Future Opponent Week 3 Game to Watch: Tennessee vs Georgia
On Saturday afternoon, the No. 6 Georgia Bulldogs (2-0) come to Knoxville to take on the No. 15 Tennessee Volunteers (2-0). While it may be early in the season, this game will tell us a lot about the playoff hopes for both programs, which have yet to be tested. Bulldogs quarterback Gunner Stockton has only found the end zone through the air twice this season, and questions remain if he can take Georgia back to where it was when Stetson Bennett was under center. For the Vols, Saturday will provide an answer if Tennessee really has won the “trade” of quarterbacks Nico Iamaleava and Joey Aguilar. Here are some things to watch for on Saturday afternoon.
A tale of the tape: Tennessee
Tennessee enters the weekend with two lopsided wins against Syracuse, 45-26, and East Tennessee State University, 72-17. Head Coach Josh Heupel’s offense has been humming through the first two games of the season, accumulating 141 total points, 19 total touchdowns, and ranking second in the nation behind the USC Trojans with 605 yards per game of total offense.
The biggest storyline for the Vols this season has been the emergence of transfer quarterback Joey Aguilar. Aguilar has impressed through two games, throwing for a 67.1 completion percentage with 535 yards, 5 touchdowns, and no interceptions. While he led the nation with 14 interceptions in 2024, Aguilar has played clean football through two games and has displayed his arm strength and ability to stretch the field.
In what seems to be a staple of Heupel-led teams, the Volunteers’ run game has been the engine that sparks the Tennessee offense. The Volunteers’ backfield is led by senior Star Thomas, who has 24 carries for 161 yards and 3 touchdowns. Thomas is averaging 6.7 per carry. When Thomas gets a breather, Tennessee hands it off to sophomore Dean Bishop. Bishop is averaging 10.7 yards per carry on 14 carries for 150 yards and a touchdown.
The Volunteers’ top receiving targets so far are junior Chris Brazell II, sophomore Mike Matthews, freshman Braylon Stayley, and senior tight end Miles Kitselman. Brazell II has 14 catches for 187 yards and 2 touchdowns, Matthews has 8 catches for 140 yards and a touchdown, Staley has 9 catches for 134 yards and a touchdown, and Kitselman has 5 catches for 46 yards and a touchdown.
Defensively, the Vols will be without veteran defensive backs Rickey Gibson III, Jermod McCoy, and defensive lineman Daevin Hobbs on Saturday. So far for Tennessee, defensive backs Colton Hood and Ty Redmond have flashed with coverage grades of 83.0 and 81.2, respectively, according to PFF. The Volunteers have also seen a productive pass rush, which has totaled 8 sacks through two games. Senior Joshua Josephs leads the team overall with 2 sacks.
A tale of the tape: Georgia
Junior quarterback Gunner Stockton leads the Bulldogs and is coming off decisive wins to begin the season, against Marshall, 45-7, and Austin Peay, 28-6. Stockton got his first run at starting reps last season after Carson Beck went down with a torn UCL against Texas in the SEC Championship. So far, Stockton has thrown for a 69% completion percentage with 2 passing touchdowns for 417 yards and no interceptions. Stockton has been efficient on the ground with 15 carries for 86 yards and 2 rushing touchdowns.
Georgia’s running back room has been the heart of its offense so far, featuring a three-headed attack led by Nate Frazier, Dwight Phillips Jr., and Chauncey Bowens. Frazier has 25 carries for 116 yards and 2 touchdowns, Phillips Jr. has 12 carries for 115 yards and a touchdown, and Bowens has 17 carries for 89 yards and 2 touchdowns.
The Georgia receiving room has not done a whole lot through 2 games and has just 3 total touchdowns. The Bulldogs are led by Zachariah Branch, Colbie Young, and former Commodore London Humphreys. Branch has 6 catches for 112 yards and a touchdown, Young has 9 catches for 106 yards and no touchdowns, and Humphreys has 6 catches for 37 yards and 1 touchdown.
Defensively, the Bulldogs have just 3 sacks and 1 interception through two games, low totals considering the talent that Head Coach Kirby Smart typically has on defense. Junior linebackers Raylen Wilson and CJ Allen lead the defense with 14 and 11 tackles, respectively. Sophomore defensive back KJ Bolden has also impressed as a ball hawk, with 10 tackles, 7 of which were assisted.
Storyline to watch: which quarterback meets the moment
Saturday afternoon will be one of the most charged regular-season atmospheres Stockton and Aguilar have ever played in. Neyland Stadium will be raucous as the Vols look to beat the Bulldogs for the first time since 2016. The game will be decided by whichever quarterback can make their presence felt in the passing game and take care of the football better.
Georgia will need to throw the ball the most it has all season against Tennessee to win. Stockton has yet to show that he is as capable a passer as Stetson Bennett, and if Georgia starts slowly, that could spell trouble for the Bulldogs. If Stockton can string together some completions to balance out the run game, that will open up Georgia’s offense significantly.
For Tennessee, Aguilar’s patience and timing will be put to the test. A Kirby Smart defense is going to take away the deep ball in coverage and try to force Aguilar to throw the ball in tighter windows, focusing on short and intermediate throws. Smart will also try to dial up pressure on Aguilar. Aguilar has not seen a defense with Georgia’s speed and athleticism so far, and if Aguilar is not careful, he could throw some costly interceptions or lose the ball off a strip sack. Additionally, Georgia’s linebackers could make life difficult for Aguilar if he tries to run.
Prediction
Saturday afternoon showcases sloppy quarterback play, with neither Stockton nor Aguilar looking great. So much of the Heupel passing offense is based on timing, and Kirby Smart appears to have a knack for disrupting that timing. Georgia wears down the Vols in the fourth quarter and takes advantage of Tennessee’s young corners for a couple of big plays. Late in the game, Georgia plays keep-away from Aguilar with a steady run game. Georgia wins an ugly game 27-20, with both teams committing multiple turnovers.
