Author: Max Mcclean
College football fans are in for a treat, after another commanding 34-3 victory last week, No. 1 Texas, in its first year in the SEC, will look to maintain its undefeated record and stay atop the AP poll when it hosts No. 5 Georgia this Saturday. While Texas has risen to the top this season, Georgia has been the dominant powerhouse in the SEC for years, and the Bulldogs will be eager to remind everyone why they’ve ruled the conference as they seek to take down the top team in the nation.
This is exactly what fans got excited about with all the conference realignment this offseason, more meaningful high stakes games, between college football powerhouses. The SEC has always been the pinnacle of college football, but with the addition of Oklahoma, and specifically Texas, the SEC is a hotbed for elite competition. Georgia is hitting the road and heading to Austin in what could be a College Football Playoff preview. This game will also feature an intriguing coaching battle, as both Georgia's Kirby Smart and Texas' Steve Sarkisian come from Nick Saban's coaching tree at Alabama. With both these coaches having learned under Saban, it only adds more excitement in what will be a battle for the SEC’s top spot.
Texas No.1 (6-0, 1st in SEC)
In their first season in the SEC Texas has been clear and away the best team in the nation, stomping over everyone in their path including the reigning National Champion No. 24 Michigan and most recently Oklahoma, in a 34-3 win in the Red River Rivalry game at the Cotton Bowl. Although dominant, this will be Texas’s first real test of SEC football since joining the conference this season.
Quinn Ewers was one of the top three favorites in the preseason Heisman odds before his injury and has been among the elite quarterbacks in college football for the past couple of years. This makes his return to the Longhorns offense last week especially significant, as he missed two games due to an oblique injury sustained against UTSA in week 3. The usually calm Ewers looked shaky in his first appearance back against Oklahoma, missing open throws and turning the ball over once after only throwing for 13 yards in the first quarter. Ewers was able to settle in after, finishing the game with a 68% completion percentage, good enough for 199 yards and a touchdown in a dominant Red River Rivalry win.
Texas has effectively embraced the running back by committee approach this season, after losing CJ Baxter for the season back in fall camp. Baxter, the 247lb, Recruited 5-star, was expected to be a major contributor to the Longhorn offense this season. Texas has averaged 188 yards on the ground through their first six games averaging 5.1 yards per rush, and scoring 16 touchdowns. While running backs Quintrevion Wisner and Jaydon Blue have filled the role well, much of their success must be attributed to their outstanding offensive line led by Jake Majors and Kelvin Banks Jr. a projected top 5 pick. The Texas offensive line must stay strong, in a conference known for its physicality and toughness, dominating the line of scrimmage is essential to come away with a home victory on Saturday.
Texas has already proven they can beat anyone, with two signature wins already on their schedule, Georgia however presents a different challenge for Steve Sarkisian and the Longhorns. Texas will need to have incredible play all over the field this Saturday, relying on their top contributions of Ewers, Blue, Wisner, and standout Alabama transfer Isaiah Bond. Texas will need to be sharp particularly on defense, where they must disrupt Georgia's physical rushing game and force the Bulldogs into uncomfortable passing situations. Steve Sarkisian’s offense, led by Quinn Ewers, will also have to remain efficient and find a way to get the ball into the hands of Isaah Bond who may have the opportunity to go off against the weakest Georgia secondary we've seen in years.
Georgia No.5 (5-1, 4th in SEC)
Kirby Smart and the Georgia Bulldogs are hitting the road for yet another Top 5 matchup, only hoping that this one will go a little better. Georgia Bulldogs are looking to regain their footing in a redemption match that can see them making up ground after their emotional loss to Alabama in week four. Georgia has been the example of College Football dominance for years now, but you know what they say “It is more difficult to stay on top than to get there” and this recent defeat has raised questions as if Georgia can maintain that elite status.
Georgia under Kirby Smart has been known for their defense and specifically getting to the quarterback to force turnovers in the air. This year Georgia has not gotten that done ranking 87th in the nation with only 1.6 sacks per game and a measly five total turnovers. Safety Malaki Starks and Edge Mykel Williams are crucial to Georgia's defensive success as they prepare for their matchup against Texas. Starks was the No. 10 ranked player in all of College Football according to ESPN’s preseason rankings and the third best defensive back only behind Will Johnson and Travis Hunter. Starks was an All-American last year with 52 total tackles and three interceptions last season. Williams, a projected first round pick in the 2025 NFL draft must get home and sack Quinn Ewers if the Bulldogs want any kind of success in Austin.
Offensively the Bulldogs will look to QB Carson Beck and his favourite weapon Arian Smith for some juice. Beck has had a stellar year so far, ranking 9th in the nation with 1,818 yards over 6 games and remains in Heisman talks. Smith had been his go to target against Alabama earlier this year with six receptions, good enough for 132 yards and touchdown in a thrilling road loss. Beck and Smith must find this connection again and lead their strong offensive unit to a win against Texas.
There is no doubt Kirby Smart knows what is at stake here, a loss would make for a very slim margin for error as we move into the back half of the College Football Regular Season. Georgia has all the tools to win this game, they’ve been in these situations with this same group year after years. With a balanced offensive attack and a defense loaded with talent, Georgia must win this game to assert its dominance once again as the face of College Football and take a big step in establishing a Saban like dynasty.
Who has the Edge?
It seems like every week we are being treated to College Football classics, and this week feels no different with another top 5 matchup under the lights at Darrell K Royal Texas Memorial Stadium. Texas will look to continue its dominance by defeating SEC power house Georgia in their first season, while Georgia will look to remind everyone why they got that title in the first place. This is a game loaded with talent on both sides of the ball and we are in for a treat with National implications.
Texas’s offense will prove to be too much for Georgia's defense, even with super stars Malaki Starks and Mykel Williams. With Quinn Ewers back from injury, and his favourite target Isaiah Bond firing on all cylinders, Steve Sarkisan’s offense will just be too much for Kirby Smart to handle in this SEC showdown.