(Photo: Clutchpoints)

Saturday Spotlight

(10) Texas Longhorns at (5) Georgia Bulldogs

Texas (7-2):

They entered this season with extremely heavy expectations — at one point ranked No. 1, featuring the Heisman Trophy favorite, and viewed by many as the team most likely to hoist the national championship trophy. The season, however, began with a Week 1 loss to the defending champion Ohio State Buckeyes. After that opening setback, they rattled off three straight wins before dropping a game in Gainesville to the unranked Florida Gators. Since that loss, Texas has won four in a row, though it hasn’t always been pretty. They needed overtime to get by Kentucky, and they had to battle back on the road to beat Mississippi State in Starkville. Their most complete performance came in the Red River Rivalry, when they absolutely dismantled Oklahoma. Looking back, if the Longhorns had played all season the way they did that day, they’d easily be ranked in the top six or seven. The issue is consistency — they simply haven’t sustained that level. After Week 1, social media was flooded with “Arch Manning is overrated” takes. Trust me, I see just about all of it. It’s one thing to critique a player after a month or two, but after one game? Chill — and I mean that in the most professional way possible. This is an unpredictable football team. They’ve been inconsistent, they struggle to run the ball, and you never quite know which version of Arch you’ll get. But they are winning. Tonight, they head to Athens for a primetime showdown.

Georgia (8-1):

This program has been the class of the SEC since 2021, and until someone knocks them off, they remain the team you have to go through. They’re not built to turn games into shootouts and hang 50 on opponents. As I mentioned a few weeks ago, they have what I call “selective pop” — that ability to push the ball downfield with explosive plays only when they feel like it. But that isn’t their identity. Georgia wants to run the football, control the line of scrimmage, and prove they’re tougher than you. There hasn’t been a point this season where they’ve fully impressed me for four quarters, mainly due to their slow starts. They struggled early at Tennessee, but found a way to rally. They didn’t look great against Auburn or Ole Miss, but still found ways to win. Even against Florida, they sputtered at times. What you can say about this team is that they are mentally tough and know when they need to lock in. However, they have the same issue I often point out with the Kansas City Chiefs — they try to flip the switch whenever they want. That approach eventually catches up to you, and it did when they played Alabama. Last weekend in Starkville, which I called a trap game, they corrected things early and kept their foot on the gas for another win. Tonight, they welcome Steve Sarkisian and the Longhorns to Athens.

Texas X-Factor: Colin Simmons

This Longhorns defense has several playmakers, and Colin Simmons is one of them. At 6’3″, 240 pounds, he’s an EDGE rusher who can take over a game on his own. One sack or even a bit of pressure from him can flip a drive and swing momentum. He’s incredibly explosive, and Georgia hasn’t seen many edge defenders with his combination of speed and skill. His presence alone will force the Bulldogs to use extra blockers to chip or double-team him. If he dominates, Texas has a real chance.

Georgia X-Factor: Nate Frazier

The Georgia offense is at its best when Nate Frazier is getting fed. Running the football is the backbone of their identity, and last week against Mississippi State he delivered: 181 yards and a touchdown. Frazier is the type of back who can stress this Texas defense in ways few players can. His burst through the first level is special — even the smallest crease can turn into a long gain. He’ll also force Texas to load the box. Georgia wants to be balanced, physical, and explosive, and Nate allows them to do all three.

Final Thoughts:

What a game this should be tonight! This matchup is special to me because it was the first college football game I called last October. These two teams met twice last season — first in Austin, where Georgia handed Texas its first regular-season loss, and again in the SEC Championship, where Georgia beat them a second time. Tonight, everything is on the line. If Texas loses, their playoff hopes are dead. Georgia, meanwhile, is trying to stay inside the playoff picture. One matchup to watch: the Texas run defense versus the Georgia rushing attack — strength versus strength. Texas has been one of the best run-stopping teams in the country, while Georgia averages 197 yards per game on the ground. For Texas, the keys are: Limit Georgia’s ability to establish the run early. This is a Georgia group that wants to get their running game going and when they do, they continue to run it until you adjust to stop it. This is what could determine the outcome of the game tonight. Protect Arch Manning, because this Georgia defensive front will come after him and get Ryan Wingo the ball and let him create the explosive plays. If Texas can hit big plays early and force Georgia to defend the full width of the field, it opens avenues for both the run and pass. For Georgia: Stick to your identity and run the football, make Texas commit to stopping the run so play-action becomes more dangerous. Win the field-position battle, which this team is built to capitalize on. Dominate the red zone — force Texas to kick field goals instead of scoring touchdowns. I can’t wait for this game tonight.

Prediction:

Georgia 35, Texas 31