ATHENS, Ga. — On Saturday night, No. 5 Georgia beat No. 10 Texas 35-10 at Sanford Stadium, outscoring the Longhorns 21-0 in the fourth quarter to secure its sixth straight victory. Quarterback Gunner Stockton threw four touchdown passes — two to Noah Thomas — and added a rushing score, while Arch Manning and Texas were held to 10 points. The result leaves Georgia 9-1 (7-1 SEC) and enhances its College Football Playoff positioning after No. 4 Alabama’s earlier 23-21 loss to No. 11 Oklahoma. Texas fell to 7-3 (4-2), ending a four-game win streak and putting its postseason hopes in jeopardy.
Key Takeaways
- Final score: Georgia 35, Texas 10; Bulldogs outscored Texas 21-0 in the fourth quarter.
- Gunner Stockton: completed 24 of 29 for 229 yards, four TD passes and a late 4-yard rushing TD; his interception was his third of the season.
- Arch Manning: 27-for-43, 251 yards, one TD and one INT; Texas’ offense managed just 19 rushing yards and converted 2 of 12 on third down.
- Momentum swing: Stockton’s 30-yard TD to London Humphreys preceded a surprise onside kick recovered by Cash Jones, leading to a subsequent touchdown.
- Penalties hurt Texas: nine penalties for 58 yards overall (seven for 43 yards in the first half).
- Georgia defense highlights: KJ Bolden interception; sacks by Gabe Harris, Quintavius Johnson and Zayden Walker; CJ Allen made a key third-down stop before leaving with a leg injury.
- Standings impact: Georgia improved to 9-1 (7-1) and could move into first-round bye contention in the CFP after Alabama’s loss.
Background
The meeting continued a recent stretch of dominance by Georgia in the series. The Bulldogs defeated Texas in last season’s SEC title game, 22-19 in overtime, and again earlier in that season — giving Georgia three wins over Texas in two years. Georgia entered Saturday aiming to protect its postseason positioning and defend its SEC title from the prior season.
Texas came into Athens riding a four-game winning streak and seeking to keep playoff hopes alive. The Longhorns had shown offensive versatility during the run, but struggled to establish a running game at Sanford Stadium, an environment where Georgia has been particularly strong under coach Kirby Smart.
The broader context matters: Georgia’s lone loss this season was a 22-19 overtime home defeat to Alabama on Sept. 27, which ended a 33-game home winning streak. With Alabama’s loss earlier in the day to Oklahoma, Georgia’s margin for error in the final weeks narrowed and every conference game carries added weight for CFP seeding.
Main Event
Texas opened with a field goal to take a 3-0 lead, but Georgia settled in defensively and allowed no additional first-half points. Midway through the third quarter, Texas linebacker Anthony Hill intercepted a pass to set up Arch Manning’s 7-yard touchdown to Ryan Wingo, giving the Longhorns a 10-7 lead at the time.
Georgia answered with a 10-play drive capped by Gunner Stockton’s 30-yard touchdown pass to London Humphreys. On the ensuing kickoff, Georgia attempted a surprise onside kick which Cash Jones recovered, shifting momentum back to the Bulldogs and setting up Stockton’s 6-yard touchdown pass to Lawson Luckie shortly after.
The fourth quarter belonged to Georgia. Stockton completed a 10-yard pass on a fourth-and-1 to Chauncey Bowens earlier in the drive sequence and later added a 4-yard rushing touchdown to seal the game. The Bulldogs’ offense sustained long drives and the defense closed lanes, preventing any Texas comeback.
Penalties and dropped catches stymied the Longhorns throughout the night. Texas was flagged nine times for 58 yards, and the rushing attack was held to 19 yards. Georgia’s defensive pressure produced sacks and key third-down stops that repeatedly ended Texas drives.
Analysis & Implications
Georgia’s late dominance highlights depth and situational execution. The fourth-quarter surge underscores Kirby Smart’s emphasis on finishing games; systematic play-calling and on-field discipline allowed the Bulldogs to turn a one-score game into a decisive win. Stockton’s efficiency — 24-for-29 passing — makes Georgia’s offense difficult to contain in late-game situations.
For Texas, the loss exposes trouble sustaining drives and establishing the run against a top defense. Converted third downs (2-of-12) and persistent penalties created short fields and stalled momentum. That combination undermined Arch Manning’s passing output, which, while solid yardage-wise, lacked enough scoring support to keep pace.
Playoff consequences are immediate but not final. With Alabama’s upset loss to Oklahoma, Georgia’s path to a potential first-round bye improved, yet the SEC race remains tight and will depend on how the Bulldogs and other contenders perform in the remaining schedule. Texas’s margin for error has narrowed; the Longhorns will need wins down the stretch and cleaner execution to remain in contention.
Strategically, Georgia’s willingness to gamble — the surprise onside kick is a clear example — shows a coaching staff comfortable leveraging high-reward plays in high-leverage moments. That mindset, combined with defensive depth, reinforces Georgia’s profile as a complete team heading into December.
Comparison & Data
| Team | Final | Rush Yds | 3rd Down | Penalties |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Georgia | 35 | — | — | — |
| Texas | 10 | 19 | 2/12 | 9 / 58 yds |
The table highlights key trouble spots for Texas: a near-nonexistent rushing attack and poor third-down conversion, coupled with costly penalties. Georgia’s balanced attack and opportunistic defense created scoring chances and limited Texas to one touchdown after the first quarter.
Reactions & Quotes
Georgia’s coach framed the outcome as the product of a season-long approach focused on late-game dominance, a theme visible in the fourth-quarter performance.
“We’re going to dominate and try to win the fourth quarter.”
Kirby Smart, Georgia head coach
Texas coach Steve Sarkisian acknowledged a drop in intensity late in the game, stopping short of blaming character but urging self-reflection among players and staff.
“I think we lost some focus, we lost some intensity in the fourth quarter.”
Steve Sarkisian, Texas head coach
Quarterback Gunner Stockton praised the surprise onside kick as a momentum catalyst that helped swing the game decisively.
“It was awesome. I didn’t realize we were doing that. It was a big momentum play.”
Gunner Stockton, Georgia quarterback
Unconfirmed
- Long-term severity of CJ Allen’s leg injury remains unreported; team updates are pending.
- How the outcome will ultimately affect final College Football Playoff seeding is projectionary; official CFP rankings and selection will determine final positioning.
Bottom Line
Georgia’s 35-10 victory combined an efficient passing performance from Gunner Stockton with opportunistic defense and a high-reward special teams call that paid off. The Bulldogs reinforced their playoff résumé while demonstrating the depth and situational poise that have defined their season.
Texas must address penalties, a non-existent rushing attack and late-game execution if it hopes to salvage postseason ambitions. The Longhorns’ remaining schedule and ability to correct those issues will determine whether this loss is a setback or a turning point.
Sources
- CBS Sports Gametracker recap — media game recap and live stats.
- Associated Press college football coverage — news agency recap and broader season context.