Week 8 featured one of the Game of the Year candidates, as the No. 5 Georgia Bulldogs traveled to Austin to take on the No. 1 Texas Longhorns. Yet, it wasn’t much of a game at all in the first half, with Georgia’s defensive line serving Texas’ offensive line its “welcome to the SEC” moment.
Georgia Exposes Texas’ Offensive Line in Week 8
It was all Georgia early, as the Kirby Smart’s squad cruised to a 23-0 halftime lead. How? Easy: the defensive line gave Texas’ front all it could handle and then some.
The Bulldogs generated five sacks, and Jalon Walker became the first player in the last 20 years to have three sacks and seven tackles in a game against the AP No. 1 team.
More than that, Ewers was pressured on half of his dropbacks, threw for just 17 yards, and lost a fumble on a strip sack. Manning didn’t fair much better, turning the ball over on his own strip sack and producing 19 passing yards.
The dynamic QBs combined to go 0 for 7 on third down in the first half, digging a massive hole early in the contest.
While the second half saw the Longhorns swing the momentum, largely thanks to a thrown beer can from a fan, Georgia’s front four swung it right back. EDGE Mykel Williams, who has dealt with an ankle sprain and entered Week 8 sackless, recorded his first two sacks of the year, forcing another fumble on his second.
Texas allowed just six sacks through six games — Georgia left Austin with seven. But the Bulldogs did more than just bring down the QB and force fumbles.
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They held the Longhorns’ RBs to just 57 rushing yards (3.6 per carry), which is by far their lowest single-game total of the season.
Despite a late push by Texas, Georgia’s relentless defensive front ensured the Longhorns felt every bit of the SEC’s physicality, sealing a signature win that sent a clear message to the rest of the conference.
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