The stage is set for this Saturday’s matchup to easily end up being one of the best games ever played in Sanford Stadium when the No. 1 Bulldogs (8-0, 5-0 SEC) take on the No. 2 Tennessee Volunteers (8-0, 4-0 SEC).
This will be the first time in program history that an AP poll No. 1 and No. 2 teams will play between the hedges. The only other time the Bulldogs have played a team ranked that highly ranked while at No. 1 was the Penn State Nittany Lions back in the 1983 Sugar Bowl.
Many who attended can remember the insanely loud Classic City crowd that lined the Sanford stands a couple of years ago when No.3 Georgia hosted the No. 7 Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Come Nov. 5, this game should rival that atmosphere. Given its bowl shape and sellout crowds, Sanford Stadium has always been one of the loudest places to play in all of college football, and head coach Kirby Smart urges fans to prove it again.
“Our guys are excited and looking forward to a top matchup in Sanford Stadium. I know our fanbase will be loud and proud,” Smart said.
“I want to challenge our fanbase. I mean, everybody talks about the Notre Dame game, but we want to be louder than that. We want to be there earlier than that. We had some great matchups last year here at home and I thought they really affected the game each time we had a big matchup, so we’ll need them again and we’ll be ready to go.”
The rivalry between these two programs extends all the way back to 1899, with the Bulldogs leading the all-time series 26-23-2. And although Georgia has won the past five matchups, Tennessee heads into this year’s contest with all the momentum.
Since avoiding an early-season scare against Pittsburgh, Tennessee has been nearly unstoppable on the offensive side of the ball. The Volunteers, led by 2022 Heisman-hopeful Hendon Hooker, currently lead the nation with an average 553 yards of offense per game.
Through eight games, Hooker has completed 156-of-219 passes for 2,338 yards and 21 touchdowns, as well as having thrown only one interception.
Junior wide receiver Jalin Hyatt has been Hooker’s top target, averaging more than 20 yards per reception and hauling in a total of 14 touchdowns thus far.
Perhaps the Vols' only offensive weak point would be their ability to run the ball. They average about 4.5 yards per carry and with a stingy Bulldog front seven allowing only 85 rushing yards per game, Smart’s defense seems to match up well against Josh Heupel’s offense.
Even with its consistency, Georgia’s defense will have a full plate come Saturday, especially with some key players potentially missing due to injury.
“[Nolan Smith’s] availability has not been determined. It does not look good for this week. It’s a pec muscle. It’s one of those deals we’re doing an MRI on. We’re still getting some opinions on it, but he’s probably doubtful for this week,” Smart said in a press conference after Monday’s practice.
Multiple reports came out Tuesday morning that Smith will most likely undergo surgery and miss the rest of the 2022 season.
“Kendall [Milton] has still got the quad strain that’s bothering him. AD [Mitchell] has the ankle, and we took him on the trip and allowed him some more recovery time, so I’ll find out some more with him.”
Among the biggest factors for UGA’s defensive success is Jalen Carter. He was able to play n a limited snap count against the Gators last Saturday in Jacksonville and Smart was pleased with his progress.
“He played probably better than I expected. He was in on run; he was in on pass; he executed well; he held the point. He didn’t feel like it bothered him,” Smart said. “It’s really about stamina and him being able to hold up in conditioning, and one thing he’s been doing a lot lately is conditioning. He hadn’t been practicing, so we hope to have him in great shape and hopefully, he’s able to go and be full speed.”
Georgia’s offense has been nothing to scoff at either. The Bulldogs are second only to the Volunteers in total offense and sixth in scoring offense across the country.
Quarterback Stetson Bennett has thrown for 2,349 yards and nine touchdowns. Bennett also has an array of running backs coming out of the backfield to lead the SEC’s fourth-best rushing attack.
Offensive coordinator Todd Monken will have players like Kenny McIntosh, Daijun Edwards and Branson Robinson to rotate in.
Heading forward, the Bulldogs will look to limit turnovers when they have the ball. After turning the ball over three times last Saturday, Smart acknowledged the importance of winning the turnover battle.
“It’s incredibly important. I don’t know if there’s an extra emphasis, because I would never say that we emphasize one week more than another, but you can’t emphasize turnovers,” Smart said, “That’s what we start every practice with. That’s what we hang our hat on. That’s what we protect our program with, is the ball, so I can’t say it’s extra, but it’s certainly important.”
This week also saw the first release of the 2022 College Football Playoff rankings, and it may fuel a fire in the Bulldogs’ locker room. Even though Georgia is No. 1 in the AP Poll, Tennessee was ranked first by the CFP committee while the Bulldogs were ranked third.
Ultimately, this game will probably decide who will be the SEC East representative in this year’s conference championship as both teams are currently undefeated. It will have a massive impact on the College Football Playoff rankings, too.