No. 10 Texas (7-2, 4-1) visits Sanford Stadium in Athens, Georgia for the first time in history as they are set to take on the No. 5 Georgia Bulldogs (8-1, 6-1). These two teams met twice last year, once in Austin and the other coming in the SEC Championship game, with the Bulldogs winning both. Saturday’s contest between the hedges is high stakes football for both programs, with the Longhorns likely needing a win to keep their College Football Playoff hopes alive, and Georgia to avoid losing their second SEC game of the season and losing position in the CFP Rankings.
The Longhorns lead this series all-time 4-3, with their last win against Georgia coming in the 2019 Sugar Bowl. If Steve Sarkisian and company intend to leave Athens with a victory, they will need to find a way to get the running game going and win the turnover battle. Kirby Smart is 50-4 all-time in Sanford Stadium, and opponent victories do not come often there. The Bulldogs are favored by 6.5 points in this game for a reason, but the Longhorns have a chance to pull off the upset if they play near perfect football.
Will Texas get the recent Georgia woes off their back on Saturday? Our staff shares their thoughts and final score predictions.
Jameson McCausland (7-2)
After the two matchups last year, a lot of talk will be centered around the Texas offense versus the Georgia defense, but it is the other side of the ball that has my attention this week. Gunner Stockton is playing really good football this year and Georgia is running the ball much better than they were in 2024. This is one of the more dangerous units in the country.
The Longhorns have been springing leaks on defense over the last month, especially defending the pass. The return of Michael Taaffe should help quite a bit, but I’m not sure this defense will hold up over 4 quarters.
I think this is a very close game, but it’s hard to bet against the Bulldogs and their track record.
Score Prediction: Georgia 31, Texas 28
Aaron Carrara (5-4)
If this game were to be played in Austin this year again I would feel a lot better about the outcome for Texas. The Longhorns have not played well on the road, and this is likely the most hostile environment they will encounter this season. Losing at Ohio State, at Florida and taking Kentucky and Mississippi State to OT does not translate to road success.
I like the way Pete Kwiatkowski’s defense is playing and I am encouraged by the recent success the Texas passing game is showing, however the Georgia offense concerns me over four quarters. This will be a tight game and if the Longhorns can muster up a running game, they have a chance at a huge upset.
Score Prediction: Georgia 27, Texas 24
Marc Henry (6-3)
The Longhorns face their biggest challenge of the year as they travel between the hedges to take on the Georgia Bulldogs.
Arch Manning has settled into his groove, throwing for 2,123 yards and 18 touchdowns so far this season. For Texas to pull off the upset, they’ll need to establish the running game early, opening up play-action opportunities and keeping Georgia’s defense honest. Winning the turnover and field position battles will be crucial.
On defense, the Longhorns must generate consistent pressure on Gunnar Stockton, who’s dangerous both through the air and on the ground. Colin Simmons, Anthony Hill, Ethan Burke, and Tre Moore will need to collapse the pocket and contain Stockton’s scrambling ability.
Special teams could be a deciding factor, big plays in the return game or key field goals might swing the momentum.
Score Prediction: Texas 24, Georgia 21
Devon Messinger (6-3)
Is Texas’ recent trend toward a serviceable offense legit, or are the Longhorns simply playing the role of pretender?
After scoring at least 34 points in each of their last two games, it’s actually been the Texas defense that has needed to step up as of late. Against a Gunner Stockton-led Georgia Bulldogs team, can the Longhorns’ defense hold its own on the road in Athens?
For Texas, keep an eye on how the run game performs against Georgia’s front. If Steve Sarkisian’s squad can overcome the issues that have plagued them in the past, they’ll be in a much better position for success. While this year’s Georgia team isn’t unbeatable, the Longhorns will need to land their best punch to knock the Bulldogs off balance in one of the toughest road environments in college football.
Score Prediction: Georgia 27, Texas 24
Mitch Lovell (7-2)
Texas will need to play their best game of the year this week against Georgia. This will be a sixty-minute fight and a game in which the Longhorns need to hold control of their CFP lives. Expect a back-and-forth game that Texas wins on a late touchdown pass from Manning to Deandre Moore.
Score Prediction: Texas 28, Georgia 24
