Kirby Smart lays out the challenges Tennessee match up brings

Georgia’s 2025 season takes on another tenure on Saturday. The Bulldogs open SEC play on Saturday with Tennessee in Knoxville.

ESPN’s College Gameday will be broadcasting on Saturday morning. The Bulldogs have beaten Marshall and an FCS program, Austin Peay.

The Bulldogs expect an even more physical football game in Knoxville. It will also be Georgia’s first round game of the season.

Georgia head coach Kirby Smart tipped the cap to Josh Heupel and his program. The Volunteers were in the College Football Playoff in 2024. They have rocketed up the AP Poll in the first two weeks and sit at 15th after wins over Syracuse and ETSU.

“Really excited about this matchup,” Smart told reporters on Monday. “One of the toughest places to play in all college football. It’ll be as loud as it ever is. It always is one of the loudest in the SEC for sure. They’ve done a great job. Josh has a great team and program. They’re a playoff team from last year that we’ve had some really, really physical games with. It’ll be no different. They are built around toughness, running the ball, and stopping the run, which they’re very good at both. I think people have a mistake about their offense that which scores so many points, but they are very physical. You look at last year’s game between both teams, both lines of scrimmage were extremely physical, and it’s been that way every time we’ve played each other. It won’t be any different this time.”

Playing the SEC opener on the road is going to be a challenge.

“We’re going to a tough place to play,” Smart said. “First game on the road in the SEC. When you open up on the road in the SEC, it’s always challenging. It’ll be important that our players understand that the environment is something that you don’t have to worry about. You’ve got to worry about how you play, and sometimes that’s easier said than done, especially with young players. But we’ll prepare for it, and we’re excited to go play. These are the games you come to Georgia to play in. So I’m excited for these guys.”

Kirby Smart examines the Tennessee offense

Tennessee is two games into starting Appalachian State transfer Joey Aguilar at quarterback. Incumbent starter Nico Iamaleava transferred to UCLA in the summer.

Aguilar, who had transferred to UCLA, then transferred to Tennessee. He has put up 535 yards and five touchdowns in the first two games.

Smart sees a smart, athletic signal caller capable of making plays from the pocket and when the pocket breaks down.

“He’s playing really efficiently, got great arm talent and he’s a really good athlete,” Smart said. “You can tell he understands the system. He gets the ball out quickly. He’s been very accurate. He’s had some really well-thrown balls, but a couple they’ve dropped in crucial times. But he makes some good throws and is really a good deep-ball passer. I think he puts air under the ball, gives the receiver an opportunity to run under it. He’s made plays with his legs, which you have to do in this league at quarterback, and he’s been very, very impressive in the two games he played.”

The Volunteers have run for 505 yards already. Tennessee has two running backs with more than 150 yards rushing through two games.

Each of Tennessee’s group of running backs can do similar jobs.

“Well, they’ve always played a lot of backs, so they have multiple backs that come in the game,” Smart said. “They’re very physical. I mean, they’re all 210-, 215-pound guys. They run downhill; they don’t sit there and try to attack the sideline. They get vertical. You know, they hit us last year on a vertical run. Very patient runners, well-coached. They have a lot of schemes in their run game because of the formation variation they use, but they’re committed to it. Like, it’s physical within the trenches, and their offensive line plays extremely physical. They are very intentional with their bumps and their doubles. They attack you, and they try to get you out of your gaps. And they spread you out, and they do a really good job in the run game.” 

Georgia’s offense to play cautiously aggressive

Georgia’s quarterback Gunner Stockton is entering his fourth career college start. Stockton has put up 417 yards and two touchdowns in the first two games of 2025.

Smart wants Stockton and the Georgia offense to remain aggressive on Saturday, but limit the turnovers.

“Well, as we’ve learned, you can turn it over on any player, right,” Smart said. “I mean, we had a running play that was a turnover. So nothing’s inherently perfect or safe. I think passing the ball down the field is not necessarily, it’s one of the lower turnover rates there is. I mean, in the past when we did get, just a turnover was a short intermediate passing game that a guy fumbled after he called it. So I don’t really know what you’re asking. I mean, there’s a good and bad for both. I mean, you can’t turn the ball over in a good offense. You gotta prevent turnovers, but you also have to have the ability to throw it down the field and hit some shots and be explosive. But I don’t think that would keep you from doing and thinking about turnovers.”

Georgia and Tennessee will kick off at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday.