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Georgia's defense remains confident, looking to be smarter

Jeremy Johnsonby: Jeremy Johnson5 hours agoJeremyO_Johnson
Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images | Tennessee place kicker Max Gilbert (90) holds his helmet in disbelief as Georgia defensive lineman Xzavier McLeod (94) celebrates Gilbert's missed field goal in the final seconds of a college football game between Tennessee and Georgia at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., on Sept. 13, 2025.
Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images | Tennessee place kicker Max Gilbert (90) holds his helmet in disbelief as Georgia defensive lineman Xzavier McLeod (94) celebrates Gilbert's missed field goal in the final seconds of a college football game between Tennessee and Georgia at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., on Sept. 13, 2025.

Georgia’s defense was on its heels in the first half. It was also that way at times in the second half of Georgia’s 44-41 win over Tennessee in Knoxville on Saturday.

The Bulldogs allowed 21 points in the first quarter. Tennessee put up 496 yards of offense against the Georgia defense. Coming in, Georgia had only allowed 13 points in games against Marshall and Austin Peay.

The Bulldogs had allowed a total of 404 yards in the first two games. Georgia’s defense made big plays in overtime, forcing Tennessee to kick a field goal that allowed Georgia to win the game on Josh McCray’s touchdown.

The Bulldogs forced two turnovers. Joenel Aguero and KJ Bolden snagged interceptions. Even with the big plays made in the second half it wasn’t a vaughted Georgia defensive performance. Since 2021, Georgia has only allowed 40 points three times.

They’ve now won two of those games.

After the game, Kirby Smart praised his defense’s continued confidence.

“That defense group in there, they didn’t lose their confidence,” Smart told reporters after the game. “That group in there, they think they can stop anybody, anytime. That’s a fun group to be around. That group had to do it in overtime. They thought they were going to block a field goal. They believe, and they’re a confident group.”

Georgia’s defense will look to be smarter

There is work to do. Smart feels the Georgia defense needs to play smarter as the season progresses.

“We’ve got to play smarter,” Smart said. “But, look, that’s a hard game to prep for. We worked the hell out of our guys to get ready for that game. We probably overworked those guys. It came down to things that we didn’t execute. We got beaten over the top or didn’t make a play. It was frustrating because I thought we would play better defensively.”

Georgia will get a bye week. They return to action against Alabama on Sept. 27 at Sanford Stadium.

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