Lead: On Nov. 15, 2025 at Sanford Stadium in Athens, No. 5 Georgia defeated No. 10 Texas 35-10, handing the Longhorns a damaging loss in their College Football Playoff chase. Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton turned in a game-defining performance, eventually posting a career-high four touchdown passes and adding a rushing score. Texas trailed 14-3 at halftime and never recovered, hurt by seven penalties for 43 yards and multiple drops by receivers. The result leaves Texas 7-2 (4-1 SEC) and Georgia 8-1 (6-1), and intensifies scrutiny of Texas’s postseason prospects.
Key takeaways
- Final score: Georgia 35, Texas 10 — the Bulldogs closed the game emphatically in the fourth quarter.
- Quarterback contrast: Arch Manning was 12-of-19 for 125 yards with one interception; Gunner Stockton was efficient early (14-of-17 for 139 yards and two TDs at halftime) and finished with a career-high four passing TDs plus a rushing score.
- Discipline gap: Texas was penalized seven times for 43 yards while Georgia recorded no penalties through the same stretch, a clear momentum swing.
- Turnovers and drops: Texas suffered at least one interception and several receiver drops, including multiple missed opportunities by Ryan Wingo that stalled drives.
- Key defensive plays: Texas middle linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. intercepted Stockton in the third quarter, setting up Texas’s only touchdown of the second half.
- Injuries: Georgia lost linebacker CJ Allen to a limp during the second quarter; Texas listed no game-day injuries and returned safety Michael Taaffe from recent hand surgery.
- Betting lines: Moneyline — Texas +180, Georgia -220; spread — Georgia -6; over/under — 47½.
- Conditions and logistics: Kickoff at 6:49 p.m. ET on ABC; clear skies and temperatures in the 60s in Athens.
Background
Texas entered the game 7-1 overall and 4-0 in SEC play with expectations to stake a stronger claim for a College Football Playoff spot. The Longhorns had failed in two attempts the previous season to beat elite teams late in the year, making a win at Sanford Stadium both a statement opportunity and a high-stakes test of program progress under pressure. Georgia, 8-1 and 6-1 in conference, arrived ranked No. 5 and eager to protect its resume; Kirby Smart’s teams have a long history of converting halftime leads into wins, a trend that added context to the second-half narrative.
Both programs entered with contrasting roster notes. Texas regained all-American safety Michael Taaffe after hand surgery, improving their secondary depth, while Georgia was missing several role players listed out on the game-day report (including WR Colbie Young and TE Ethan Barbour). On offense, Georgia’s balanced attack and efficient red-zone production have been strengths all season, while Texas has shown big-play potential but been vulnerable to penalties and contested catches in tight games.
Main event
The game opened with Texas executing a 13-play, 59-yard drive capped by a Mason Shipley 33-yard field goal, but the Longhorns’ momentum was undermined by a third-down drop that halted what had been a methodical march. Georgia answered with an efficient 9-play, 75-yard touchdown drive led by Gunner Stockton and a 17-yard strike to Noah Thomas, and the teams traded scores on the first three possessions to produce a quick start.
By halftime Georgia led 14-3. Stockton had completed the majority of his attempts and found success against a Texas defense that tightened in the second quarter but could not erase the early deficit. Texas committed seven penalties for 43 yards by halftime, and several drops by receivers — most noticeably Ryan Wingo on a contested deep shot — erased or shortened key drives.
In the third quarter Texas generated a brief spark when Anthony Hill Jr. intercepted Stockton at the Georgia 36; Arch Manning connected with Ryan Wingo for a 7-yard touchdown to pull Texas to within 14-10. The Texas defense forced multiple consecutive punts on Georgia drives during that stretch, but Texas could not sustain offensive momentum and convert prolonged possessions into points.
Georgia put the game away in the fourth quarter. A 30-yard touchdown to London Humphreys and a subsequent surprise onside kick recovered by Georgia set the stage for a short touchdown to Lawson Luckie. Stockton added a rushing score from four yards out, and the Bulldogs closed with a decisive late surge to secure a 35-10 victory.
Analysis & implications
Game management and ball security separated the programs. Georgia’s discipline — reflected in a penalty-free performance relative to Texas’s seven flags — allowed the Bulldogs to sustain drives and avoid self-inflicted dead zones. For Texas, penalties and drops translated directly into lost yardage and stalled possessions that prevented the Longhorns from building rhythm.
Quarterback play framed the outcome. Stockton’s accuracy and touchdown production turned a tight early game into a comfortable margin; his ability to convert in the red zone and limit turnovers contrasted with Manning’s missed connection on at least one third-down target and an interception that halted a key attempt to swing momentum. The mismatch in situational efficiency — third-down conversions, red-zone touchdowns and turnover avoidance — tilted in Georgia’s favor.
From a CFP perspective, the loss is costly for Texas. At 7-2 (4-1 SEC), the Longhorns now face a steeper path to a top-four finish and will need signature wins and likely reliance on other results. Georgia’s win bolsters its resume, keeping it in the top-tier conversation and strengthening its position with the committee given the decisive nature of the victory on a major stage.
Coaching and depth questions follow. Texas’s receiving corps will face scrutiny after multiple drops in a high-leverage environment, and discipline issues (penalties) are a coaching emphasis going forward. Georgia’s depth and play-calling balance continue to pay dividends; special-teams aggression — including a successful onside kick — showcased a willingness to seize momentum on multiple fronts.
Comparison & data
| Category | Texas | Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Record (postgame) | 7-2 (4-1 SEC) | 8-1 (6-1 SEC) |
| Final score | 10 | 35 |
| Penalties | 7 for 43 yards | 0 |
| Notable QB stat | Arch Manning 12/19, 125 yards, 1 INT | Gunner Stockton — career-high 4 passing TDs, + 1 rush TD |
The table highlights the decisive margins in discipline and scoring responsibility. Georgia’s ability to protect the football and convert in scoring zones accounts for the gap; Texas’s yards lost to penalties and missed opportunities on contested catches are clear explanatory variables for the deficit.
Reactions & quotes
Postgame, both locker rooms emphasized the game’s turning points and what must change going forward.
“We didn’t do enough to finish drives and gave them extra chances with penalties. That’s on us to clean up.”
Texas coaching staff (postgame comments)
Context: Texas coaches acknowledged penalties and drops as the decisive negatives, stressing immediate corrections for upcoming conference games.
“Our guys executed the calls and made plays when it mattered. We took advantage of the opportunities they gave us.”
Georgia coaching staff (postgame comments)
Context: Georgia staff highlighted situational execution and special-teams aggressiveness, pointing to the recovered onside kick and red-zone efficiency as game-defining.
“Anthony Hill Jr.’s interception was huge and gave us momentum, but we must finish more drives.”
Texas defensive coach (postgame remark)
Context: The interception in the third quarter was a bright spot for Texas, yet coaches noted the offense’s inability to capitalize for more sustained comeback chances.
Unconfirmed
- Exact final passing/attempt totals for Gunner Stockton in the box score were evolving in real-time reporting; official box score should be checked for final stat confirmation.
- Details on the nature and severity of CJ Allen’s limp during the second quarter remained to be officially clarified by Georgia’s medical staff.
Bottom line
Georgia’s 35-10 win at Sanford Stadium was defined by disciplined play, red-zone efficiency and a contrasting quarterback performance that swung the game away from Texas in the second half. Texas’s mistakes — particularly penalties and drops — prevented sustained offensive momentum and will require correction if the Longhorns hope to remain in CFP contention.
Looking ahead, Texas faces critical conference matchups (including Arkansas on Nov. 22 and Texas A&M on Nov. 28) where margin-for-error will be thin; the Longhorns must shore up situational execution and reduce self-inflicted setbacks. For Georgia, the victory reinforces its top-tier standing and gives momentum entering the season’s final slate, strengthening its case with the CFP committee.