The No. 3 Georgia Bulldogs faced several major doubtsWhen up against the No. 15 Tennessee Volunteers, the Bulldogs appeared slow on offense, with Gunner Stockton seldom making deep passes against Austin Peay. The defense held firm, but few had encountered Coach Josh Heupel’s system before, which relies on quick plays and stretching the field against opposing defenses.
On the offensive side, Tennessee was dominating. Tennessee quarterback Joey Aguilar completed his first 14 passes, connecting on deep throws to put Tennessee ahead 21-7 by the end of the first quarter. That’s when the Georgia offense started to pick up steam. The Bulldogs responded by scoring 17 straight points, including touchdowns byZachariah Branchand Nate Frazier, along with a field goal from Peyton Woodring, making the score 24-21. Following an interception by Aguilar, the momentum completely turned in Georgia’s favor, and it seemed like a decisive victory was about to happen.
Afterward, Tennessee rediscovered their offensive momentum. Tennessee tallied touchdowns on consecutive drives, bringing the score to 35-30. When Gunner Stockton lost possession in Georgia’s territory, Tennessee added a field goal for added security with under seven minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. Once more, Gunner Stockton executed well, throwing an elegant touchdown pass to redshirt junior wide receiver London Humphreys on fourth down and connecting with Zachariah Branch for a two-point conversion, tying the game at 38-38.
Tennessee advanced down the field to attempt a game-winning field goal, but kicker Max Gilbert failed, forcing the game into overtime. During overtime, Tennessee scored a field goal, but Georgia’s running back Nate Frazier gained 21 of the 25 yards needed for the touchdown, and the Bulldogs managed to reach the end zone with a one-yard touchdown by Josh McCray that just barely crossed the goal line. The celebration was about to begin, and theBulldogs won 44-41.
The Georgia Bulldogs remain at 3-0, but they are keeping themselves engaged during the bye week to get ready for Alabama on September 27. The 33-game home winning streak will face a challenge in that matchup.
Here are four key lessons from Georgia’s 44-41 victory against Tennessee
Gunner Stockton passed his initial SEC challenge successfully
Gunner StocktonFaced with intense pressure during the Tennessee game. He had just experienced a week where he failed to complete a pass that traveled more than 20 yards against Austin Peay. Now, on the road against a No. 15 Tennessee team determined to secure their first victory over Georgia since 2016, Stockton needed to perform at his highest level.
That’s precisely what Stockton accomplished. Stockton threw 23 completions out of 31 passes, gaining 304 yards and throwing two touchdowns. He achieved a personal best in total yards and yards per attempt.
He demonstrated his complete ability in the victory. On the first play of the game, he launched a 45-yard deep pass to wide receiver Colbie Young with exact precision. During what might have been Georgia’s final play of the match, on 4th and 6, Stockton threw a 28-yard completion to wide receiver London Humphreys for a touchdown.
Apart from a challenging fumble on a fourth down attempt, Stockton was nearly flawless. Georgia’s running game has remained strong since the first week, but if this is the version of Stockton that Georgia is receiving, the team has a chance to claim the SEC.
Transfers dominated the day
Georgia’s head coach, Kirby Smart, strongly criticized the transfer portal during the off-season. Smart is a coach who seldom looks to the transfer portal to strengthen his team, yet when he does, he achieves great success. This game demonstrated that fact.
Three of Georgia’s top receivers were once transfers. Senior wide receiver Colbie Young, who moved from Miami, caught four passes for 73 yards. This year, he has accumulated 179 receiving yards on 13 receptions. Junior Zachariah Branch, who transferred from USC to Georgia, currently tops all Georgia players in receiving yards with 181. He also recorded 69 yards and a touchdown in the game against Tennessee.
The underdogs are London Humphreys and Josh McCray. Following Humphreys’ move from Vanderbilt, he saw limited action in 2024, accumulating 244 yards through 15 receptions. Initially, it appears Georgia is placing more confidence in Humphreys. His impressive over-the-shoulder touchdown catch to tie the game was the standout moment of Georgia’s season thus far.
Who can forget Illinois transfer running back Josh McCray, who scored two touchdowns, including the game-winning one? In total, transfers had a successful day for Georgia.
Defense was not it was in the first two games
Georgia’s defensive unit was dominant in the first two games of the season. Facing Austin Peay, it could be said that the Bulldogs’ defense performing well was the sole reason they secured the victory. Fans anticipated that Georgia’s defense would carry the team to a win against Tennessee.
The Georgia defense surprised many individuals. The Tennessee offense scored 21 points in the first quarter because of multiple coverage errors and insufficient pressure.
Sophomore cornerback Ellis Robinson IV had one of the worst plays of the season, being beaten by Tennessee wide receiver Chris Brazzell on his way to a touchdown. On another deep pass in the third quarter, junior cornerback Daniel Harris was in position, but missed the interception attempt, allowing Brazzell to catch it once more.
Within the starting defensive line, there was just one sack and insufficient pressure on the quarterback. Tennessee accumulated 496 yards, with six drives covering 50 yards or more. Georgia’s defense will need to improve against No. 14 Alabama, a challenge that is easier to say than accomplish.
Georgia still owns Tennessee
This contest demonstrated that Georgia has completely controlled Tennessee during Kirby Smart’s tenure. Since Smart was appointed,Georgia has a 9-1 record against Tennessee..
The sole defeat occurred during Kirby Smart’s initial season. Still, Georgia had a strong chance to win. Former Georgia quarterback Jacob Eason connected with wide receiver Riley Ridley for a 47-yard touchdown with only 10 seconds remaining. However, Tennessee’s quarterback Josh Dobbs launched a Hail Mary into the end zone, which was caught by wide receiver Jauan Jennings, leading to Tennessee’s victory. The gap between Kirby Smart remaining undefeated against Tennessee and suffering a single loss was merely 10 seconds.
After Georgia’s bye week, the Bulldogs will face off againstthe No. 14 Alabama Crimson Tide, a team that Kirby Smart has a 1-6 record against. Now, Georgia will be on the opposite end of a lopsided rivalry, aiming to change the pattern at home.
This piece first was published on UGA Wire:Four key lessons from Georgia’s extra-time victory over Tennessee
