Georgia vs. Tennessee score, takeaways: No. 3 Dawgs suffocate No. 1 Vols offense

No. 3 Georgia dominated No. 1 Tennessee on a rainy day at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Georgia, that proved even more depressing for the Volunteers’ national championship aspirations. The Bulldogs jumped into first place alone atop the SEC East standings after a 27-13 demolition of the rival Vols that continued Georgia’s torrid run as reigning champions and knocked Tennessee from the ranks of the unbeaten.

Tennessee entered the game with the best scoring offense in the country, but Georgia’s dominant defense — led by star defensive lineman Jalen Carter — held the Vols without a touchdown through three quarters. Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker, a Heisman Trophy candidate entering the game, didn’t have a single passing play of 20 or more yards despite that being a staple of this up-tempo attack. 

Georgia QB Stetson Bennett IV scrambled for a 13-yard touchdown on the Dawgs’ second drive, making it a 7-3 ballgame early in the contest. The defense pinned Tennessee deep, and Paxton Brooks was forced to punt out of the shadow of his own goal post. That set Georgia’s offense up in great field position, and Bennett immediately tossed a 37-yard touchdown to Ladd McConkey to make it a 14-3 game. Bennett followed that up with a 5-yard strike to Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint in the second quarter to jump out to a 21-3 lead. At that point, it was smooth sailing for the reigning champions. 

What are the primary takeaways from Georgia’s romp?

Stetson Bennett had the keys

It was clear from the moment Georgia took an offensive snap that coach Kirby Smart and offensive coordinator Todd Monken gave Bennett the keys to run the offense, and the veteran kept his foot on the gas. He hit Arian Smith on a 52-yard bomb down the middle on the first play of the second drive, which really set the tone. His touchdown run came three plays later after he escaped pressure and dove for the pylon. Monken called 21 pass plays in the first half as opposed to 15 running plays — one of which was Bennett’s scramble for six. 

Hooker came in with the Heisman hype but Bennett proved that he was the best quarterback on the field in this one. That’s becoming pretty commonplace these days. He came in averaging 293.6 yards per game despite not having to do too much in the fourth quarter of most of his games. Should Bennett now be mentioned in the Heisman conversation? Hooker had an awful day between the hedges while Ohio State star C.J. Stroud was less-than-stellar in the win over Northwestern. Seems like better late than never to add Bennett to the Heisman discussions. 

Georgia’s front seven wreaks havoc

Georgia’s defensive front not only dominated the game but reminded the college football world that its defense can still win a championship. The Bulldogs sacked Hooker six times and notched eight tackles for loss on the afternoon, and that was the biggest reason this game got sideways in the first half. Jalen Carter had a strip sack on Hooker late in the first quarter that swung momentum to the red and black. Tennessee offensive lineman Javontez Spraggins picked it up and barely got it out of the end zone to avoid a safety, but it gave Georgia great field position and…