LIVE UPDATES: No. 5 Georgia 17, No. 1 Texas 0 – 2Q

AUSTIN, Texas — They say everything is bigger in Texas, and it doesn’t get much bigger than a top-5 battle under the lights at Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. With over 100,000 on hand, No. 5 Georgia rolls into Austin to take on top-ranked Texas Saturday night in the Lone Star State.

The Longhorns enter the showdown as the nation’s No. 1 team, undefeated with wins over Michigan and Oklahoma already on their resume and looking to add another. Beating a team led by Carson Beck would quiet any criticism of the competition they’ve faced, previously having seen a former walk-on and a pair of true freshmen in their games against power conference opponents.

While Texas is trying to solidify itself in the National Championship talks, Georgia is looking to get back into them. A loss to Alabama in September ended a regular season win streak that dated back to the 2020 season, but UGA’s win over Clemson is looking better and better by the week. Sitting at 5-1 and No. 5 in the AP Poll, the doubt of Kirby Smart’s squad would be silenced with a win on Saturday.

“Moving on to Texas, for us, obviously a huge matchup. It’s gonna be a top-ten two teams in the country. A lot of respect for Sark [Steve Sarkisian]. I’ve gotten to know Sark really well over the last couple years. We take a trip every year together and really enjoy getting to know him and have a lot of respect for the job he does. The most complete team that we’ve seen or faced this year and probably in multiple years when you look at what they’re doing defensively, offensively and special teams. They are clearly one of the best teams in the country with what they do,” Smart said on Monday in his opening statement. “Got a great quarterback, great defense, great scheme. Should be a great matchup, and this is really what you come to Georgia to play in these moments. Once again, on the road. I’m going to a place that I’ve never been. I assume none of our players have ever been there either for a game, so it should be exciting great TV. Looking for an opportunity for us to get better because that’s the most important thing is. Can we show some kind of consistent improvement and play more consistent as a team. That’s our goal, so with that I’ll open it up.”

For more Georgia Football coverage, be sure to check out the DawgsHQ YouTube channel where you can find press conferences, player interviews, podcasts and more! We’ll be live Saturday night after the conclusion of Georgia-Texas with our instant reactions, breaking down what we saw from the Bulldogs win or lose…

It’s just the sixth all-time meeting between the two programs. First matching up on New Year’s Day of 1949 in the Orange Bowl, Texas has won 41-28, the first of four wins in the series against Georgia. Texas also claimed the last matchup, a Sugar Bowl showdown to cap off the 2018 season. UGA’s lone win came in the 1984 Cotton Bowl.

Saturday’s matchup is a big one in multiple ways for the Bulldogs. Not only will they be taking on the nation’s No. 1 team for just the ninth time in program history and the first time ever in a true road environment, when Georgia kicks off against Texas, it’ll be the first time as an underdog in 50 games. UGA opened as a favorite for early better before being the line swung in favor of the Longhorns after last week’s results. At the time of publication, Texas is favored by 5 points per Vegas Insider.

How to Watch, Listen and Stream

Kickoff Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
TV: ABC (Chris Fowler – Play by Play, Kirk Herbstreit – Color Commentator, Holly Rowe/Katie George – Sideline Reporters)
Streaming: WatchESPN/ESPN+ (For more info, click here)
National Radio: Westwood One (Nate Gatter and Derek Rackley) / Local Radio (listed below): Georgia Bulldogs Sports Network (Scott Howard, Eric Zeier and D.J. Shockley) / Satellite Radio: SiriusXM (82)

For local radio information and a full list of Georgia Bulldog Sports Network affiliates, click here.

STREAM | LISTEN | STATS

As always, there’s one more way to keep up with the goings on in this game. In the space below, DawgsHQ will be providing live updates, scores, highlights and news from before and during the game. Just use the refresh button on your browser to see those updates as they roll in.

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Second Quarter

*** Carson Beck just barely missed on a big gain to Dominic Lovett. Anthony Evans got the Bulldogs into a third and short before Trevor Etienne rushes for 14.

*** Georgia forces a three-and-out. Joenel Aguero had tackles on first and second downs, playing each of them perfectly, before Jalon Walker sacks Quinn Ewers on 3rd & 11. UGA ball at its 45 after the short Anthony Evans return.

*** And that’s followed on the next play by a Trevor Etienne run up the middle for the score. Touchdown Georgia! (UGA 17-0 8:30 2Q)
*** Screen pass to Dominic Lovett with cushion picks up 17 yards. He broke a tackle before being brought down at the Texas 15.

*** Not only does Georgia force a three-and-out, but Daylen Everette comes up with an interception. Bulldogs baited Quinn Ewers to throw that and he did. UGA takes over at the Texas 34.

*** Two incompletions and one complete for just 2-yards brings on Peyton Woodring. He makes from 33 yards out and it’s a two-score game. (UGA 10-0 10:46 2Q)
*** Carson Beck connects with Arian Smith. He picks up the necessary yardage, just past the line to gain on 3rd & 7. Fresh set of downs at the Texas 17.
*** Anthony Evans with a nice return of 19 yards to the Texas 28. Georgia takes over there, looking to make it a two-score game.

*** Ewers fires deep and its nearly intercepted by Julian Humphrey. Looked like it maybe should’ve been offensive pass interference. That’s followed by a Jalon Walker sack at the Texas 2. Longhorns punting from their own end zone.
*** Quinn Ewers keeps on the first play of the quarter. Longhorns have it out to their 10 yard line now.

First Quarter

*** Long return by Texas is going to come back. Matthew Golden took it 64 yards to the UGA 36 but it’ll be Longhorn ball at their 9 after the quarter break. (UGA 7-0 END 1Q)

*** TOUCHDOWN GEORGIA! Trevor Etienne takes the toss sweep into the end zone to give the Bulldogs an early lead. (UGA 7-0 0:06 1Q)
*** 1st & Goal for Georgia after UGA gets it to the right side to Dillon Bell and Trevor Etienne. Bulldogs have it at the 2.

*** Everette makes up for his mistake with a huge hit on Quinn Ewers. Fumble recovered by him. Georgia takes over inside the Texas 15.
*** Daylen Everette flagged for pass interference on a downfield shot. Receiver stopped and Everette runs into him. Ball out to the TEX 23.

*** Another third down attempt goes south. Ball bounces off Luckie’s hands and is grabbed out of the air by the Texas defender. Longhorns will take over at the its own 5. Third time in four games Beck has thrown multiple interceptions with no games like that in his career prior.
*** Beck forced to escape pressure on third down and finds Anthony Evans. Lost yardage, but it wasn’t a sack.
*** Beck checks down to Etienne who breaks a tackle and picks up the necessary yardage on 3rd & 9. Taken down at the Texas 20.
*** Miscommunication nearly ends up with another interception. Texas defender tried to sell it but the ball hit the ground beforehand.
*** Carson Beck finds Lawson Luckie for a gain of 21 into Texas territory on the next play. Three plays, Georgia’s picked up 46 yards.
*** Trevor Etienne carries on first down for a second straight drive. Picks up seven, and follows that up with an 18 yard run to the 45.

*** Malaki Starks in coverage on an incompletion and Georgia defense gets off the field forcing a punt. That penalty was big to take Texas out of possible field goal range. Dawgs take over at the 20 after a touchback.
*** Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins makes a 3rd & 9 a 3rd & 4 as he jumped offsides. Texas returns the favor though with a false start.
*** An drop and a nice tackle by Raylen Wilson and Malaki Starks brings up another third down. This time, 3rd & 9.

*** Carson Beck throws an interception on the second play of the drive for Georgia. Ball sailed high to Ben Yurosek and ends up in the hands of the Texas defender. Longhorns have it at the UGA 42.

*** First incompletion from Quinn Ewers gets Georgia off the field. Pressured by Mykel Williams. Bulldogs to take over at their 17 after a 44-yard punt.
*** Georgia finally has Texas facing a third down. Will be 3rd & 9 from the 39.
*** Texas has moved the chains twice with three completions. All short stuff underneath beating the Bulldogs right now.

*** Trevor Etienne brings it in but is brought down for of the line to gain. Georgia forced to punt after an opening drive three-and-out.
*** Timeout Texas with UGA facing a 3rd & 10. Defense wasn’t right.
*** Another drop by Bell as he gets open in the middle of the field. Would’ve been a gain of about 20. Carson Beck well protected.
*** Kickoff goes for a touchback. Pass to Dillon Bell on first play from scrimmage falls incomplete.

Pregame

*** Texas wins the toss and defers. Georgia to begin with the ball going right to left on your screen.
*** Captains for Georgia: Carson Beck, Jalon Walker, Trevor Etienne, Malaki Starks

*** As team goes 11-on-11, not much changes for Georgia on the defensive side from the usual. Daylen Everette and Julian Humphrey were first two cornerbacks with Malaki Starks and Dan Jackson at safety/Joenel Aguero at STAR. Mykel Williams was running with the ones. Did not see Jordan Hall get reps, but it was just four reps of 11-on-11.

*** First team offensive line in warm ups looking like (left to right) Earnest Greene, Dylan Fairchild, Jared Wilson, Micah Morris and Xavier Truss. Second-team featured Drew Bobo at center and Tate Ratledge at right guard. Mykel Williams and Jordan Hall are both more active as well on the defensive side of the LOS.
*** Travel roster is out with all 74 of the Bulldogs accounted for. Who made the trip, observations and more available here.
*** Sidelines could have a good number of celebrities in attendance tonight. Some big names that have shown their face already…

*** Georgia centers and quarterbacks taking snaps. It’s Jared Wilson working with Carson Beck and Drew Bobo with Gunner Stockton to start. Would seem to indicate Wilson will get the start. Ratledge also among those taking snaps – albeit with Ryan Puglisi.
*** Tate Ratledge and Jordan Hall both going through warm ups with Scott Sinclair. Ratledge is listed as a game time decision while Hall was not listed on the injury report at all. Gotta say, Ratledge not looking all too different than his normal self, even supposedly being an emergency option only.
*** Georgia has arrived to the 40 Acres and the Bulldogs walk across the field to a bunch of boos. Really strong showing by the Texas students. They’ve showed up early and all stops have been pulled out by UT with a few pregame speeches.

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