The marquee matchup of the weekend took place in Austin, Texas, where the No. 5 Georgia Bulldogs executed at an exceptionally high level, pulling off a 30-15 upset over the top-ranked Texas Longhorns.
With this victory, Georgia rises to No. 2 in the nation, while Texas drops to No. 5. The Bulldogs entered the game as underdogs, a point that head coach Kirby Smart emphasized during his postgame interview with ESPN, calling out the network for doubting his team all week. He also criticized the officiating, pointing to several controversial calls throughout the game.
Despite the distractions, Smart led his team to victory in the style Georgia prefers—dominating the trenches and controlling the line of scrimmage. For his efforts, Kirby Smart was honored as the Bear Bryant Awards Coach of the Week, an accolade given to SEC coaches each week for outstanding performance.
With the victory on Saturday, Kirby Smart became the fastest coach to reach 100 wins with a single program in SEC history, surpassing legends like Nick Saban and Steve Spurrier.
Smart is now tied for the fifth fastest ever to achieve this milestone in the entire country. His ability to rise above doubt has become a hallmark of his coaching style. Leading up to Saturday’s SEC clash, he and his team faced skepticism, but that only fueled their determination.
Trevor Etienne was a standout, rushing for three touchdowns, while the defense delivered a dominant performance with seven sacks and four forced turnovers. They stifled the Texas offense throughout the game, showcasing a meticulously executed game plan from Smart.