Kirk Herbstreit states Georgia has been 'put on the backburner' in college football entering Tennessee game

For as dominant as it has been for almost a decade, Georgia has been pretty quiet so far this season, in part because of who it has played the past two weeks in Athens. However, as the Bulldogs come to play on Rocky Top this weekend, Kirk Herbstreit thinks they could reintroduce themselves to those around college football.

Herbstreit previewed the Top 15 matchup between No. 6 Georgia and No. 15 Tennessee while appearing on ‘Get Up’ on Friday. He began by saying that the ‘Dawgs have been under the radar this season, even for him, until he started to prep for this game.

“You know, I think, sometimes, even in the college world, we just kind of get caught up in Arch Manning or what’s the big story, and it’s easy, even for a team like Georgia, to kind of be put on the back burner. It took maybe an opponent like this to remind us, okay, let’s focus in on Georgia. Who is this team? How good are they?” Herbstreit said. “And, I’m guilty of that myself. I turned on the film this week and I was reminded, oh yeah, Kirby Smart? Still recruits, still develops, still has freaks.”

That was Herbstreit’s biggest takeaway from the tape he saw on Georgia. Despite the roster turnover they’ve experienced, the Bulldogs still have a talented, quality roster, but just with maybe some names that have yet to make themselves fully known in the sport.

“It’s that next wave,” Herbstreit said. “It’s a great reminder of how much talent that they have, because one thing that really stands out to me is that these college teams, whether it’s through the portal or it’s through just guys moving or going on to the NFL or graduating? You take a team like Georgia and you think, okay, we’re used to certain personalities and certain players.

“Well, a lot of those guys are now playing with the Eagles or playing wherever in the NFL. Who are these next players? And, one thing that stood out to me? After this game, you’re going to start to really see, okay, Georgia has some great players.”

However, despite all the new names on both teams, Herbstreit is expecting a great game between Georgia and Tennessee in Neyland Stadium, which will be checkerboarded, on Saturday afternoon. That said, the Bulldogs have had a lot of success against the Volunteers, having won eight in a row and thirteen of fifteen meetings since 2010.

“Both of these teams? I think that’s what’s so great about a matchup like this early in the year. Both of these teams, I think, are going to give you an opportunity to just kind of take a litmus test to where they are, just kind of find out who’s ready to compete with the big boys – not just in the SEC but I think in the entire country,” Herbstreit said. “And, it’s so hard to come to Knoxville and win football games.”

“One thing to remember, to look up some of the stats? Josh Heupel’s offenses are tough for most people to stop, but Kirby Smart and Georgia? It’s like the kryptonite to Josh Heupel over these last four or five years. Been able to really completely defuse that offense and their firepower, and it’s because they’re typically so good at the defensive line spot,” Herbstreit added. “Will that play out in this one? We’ll have to wait and see.”

Georgia hasn’t made a headline yet this season, with just home wins against smaller schools keeping them in the copy so far. The Bulldogs, or the Volunteers, too, for that matter, could put themselves in bold, though, depending on tomorrow’s outcome.