Tennessee football held a 21-7 lead after the first quarter over Georgia on Saturday, Sept. 13, and the Vols looked primed for their first win over Georgia since 2016.
But Georgia rattled off 20 unanswered points in the second and third quarters, with both teams trading the lead five times in the second half. The Vols attempted a 42-yard game-winning field goal in the final seconds, but missed the kick, sending the game to overtime at 38-38 and opening the door for Georgia.
In an unfortunate ending for Tennessee, it was held to a field goal in its first overtime possession before Georgia’s Nate Frazier rushed 21 yards to set up the Bulldogs on the Vols’ 4-yard line on the ensuing drive. It was Josh McCray who plunged in a 1-yard touchdown run to give Georgia a 44-41 overtime win.
The latest entry in Tennessee and Georgia’s rivalry ended in disappointing fashion for the Vols, despite a big game for quarterback Joey Aguilar, who passed for 371 yards with five total touchdowns. Georgia’s Gunner Stockton was also prolific in the game, passing for 304 yards with three total scores.
Here are the highlights from Georgia’s overtime win over Tennessee in both programs’ SEC opener.
Tennessee vs Georgia score
Tennessee vs Georgia highlights
Tennessee vs Georgia updates
Georgia wins in overtime
Josh McCray plunges in a 1-yard run for a touchdown, completing Georgia’s comeback as the Bulldogs win 44-41 in overtime. Tennessee can’t end its losing streak against Georgia, as the Bulldogs extend their streak to nine consecutive wins over the Vols. What a game.
Tennessee kicks field goal
Tennessee fails to gain a first down in overtime, and Max Gilbert makes the 42-yard field goal attempt this time to give Tennessee a 41-38 lead.
Georgia can win it here with a touchdown.
Tennessee misses game winner
A Tennessee false start pushes back Max Gilbert’s attempt to 42 yards, but Gilbert misses the potential game-winning kick wide left.
Tennessee and Georgia are headed to overtime tied at 38-38, as an instant classic is brewing.
Tennessee enters field goal range
DeSean Bishop runs 7 yards to Georgia’s 35-yard line with 42 seconds left, putting the Vols within field goal range.
Tennessee is going to look to move as close as possible before kicking a potential game-winner.
Georgia’s gamble pays off
Wow, the Bulldogs go for it on fourth-and-6, and Gunner Stockton throws a gorgeous pass to London Humphries in the end zone for the touchdown. Stockton then throws to Zachariah Branch for the 2-point conversion, tying the game at 38-38 with 2:32 left.
Georgia likely loses without the fourth-down score there.
Tennessee extends lead
Tennessee’s Max Gilbert makes a 48-yard field goal to extend Tennessee’s lead to 38-30 with 6:40 remaining in the fourth quarter.
Tennessee recovers fumble
Gunner Stockton is sacked by Joshua Josephs, who forces a fumble that’s recovered by Bryson Eason. It’s a massive play for the Vols, who have a chance at going up two possessions here.
Tennessee offense heats up again
Both teams are on fire offensively now, as Tennessee regains the lead on Joey Aguilar’s 32-yard touchdown pass to Braylon Staley.
The Vols lead 35-30 with 11:01 left in the fourth quarter after Aguilar’s fifth touchdown of the game.
Georgia regains lead
Georgia regains the lead on a 24-yard field goal by Peyton Woodring. The Bulldogs lead 30-28 with 12:17 left in the fourth quarter.
Chris Brazzell mosses defender for hat trick
Joey Aguilar launches a deep one-on-one ball for Chris Brazzell II, who climbs the ladder over the Georgia defender for a 56-yard touchdown to give Tennessee a 28-27 lead.
Brazzell now has five receptions for 162 yards with three touchdowns, and gets the Tennessee crowd back into the game in a huge momentum flip.
Georgia extends lead
Georgia takes a 27-21 lead with 1:46 remaining in the third quarter on a 48-yard field goal by Peyton Woodring, which is a relative win for Tennessee after the turnover by Joey Aguilar.
Georgia has now scored 20 unanswered.
Joey Aguilar throws another interception
Braylon Staley trips while running his route, and Staley is late to Aguilar’s throw, which is intercepted by KJ Bolden.
Aguilar started the game 14 of 14 passing for 213 yards with three total touchdowns in the first quarter, but is 3 of 11 for 26 yards with two interceptions since.
Raylen Wilson delivers big hit on Joey Aguilar
Joey Aguilar attempts to scramble on second down, but is met by Raylen Wilson, who delivers a huge hit at the line of scrimmage.
Georgia has all the momentum right now, and forces another punt. Tennessee is scoreless since its red-hot first quarter.
Georgia takes lead after methodical drive
Georgia marches down the field and takes a 24-21 lead on the 1-yard run by Josh McCray.
The Bulldogs run the ball 13 times on their 14-play drive, quieting the crowd at Neyland Stadium. Georgia’s offensive line is completely controlling the line of scrimmage right now.
Georgia attempts Hail Mary as first half ends
Georgia brings in backup quarterback Ryan Puglisi to throw a Hail Mary before halftime, but Puglisi’s pass is intercepted by Ty Redmond, who returns the ball 38 yards to the Vols’ 38-yard line.
Tennessee leads 21-17 at halftime, although the Vols are held scoreless in the second period.
Georgia intercepts Joey Aguilar
Joey Aguilar tosses a pass intended for Mike Matthews into double coverage, and Georgia’s Joenel Aguero comes up with the interception.
Georgia with a chance to add more points before halftime.
Georgia ends impressive drive with field goal
Georgia puts together an impressive and much-needed drive that ends in a 20-yard field goal by Peyton Woodring.
The Bulldogs burn 6:15 of clock on the 14-play, 88-yard drive, which importantly keeps Tennessee’s red-hot offense off the field.
Tennessee still leads 21-17 with 1:38 left in the first half, although Georgia has done a good job of limiting the Vols’ momentum after getting down 21-7.
Tennessee, Georgia punt in back-to-back drives
Both defenses finally get a stop, as Tennessee and Georgia punt on consecutive drives.
The Vols regain possession with 10:11 remaining in the second quarter.
Georgia strikes back
Offense is plentiful today, with Georgia striking back on a screen pass from Gunner Stockton to Zachariah Branch, who turns on the jets for a 36-yard touchdown on the first play of the second quarter.
Tennessee still leads 21-14.
Tennessee offense is rolling
Tennessee is getting whatever it wants on offense in the first quarter, as it scores another touchdown as Joey Aguilar finds Chris Brazzell II again, this time for a 14-yard score.
The Vols take a 21-7 lead with 3:37 left in the first quarter, as Joey Aguilar is a ridiculous 14 of 14 passing for 213 yards and three total touchdowns already.
Tennessee scores again
It takes only two plays for Tennessee to regain the lead. Joey Aguilar launches a deep pass for Chris Brazzell II, who hauls in the pass over the Georgia defender and breaks free for a 72-yard touchdown.
Georgia is called for pass interference on the play, but Tennessee declines as Brazzell II makes the play anyway.
Tennessee leads 14-7 with 9:29 still remaining in the first quarter, and fans that bet the over are feeling good so far.
Georgia evens score
Georgia follows up Tennessee’s possession with a drive just as impressive, as the Bulldogs end a six-play, 75-yard drive with a 6-yard touchdown run from Gunner Stockton. The drive lasts only 2:32 of game time.
Vols go tempo, score early touchdown
Tennessee gets on the board early, as Joey Aguilar runs 4 yards for the touchdown on the designed quarterback run. The Vols’ no-huddle offense keeps Georgia on its heels, as Tennessee scores in only 2:30 of game time to start the first quarter.
Tennessee sets the tone early as it looks to beat Georgia for the first time since 2017.
Georgia kicks off
Tennessee will start on offense, as Georgia’s kick reaches the end zone for a touchback. Here comes Joey Aguilar in his first real test with the Vols.
Georgia captains vs Tennessee
Georgia’s captains today are CJ Allen, Drew Bobo, Christen Miller and Oscar Delp. The Bulldogs choose captains each week rather than naming players as permanent captains in the preseason.
Jermod McCoy injury update
Tennessee star cornerback Jermod McCoy still hasn’t appeared in 2025 as he still recovers from a torn ACL he suffered in January during offseason workouts. McCoy is listed as out on the official SEC injury report.
McCoy was a first-team All-SEC selection last season and appeared on numerous preseason All-American teams in 2025.
Tennessee vs Georgia injury report
Georgia: TE Ethan Barbour (out), OLB Chase Linton (out), WR Thomas Blackshear (out), OL Juan Gaston (game-time decision)
Tennessee: DB Rickey Gibson III (out), DB Jermod McCoy (out), DL Daevin Hobbs (out), RB Hunter Barnes (out), DL Jaxson Moi (out), OL David Sanders Jr. (out).
Star Thomas stats
Tennessee running back Star Thomas enters the Sept. 13 game vs. Georgia with an impressive stat line through two games. The sixth-year running back has 24 rushes for 161 yards and three scores — an impressive 6.7 yards per carry.
‘College GameDay’ picks
It was an even split for the Georgia-Tennessee game by the ‘College GameDay’ crew. Kirk Herbstreit, who normally votes, abstained from making a pick, as he is calling the game on ABC alongside Chris Fowler.
Desmond Howard: Georgia
Nick Saban: Georgia
Candace Parker: Tennessee
Pat McAfee: Tennessee
Georgia vs Tennessee TV channel
TV channel: ABC
Streaming: Fubo (free trial)
Tennessee vs. Georgia will air live on ABC, with streaming options available on Fubo, which offers a free trial.
Georgia vs Tennessee all-time record
According to Georgia’s game notes for the Tennessee game, the Bulldogs boast a 29-23-2 record vs. the rival Vols. Prior to the Bulldogs’ eight-game win streak, Tennessee actually held a 23-21-2 advantage in the rivalry.
Last time Tennessee beat Georgia
The Vols enter their game vs. Georgia on Saturday, Sept. 13 with an eight-year losing streak in the rivalry. Tennessee’s last victory over the Bulldogs came in 2016, which was Kirby Smart’s first season in Athens.
Tennessee nearly lost that game, too, needing a last-second Hail Mary to upend Georgia. A Joshua Dobbs 43-yard pass to Jauan Jennings was the difference in a 34-31 road victory. Read more about the Bulldogs’ win streak here.
Tennessee vs Georgia time today
Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
Date: Saturday, Sept. 13
Location: Neyland Stadium (Knoxville, Tennessee)
The Vols-Bulldogs game is set for a 3:30 p.m. ET kickoff on Saturday, Sept. 13, at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Tennessee vs Georgia predictions, picks, odds
Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Friday, Sept. 12.
Prediction: Georgia 27, Tennessee 24
Georgia goes into a hostile Neyland Stadium and wins its ninth consecutive game against the Vols, as Tennessee still can’t break its losing streak against the Bulldogs. Gunner Stockton plays mistake free, leading an efficient offense in a close game.
Spread: Georgia (-4)
Over/under: 50.5
Moneyline: Georgia -185 | Tennessee +150
Mike Wilson, Knoxville News-Sentinel: Tennessee 30, Georgia 24
Marc Weiszer, Athens Banner-Herald: Georgia 27, Tennessee 21