In a game that had everything from explosive plays to missed opportunities, No. 6 Georgia clawed back from three separate deficits before sealing a 44-41 overtime victory against No. 15 Tennessee on Saturday afternoon at Neyland Stadium.
Josh McCray’s 1-yard touchdown run in the first overtime gave the Bulldogs (3-0, 1-0 SEC) their ninth straight win over Tennessee (2-1, 0-1) capping a dramatic comeback that tested Kirby Smart’s squad every step of the way.
The winning score was set up immediately in overtime when freshman running back Nate Frazier ripped off a 21-yard run on Georgia’s first snap. That surge answered a 42-yard field goal from Tennessee’s Max Gilbert, which had briefly given the Volunteers a 41-38 lead in the extra period.
“We’ve been in a lot of big games, but this one showed the character of our team,” Smart said. “To come back time and again on the road in this environment says a lot about who we are.”
Tennessee nearly had the victory in hand before overtime. With the score tied at 38, Gilbert missed a 43-yard field goal wide right as time expired in regulation. The misfire kept Georgia alive, and the Bulldogs didn’t waste the second chance.
The Volunteers roared out of the gate, scoring touchdowns on each of their first three possessions to grab a 21-7 lead. Joey Aguilar was sharp from the start, completing his first 14 passes for 213 yards and two touchdowns. He finished with 371 yards, four touchdown passes, and a rushing score.
Chris Brazzell III proved nearly unstoppable, catching touchdown passes of 72, 14, and 66 yards. His deep strikes continually stressed the Georgia secondary, and his production helped Tennessee regain the lead twice in the second half.
Braylon Staley’s 32-yard touchdown reception gave the Vols a 35-30 edge with 11:01 to play, and Aguilar’s late touchdown drive extended the margin to 38-30 with just 2:32 remaining.
But Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton delivered when it mattered most. Facing fourth down, Stockton lofted a 28-yard fade to London Humphreys in the end zone, and the Bulldogs converted the two-point try to force overtime at 38-38.
Stockton finished with 304 passing yards, two touchdowns through the air, and another score on the ground.
Tennessee became just the third team to score on its first three drives against Georgia since Kirby Smart took over in 2016. Aguilar’s 14-for-14 start marked the best opening streak by an SEC quarterback in 20 seasons. Georgia managed only 77 rushing yards in the first half before finding traction late, thanks to Frazier’s physical running.
Georgia: The Bulldogs enter an open week before hosting No. 2 Alabama on Sept. 27 in Athens in what could be a season-defining SEC clash. Tennessee: The Vols step out of conference play next Saturday, returning home to face UAB.
