wound up with 136 rushing yards on the day.

   Before it was all done, UGA came away with their 31st straight win at Sanford Stadium 59-21.

  But, looming ahead is Georgia Tech in the regular season finale. The Yellow Jackets must be licking their chops at the 351 yards of total offense allowed by the Georgia “D” with 226 of it on the ground, the most given up this season. Tech specializes in the run and are coming off a pair of exhilarating victories at home over then #4 Miami and NC State.

   Dawg fans can take solace in the fact that their offense looked just fine and are a much better team than the Wolfpack, who had Tech beat until 22 seconds were left in that game.

   Add to that the fact that the Jackets will be entering Friday night’s game with 8 days rest vs Georgia playing on just six.

   Needless to say, this game looks a whole lot more interesting than it did when the season started and even just a few weeks ago. And a team is coming to Sanford Stadium with a lot of momentum and confidence.

   Kickoff is Friday 7:30 p.m. on ABC.

   On a chilly football weather night at Bobby Dodd Stadium, Georgia Tech had the game in hand…until they didn’t.

   The Yellow Jackets had struggled all game to get much going on offense settling for three field goals with their only score coming on a short field pick six early in the game.

   But, they had held onto a nine point lead well into the fourth quarter thanks to a stingy defense that repeatedly stifled the North Carolina State offense. The fourth quarter, though, is NC State’s comfort zone, where they have dominated all season,

   True to form, having been held to a single touchdown all game, trailing by nine, the Wolfpack tacked on three more in the final quarter with two coming in the span of three minutes to take a 29-23 lead with just a minute and a half remaining in the game.

   But, rookie quarterback Aaron Philo finally got some rhythm on offense driving his team downfield. He put his team up for good with a thrilling 18 yard touchdown run leaving just 22 seconds on the clock.

   The Pack had three scoring runs by freshman quarterback CJ Bailey. But, that success was offset by three interceptions, one of which was the early pick six by E.J Lightsey.

   The Yellow Jackets cap a perfect 5-0 home schedule at Bobby Dodd Stadium, the first time they have done that since head coach Brent Key was an offensive lineman in 1999. 

   Philo finished with impressive stats completing 19 of 33 for 265 yards adding crucial rushing yards when needed the most.

   “We were able to create some turnovers on defense tonight and set up a score on one and scored on one. So huge difference in the game, able to knock back some of those field goals,” said coach Key.

   Georgia Tech can savor the victory with a few extra days rest as they close out the regular season in Athens next Saturday, November 30, to take on the tough #10 Georgia Bulldogs. Its an early 12:45 kickoff on the SEC Network.

   Georgia football gets a bit of a breather on Saturday as they host their second straight home game against an undermanned 2-8 UMass team who just fired their head coach Don Brown.

 Georgia has opened as a 42.5-point favorite. This matchup marks only the second meeting between the two teams, with UGA previously defeating UMass decisively in 2018, 66-27.

   The Minutemen will limp into Athens and take their lumps and sacrifice for a nice $1.9 million payoff. 

   Georgia (8-2, 6-2 SEC) is ranked 12th in the nation, coming off a impressive pressure filled win over #7 Tennessee. After falling behind 10-0, the Dawgs dominated the Vols the rest of the way outscoring them 31-7 after that.

   A ton was on the line. Had they lost, they would definitely be out of the SEC Championship Game and probably also not make the 12 team expanded College Football Playoffs.
   But, with the win, they look like a lock for the playoffs with an outside chance for the SEC Championship needing a few things to happen to Alabama, Texas and Texas A&M.

   UGA has owned Sanford Stadium, winning all three of their home games this season and 29 straight overall going back to 2019.

   Head Coach Kirby Smart has emphasized the importance of maintaining focus and execution against UMass, stating, “We won’t take any major chances here. Run, keep running, and assume UMass will give up about six yards per pop.”

   Quarterback Carson Beck has thrown for over 2,800 yards this season with 19 touchdowns.

   The Minutemen have struggled throughout the season and have yet to win a game on the road (0-5). UMass’s last outing was a narrow overtime loss to Liberty, showcasing some resilience but ultimately falling short.

   QB Taisun Phommachanh has been pivotal in both passing and rushing but hasn’t seen a defense like Georgia’s.
RB CJ Hester should also struggle to get a ground game going.

   The game presents an opportunity for Georgia to rest some starters and give younger players valuable playing time as they prepare for their tough season finale against Georgia Tech.

    The game is an early 12:45 p.m. kickoff on the SEC Network.

  Georgia Tech is still riding the high from their last home game, a thrilling (28-23) upset of then undefeated and #4 ranked Miami.

  They’ve had a nice 12 day rest since then with a Thursday night matchup coming at Bobby Dodd Stadium against NC State.

   The Yellow Jackets hold a record of 6-4 overall and 4-3 in the Atlantic Coast Conference. They are looking to become the first Tech team in 25 years to go undefeated at home.

   Quarterback Haynes King has been effective, throwing for 1,600 yards this season with nine touchdowns and just one interception. The Tech running game is spearheaded by Jamal Haynes, who has rushed for 681 yards and nine touchdowns. Wide receivers Malik Rutherford and Eric Singleton, Jr. provide additional firepower.

The Wolfpack sits at 5-5 overall and 2-4 in the conference.

  NC State is looking to bounce back after a recent loss to Duke (29-19). The Pack’s offense is led by freshman quarterback CJ Bailey, who has thrown for 1,794 yards this season with 12 touchdowns and only five interceptions.

   Running back Jordan Waters has been a key player as well, accumulating 400 rushing yards and four touchdowns.

   With a balanced attack, NC State needs just one win in the final two games to become bowl eligible.

   The battle between the Wolfpack’s passing offense and Jackets’ strong defensive unit will be crucial.

   Lots of stuff going on before the game as fans are invited to make their way to the Tech Green area in the heart of Tech’s campus for a live edition of ESPN SportsCenter from 2-3 p.m.

   Helluva Block Party, Georgia Tech football’s official pregame tailgate party, will move from its traditional location on North Avenue to the same Tech Green. HBP’s food, music and fun begins at 3:30 p.m., four hours ahead of kickoff.

   At 6:45 p.m. (45 minutes prior to kickoff), the Georgia Tech Marching Band will close Helluva Block Party with a pregame performance.

   Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN.

    It was interesting to see former head coach Brian Bohannon before the game greeting his former team on the Owl Walk. At halftime, he was on the concourse with numerous fans coming up and shaking his hand telling him how much they admired his work over the years and wishing him well.

   He was here mainly as a proud father watching his kids play football. But, also as a surrogate dad for all the players he recruited and coached over their playing time here at KSU. He will be missed. Always gracious and optimistic.

   It was also nice to see his sons, Blake and Braden Bohannon, on the field as honorary captains for the coin toss.

   Dealing with the loss of the only head coach they had ever known to facing a 7-2 playoff bound opponent, the Owls showed some grit overcoming a lot of adversity to keep the game close with the game tied at 3, again at 10 and again at 17 before finally going into overtime.

   A missed field goal in OT made it easy for Sam Houston (8-2, 5-1 CUSA) who then needed any points to put the game away. They got that as quarterback Hunter Watson scampered into the end zone for the 23-17 victory. The second overtime loss for the Owls in two weeks.

   Defense dominated the first half with KSU getting on the board first with a 25 yard Austin Welch field goal. The Bearkats tied it just before the half with a 29 yarder of their own. Watson put SHSU ahead with a 25 yard touchdown run, but gave the Owls some new life as JeRico Washington picked Watson off at the 7. Kennesaw State took advantage of the short field with a Michael Benefield score to tie it at 10.

   In the fourth quarter, the Bearkats hit paydirt first with a Jay Ducker TD pushing their lead to 17-10 with just under two minutes remaining. But, KSU QB Davi Bryson led an impressive game tying drive that culminated with a clutch Carson Kent score with just 25 seconds left in regulation. Game tied for the third time at 17.

   In overtime, the Owls got the ball first, but saw their 36 yard field goal sail wide left. The miss opened the door for Sam Houston. Watson sprinted for a 10 yard touchdown on just three plays sealing a hard-fought 23-17 victory. The loss dropped KSU to 1-9 overall, 1-5 CUSA).

   KSU regroups and hosts FIU (2-4, 0-3 CUSA) next Saturday in another Conference USA matchup in another Saturday 3:00 p.m. kickoff on ESPN+. The Panthers are coming off a touch 34-31 loss at Jax State.

   The highly anticipated clash between the Georgia Bulldogs and the Tennessee Volunteers is set for this weekend at Sanford Stadium in Athens. This SEC showdown marks the 54th meeting between these two storied programs, with UGA currently leading the series 28-23-2.

  The number 12 Dawgs come into this game with a record of 7-2, looking to rebound from a disappointing 28-10 loss at Number 11 Ole Miss. With playoff aspirations on the line, they desperately need a victory to keep their hopes alive.

   Georgia boasts a strong defense, ranked 16th nationally, allowing an average of 18.4 points per game.

   Carson Beck has thrown for 2,488 yards this season, but has had a recent propensity for interceptions. Running back Trevor Etienne leads the ground attack with 477 rushing yards and seven touchdowns.

  Tennessee (Ranked No. 7) enters the game with an impressive 8-1 record, having recently defeated Mississippi State 33-14, and ranked teams in Oklahoma 25-15, Alabama 24-17 and Kentucky 28-18.

   The Volunteers feature a potent offense, averaging 37.6 points per game, and a formidable defense that ranks 5th nationally, allowing just 12.6 points per game23.

   Junior defensive lineman James Pearce Jr. was named a semifinalist for its 2024 Walter Camp Player of the Year award, the fourth-oldest college football award in the nation.

  There is a question at quarterback. Nico Iamaleava is in concussion protocol, but has practiced with Tennessee in the days since leaving early in the Mississippi State game.

   “Nico has been good here in the early part of the week,” Head Coach Josh Heupel said on the SEC coaches teleconference Wednesday. “And at this point in the week, I’ll refer everybody to the availability report that comes out later tonight. And everybody can wait with anticipation for that.”

   Iamaleava has completed 65.2% of his passes for 1,879 yards, 11 touchdowns and four interceptions.

  This matchup is critical for both teams: Georgia needs to win to maintain its chances for a spot in the College Football Playoff, especially after their recent loss. And, they still have a chance to play in the SEC Championship Game.

   Tennessee aims to solidify its position as a playoff contender with only one loss this season.

   Historically, Georgia has dominated this rivalry, winning the last seven meetings by at least two scores and holding Tennessee’s offense under 20 points in six of those games.

   UGA is favored by 10.5 points, with an over/under set at 48.5 points for the game. Predictions suggest a close contest, with some analysts projecting a final score of Georgia 28, Tennessee 20.

   Fans can catch the action live on ABC, with Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit on commentary. ESPN’s College GameDay will also be present for pregame coverage starting at 9:00 a.m.

   As both teams prepare for this crucial encounter, fans are gearing up for what promises to be an electric atmosphere at Sanford Stadium.