Georgia sent a message to the SEC on Saturday night. The Bulldogs blew out Tennessee 34-10 in Athens, holding the Volunteers to 245 total yards and forcing four turnovers in a game that was over by halftime. Kirby Smart’s team is back in the top five of the AP poll, and the SEC race just got a lot more interesting.
Quarterback Gunner Stockton, in his second full season as the starter, went 21 of 28 for 267 yards and three touchdowns. He looked poised, decisive, and completely in command of an offense that had struggled to find rhythm through the season opener against Clemson.
The Georgia defense was suffocating. Tennessee running back DeSean Bishop was held to 34 yards on 12 carries. Volunteers quarterback Jake Merklinger was pressured on 62 percent of his drop-backs and threw two interceptions, including a pick-six to Georgia safety KJ Bolden.
The Bulldogs’ front seven looked like a returning championship group. Edge rusher Mykel Williams, in his final season before the NFL Draft, had two sacks. Interior defensive lineman Christen Miller was a force in the run game, and linebacker Jalon Walker was everywhere.
Tennessee entered the season ranked in the top 10 and was seen as a legitimate SEC and playoff contender. Saturday’s loss does not eliminate the Vols, but it puts them in a hole that requires them to win out. Josh Heupel’s team has real talent, but the offensive line has been a concern all season.
Georgia has a bye next week before traveling to Alabama in what will be the biggest game of the SEC regular season. Alabama has looked dominant under second-year head coach Kalen DeBoer, and the Crimson Tide are unbeaten with wins over Wisconsin and Ole Miss.
The SEC is deeper than any conference in college football. Georgia, Alabama, Texas, LSU, and Ole Miss all have legitimate playoff cases. Tennessee will not fade out entirely, but the margin for error is now razor thin.
The College Football Playoff picture is starting to take shape. The 12-team format allows for more forgiveness, but the top four seeds still matter because they carry first-round byes. Georgia is squarely in that conversation.
Stockton is quietly building a Heisman case. He is a quiet, mistake-free operator who does not put up huge counting stats but wins big games. That profile might not sell in Heisman voting, but it wins national championships.
Georgia versus Alabama is two weeks away. Every SEC fan should be circling the date. The winner takes a huge step toward the playoff. The loser starts scoreboard-watching immediately.
A longtime sports reporter, Carlos Garcia has written about some of the biggest and most notable athletic events of the last 5 years. He has been credentialed to cover MLS, NBA and MLB games all over the United States. His work has been published on Fox Sports, Bleacher Report, AOL and the Washington Post.
