The Bulldogs’ dominance over Tennessee has stretched nearly a decade. Neyland Stadium will decide if that changes.
For Tennessee, Alabama and Florida were the hurdles Josh Heupel cleared. Georgia is the wall he hasn’t scaled. Since Nov. 20, 2021, the Vols have taken 23 of 24 at Neyland Stadium. The lone blemish? Georgia’s 2023 visit. The Bulldogs haven’t just beaten Tennessee under Heupel, they’ve controlled the series, winning each matchup by at least two touchdowns.
Georgia’s defense has simply owned the line of scrimmage. In the last four meetings, Tennessee has averaged just 3.0 yards per carry while giving up 18 sacks. That kind of trench mismatch leaves the Vols one-dimensional.
Heupel’s trademark, explosive plays, have vanished. Tennessee’s longest completion against Georgia over the past three games is just 28 yards. Without chunk plays, sustained drives against Kirby Smart’s defense have been nearly impossible.
Quarterback play has wilted. In 2022, when Tennessee entered Athens ranked No. 1, Hendon Hooker threw for only 195 yards and an interception. Even with Jalin Hyatt, Cedric Tillman, and Jaylen Wright, the Vols managed just 13 points.
For Tennessee to flip the script, the offensive line must win more battles, young receivers like Mike Matthews must stretch the field, and new starter Joey Aguilar has to hit on limited chances. Neyland will be rocking, but noise alone won’t end Georgia’s eight-game run.
This matchup is no longer about history. It’s about whether Tennessee can finally solve the one problem Heupel hasn’t cracked.
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