Lead
On Nov. 15, 2025 at 8:59 p.m. ET, No. 5 Georgia hosted No. 10 Texas in a prime-time rematch of last season’s SEC Championship Game at Sanford Stadium. The Bulldogs struck first and led 7-3 after one quarter while quarterback Gunner Stockton showed efficiency and dual-threat ability. Texas relied on redshirt sophomore Arch Manning to spark the Longhorns’ offense, but an interception and several contested throws under pressure stalled key drives. The outcome carries major College Football Playoff and SEC ramifications for both programs.
Key Takeaways
- Game date/time and place: Nov. 15, 2025, 8:59 p.m. ET at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Georgia.
- Early score: End of 1Q — Georgia 7, Texas 3, after Georgia’s opening TD and a Texas 33-yard field goal.
- Quarterback performance: Georgia’s Gunner Stockton was 10-for-11 for 103 yards and two touchdown passes and added 18 rushing yards; Texas’ Arch Manning threw an interception to Georgia safety KJ Bolden.
- Big plays: Zachariah Branch produced a 30-yard reception to set up a Georgia red-zone score; Emmett Mosley V had three catches for Texas in the first half, including a 16-yard gain.
- Georgia defense: Missing starting nose tackle Jordan Hall (season-ending knee), UGA still ranks 12th nationally in rush defense and generated pressure and a key third-down stop in the first quarter.
- Texas offense: Manning has posted consecutive 300-plus yard, three-touchdown games this season, but much of that production came via yards after the catch — 258 of 328 yards in the Vanderbilt game came as YAC.
- Series and stakes: This was the first meeting played in Athens; the teams met twice last season (Georgia won both) and the matchup has playoff implications for both clubs.
Background
The rivalry renewed on Nov. 15 after Georgia beat Texas twice last season, including the SEC title game. Texas entered the contest ranked No. 10 and riding a four-game SEC winning streak; the Longhorns had rebounded from an early-season 3-2 start to remain in the College Football Playoff conversation. Georgia, at No. 5, sought a first-round bye and the positional advantages that come with it as the regular season wound down.
Georgia’s roster was reshaped by injury: starting nose tackle Jordan Hall was ruled out for the season after a knee injury in the win over Florida, but the Bulldogs’ defensive front still showed stout run defense in recent weeks. Texas leaned on a revived passing attack sparked by Arch Manning, the former top prospect, whose quick-game distribution and receivers’ YAC had driven recent offensive success.
Coaching narratives added subplots. Kirby Smart emphasized preparation and even brought a recent Power Five opponent to practice for schematic reference, while Texas’ staff sought to balance Manning’s hot streak with a need to challenge Georgia’s perimeter defenders downfield. Both teams also had CFP positioning on the line: a Georgia win strengthened a path to a bye, while a Texas loss would complicate Longhorns’ at-large hopes.
Main Event
The opening series favored Texas, who drove deep into Georgia territory only to have a potential touchdown chance end with a third-down drop by Ryan Wingo; Texas settled for a 33-yard field goal to lead 3-0. Georgia answered immediately with a 75-yard drive capped by a 17-yard touchdown pass from Gunner Stockton to Noah Thomas, who finished with two TD receptions on the night.
Georgia’s offense demonstrated a willingness to attack vertically and through RPO-style reads. Stockton completed short, timing throws early but also scrambled on a designed keeper for 20 yards, showing the multi-dimensional nature of UGA’s attack. Texas attempted to stay in rhythm with quick passing and route combinations that had worked in recent wins.
Defensively, Georgia generated pressure that disrupted several Texas third-down attempts and forced one critical turnover — Arch Manning’s slant intended for DeAndre Moore Jr. was intercepted by safety KJ Bolden on a third-and-4. That turnover ended a promising Longhorns possession and swung momentum back to the Bulldogs, who converted the ensuing field position into points.
Texas’ receivers at times created separation after the catch, with Emmett Mosley V recording three catches (one for 16 yards) in the first half, but contested throws and drops limited the Longhorns’ vertical output. Georgia’s secondary and linebackers defended the horizontal passing game well, making tackles in space and preventing the explosive, chunk-yardage plays Texas had used earlier in the season.
Analysis & Implications
Tactical matchup: Georgia’s defense is built to take away the run and force opponents into passing windows that expose timing and margin for error. With Jordan Hall out, interior run defense remained solid, but pass-rush production is not Georgia’s primary strength; instead, the Bulldogs often rely on tackling and defensive backfield discipline to limit YAC. That approach specifically targets Texas’ recent offense, which has generated outsized production after the catch.
Arch Manning’s ceiling versus Georgia: Manning’s recent back-to-back 300-plus yard games showed pocket comfort and timing with his receivers, but a high share of those yards came as YAC against less athletic secondaries. Georgia’s perimeter defenders are better suited to limit run-after-catch opportunities, meaning Texas must either win contested downfield throws or manufacture more explosive run plays to avoid one-dimensional predictability.
Playoff math: A Georgia victory would strengthen the Bulldogs’ positioning for a first-round College Football Playoff bye, keeping a clearer path to a top-four seed if they finish strongly. For Texas, a loss would cloud the Longhorns’ at-large potential; even with two regular-season wins remaining, a 9-3 final record would likely require favorable results elsewhere and a strong resume of signature wins to secure an at-large CFP berth.
Coaching and roster consequences: Georgia’s decision-making — whether to lean more on the run game after an opening series without carries — will be closely watched as the game and season progress. Texas’ offensive scheme must show capability to stretch the field vertically; otherwise, the Longhorns risk being hemmed into short gains and clock-consuming drives that do not translate into enough scoring against top defenses.
Comparison & Data
| Game | Score | Notable |
|---|---|---|
| Georgia vs Mississippi State (recent) | 41-21 | UGA posted a stretch of 38 consecutive points |
| Texas vs Vanderbilt | 34-31 | Arch Manning: 328 passing yards; 258 YAC |
| Head-to-head series | All-time: 4-4 | Georgia seeking third straight win vs Texas |
Context: The table above highlights why the matchup is stylistically challenging for Texas. Georgia’s recent 41-21 win showcased UGA’s ability to build long scoring runs, while Texas’ 34-31 win over Vanderbilt relied heavily on receiver YAC rather than consistent downfield completions. The even all-time series (4-4) underscores the competitive parity historically, even as the teams have traded wins in recent seasons.
Reactions & Quotes
Georgia announced that nose tackle Jordan Hall will miss the remainder of the season with a knee injury.
Georgia Athletics (official)
Live updates noted that Arch Manning’s third-and-4 slant was intercepted by KJ Bolden, which ended a promising Texas drive.
CBS Sports (live updates)
Kirby Smart confirmed on the SEC coaches teleconference that a visiting coach observed UGA practice as part of game preparation ahead of Texas.
Kirby Smart (SEC coaches teleconference)
Unconfirmed
- Whether Texas can reliably connect on true deep shots against Georgia’s perimeter coverage remains unresolved and will be decisive for a Longhorns comeback.
- It is unclear how much more Georgia will commit to running the ball after not rushing on its opening series; play-calling adjustments are still in flux.
- The long-term health status of Georgia’s defensive rotation without Jordan Hall and its effect on late-game depth is still being evaluated.
Bottom Line
Georgia’s balanced early attack and disciplined defense put the Bulldogs in control at home through the first quarter, while Texas showed flashes but suffered a costly turnover. Arch Manning has the tools to threaten UGA, but so far the Longhorns have struggled to generate consistent vertical success against a defense designed to limit YAC and run plays.
Looking ahead, Georgia stands to preserve a clearer path to a CFP bye with a home win, whereas Texas would need late-season signature victories and external help to keep realistic playoff hopes alive if it falls in Athens. The mid-game adjustments — Georgia’s commitment to the run and Texas’ ability to hit a few downfield throws — will likely determine which program advances its postseason positioning.