(Photo: Pro Football Network)
Saturday Spotlight
(6) Georgia Bulldogs at (15) Tennessee Volunteers
Georgia (2–0)
When Georgia began their run in 2021 by winning the first of back-to-back national titles, I immediately said, “There’s a new bully in town.” I’ve also said they make teams believe they have a chance to compete, only to impose their will and take over. During the offseason and through the early part of this season, I know they’ve heard all the talk about Ohio State, Penn State, and Texas being the three best teams in the country. But what about us? I see them embracing the underdog role and playing with a chip on their shoulder. Giving a team like this bulletin board material will only fuel them more in the long run. As expected, the Georgia Bulldogs are 2–0 after wins against Marshall and Austin Peay, but their Week 2 performance raised some eyebrows. I’m here to tell you I’m not concerned. Whatever “issues” they may have, I’m confident they’ll fix. Kirby Smart is an extremely detail-oriented coach. Speaking of Kirby, he’s not the type to put inefficient offenses on the field. Georgia isn’t a team that will throw for over 400 yards—and they don’t care to—but they pride themselves on balance. And of course, they’ll always have a stingy defense, consistently ranked among the best in the nation. Today, they head to Knoxville for their first conference game of the season.
Tennessee (2–0)
The Vols have been better over the last few years and were a playoff team a season ago in the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff, where they fell to the eventual champion, Ohio State. So far this season, they’ve handled business—beating Syracuse in Week 1 and putting up 72 points against East Tennessee. Around this time last year, all the talk was about Nico Iamaleava and how special he could be. As expected, he started strong, but once SEC play began, he wasn’t the same player. Now, Nico’s at UCLA, and Josh Heupel has turned to Joey Aguilar at quarterback. Frankly, Joey has looked like he’s been in this system for years—and he’s looked better than Nico did. The Vols’ offense is averaging 605 yards (second in the nation) and 58 points per game. That veteran presence makes a difference. Aguilar has five touchdown passes and no interceptions. The receiving corps—questioned entering the season—has stepped up and made big plays. On defense, no surprise that Arion Carter leads the team with 13 tackles. This team reminds me a lot of the 2022 Vols with Hendon Hooker and Jalin Hyatt. Georgia comes to town today for an SEC showdown.
Georgia X-Factor: Zachariah Branch
The former USC Trojan is now in Athens, playing alongside his brother, Zion. For this Georgia offense to generate more explosive plays, Zachariah needs to be more involved. His speed is elite—he can break away from nearly anyone, whether he’s at wide receiver or returning punts. He’s a threat to take it to the house on any touch. Just get him the ball and get out of the way.
Tennessee X-Factor: Miles Kitselman
A veteran on this offense, Miles is one to watch closely. So many college teams now use double-tight end sets, and Tennessee is no exception. Kitselman is quick, deceptive, and knows how to get open. I even remember a game last year where he scored on a rushing play. He’s a typical security blanket for the quarterback and helps move the chains after the catch. Watch for him in third-down situations and in the red zone.
Final Thoughts:
This is my third time previewing this matchup. The first was in November 2022, when Georgia and Tennessee were ranked No. 1 and No. 2 in the initial CFP rankings. Last year, Georgia had to win after losing to Ole Miss the week prior—and they did, in Athens. This time, we’re in Knoxville for the first SEC game of the year between these two programs. Since Josh Heupel took over, Tennessee has had one of the most explosive offenses in the country. Georgia’s key will be keeping them off the field—converting third downs, staying consistent, and controlling the tempo. In 2022, Georgia disguised defensive looks brilliantly, turning linebacker coverages into QB spies and blitzes. Tennessee never adjusted. Winning the turnover battle has also been a decisive factor in recent meetings. For Georgia: start fast, protect the football, and force mistakes. For Tennessee: keep the offensive momentum going, especially against a Georgia defense that’s returned to its dominant form. The Vols’ offensive line must protect Aguilar, and Joey must continue his efficient play to give Tennessee a real shot. Georgia has owned this series since 2016—and I expect that to continue today.
