No.7 Tennessee 17, No.12 Georgia 31
Tennessee came into this high-stakes college football showdown in Athens as the higher ranked team, but having lost seven straight to Georgia.
Nico Iamaleava, 9-1 as a starter for the visiting Volunteers, was returning from concussion protocol, and hoping to lean on Dylan Sampson, the leading rusher in SEC, averaging 125.7 yards per game and with 20 touchdowns under his belt, to help make the big plays to be able to beat Georgia between the hedges.
Georgia were returning to Sanford Stadium for their first game at home in 37 days after a brutal road trip. With a record of 28 straight wins at home. the return home couldn't have arrived at a better time for the Bulldogs to restore their confidence in front of their home fans. Carson Beck had thrown 12 interceptions in his last six games, and made some critical errors in Georgia's momentum-sapping defeat to Ole Miss. At home, a fast start against a very strong Tennessee defense was imperative to build confidence and momentum.
Tennessee races to an early lead
Tennessee started fast and aggressive, using quick plays to try and unsettle the Georgia defense early. Nico Iamaleava completed his first four passes and converted a clutch 3rd-and-8 run in the red zone, before tight end Miles Kitselman, a 6’5” Alabama transfer, leapt over the Georgia defensive line to score a touchdown, capping a 12-play, 78-yard scoring drive with a touchdown, which took just 3:47 off the clock. Max Gilbert’s 52-yard field goal extended the visitors' lead to 10-0 with 43 seconds left in the first quarter.
Georgia’s offense stumbled early, with quarterback Carson Beck starting 3-of-9 and receivers struggling to hold onto the ball. However, a free-play opportunity late in the first quarter swung momentum as Beck connected with Dominic Lovett for a 38-yard gain. This drive culminated in tight end Oscar Delp’s first touchdown of the season, a 19-yard reception which breathed life into Georgia’s sluggish attack. Delp's second touchdown of the night, a 4-yard reception on 2nd-and-goal put the Bulldogs up with six minutes left in first half.
Tennessee regained the lead with a dynamic 27-yard run from Dylan Sampson just before halftime, but Georgia kicker Payton Woodring tied the game at 17-17 with a 36-yard field goal. The first half showcased strong performances from both quarterbacks. Beck's confidence was returning and Iamaleava, despite suffering three sacks, showed composure in the face of a combative Georgia defense.
Georgia leans on depth to reassert control in
The second half saw Georgia turn to their broader offense, particularly in the backfield, where in Trevor Etienne's absence with fractured ribs, the Bulldogs were playing running back by committee. Promising freshman Nate Frazier Jr. stepped up with a key 16-yard run that featured in an impressive 87-yard drive midway, orchestrated by Carson Beck who sealed a 24-17 lead with a 14-yard touchdown run midway through the third quarter.
Tennessee were under pressure, with Iamaleava constantly flushed out of the pocket, but responded with a marathon drive in the fourth quarter which faltered at the critical moment. Their fifteenth play of the drive saw them decide to go for it on a fourth-and-six before a five-yard offside penalty forced the visitors to punt, and Georgia seized the opportunity to capitalise. Offensive coordinator Mike Bobo was calling plays which the Bulldogs’ tight end group, led by Delp and Ben Yurosek, consistently delivered, combining for 130 yards on 10 catches. A 92-yard drive, capped by a Frazier touchdown run, extended Georgia’s lead to 31-17 and effectively sealed the game.
Six different Georgia players registered plays of over 20 yards. Their balanced offense, finally performing, proved decisive. Meanwhile, Tennessee’s inability to generate explosive plays beyond 20 yards hampered their ability to match the Bulldogs’ firepower.
Defensively, Georgia’s relentless pressure, highlighted by Jalon Walker’s late-game heroics, ensured Iamaleava had no room to mount a comeback. Walker pressured the young Tennessee quarterback, stripping the ball loose, to be recovered by linebacker Chris Cole with 1:19 left.
This victory keeps Georgia alive, now 6-2 in the SEC and alive again in a complex conference race that will go down to tie breakers and head to head match ups, to determine who makes the College Football Playoff.
“I don’t know what they’re looking for. I would welcome anybody in that (playoff) committee to come to this league and play in this environment. It’s a tough place to play.” - Georgia coach Kirby Smart on what the committee are looking for.
Tennessee has UTEP and Vanderbilt left to try and get to 10-2, while Georgia (8-2) travels to UMass before closing out the regular season at home to Georgia Tech in Rivalry Week.
Elsewhere in college football...
No. 1 Oregon narrowly edged Wisconsin 16-13, while No. 2 Ohio State cruised past Northwestern 31-7 at the historic Wrigley Field, home of baseball's Chicago White Sox. Kansas shocked No. 6 BYU 17-13, dropping them to No.14 in this week's AP Top 25, while New Mexico upset No. 18 Washington State 38-35.
No. 9 Alabama, on a roll after their shut out of Missouri and thrashing of LSU, routed Mercer 52-7, and No. 24 Tulane, locked down Navy 35-0 to clinch an AAC title spot against Army on 6th December. LSU's slide continued, falling 27-16 to an improving Florida team who registered eight sacks.
In the ACC, No.14 SMU beat Boston College 38-28 to put them in the driving seat for the conference championship game. No.20 Clemson overcame Pitt 24-20 thanks to a late Cade Klubnik 50-yard run on a quarterback draw.
Colorado's standout dual threat and Heisman Trophy front runner Travis Hunter, had an interception and scored a touchdown in the No.17 Buffaloes' 49-24 win over Utah, playing over 130 snaps.
Penn State, Notre Dame, and Texas also secured strong victories over Purdue, Virginia and Arkansas, keeping their playoff hopes on track.
Two weeks left in college football's regular season, you just can't take your eyes off it.
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