Georgia’s hopes with Mark Matthews got a jolt the moment he backed off his Texas A&M pledge, but the early buzz around his next move may not be breaking the Bulldogs’ way.
Matthews is a five-star recruit and the No. 1 offensive tackle in the 2027 class. He had originally committed to Texas A&M in May, with Georgia among his finalists, and when he made that decision he was seen throwing his UGA hat off his table. Now that he has decommitted from the Aggies in November, Georgia at least has a path back into the picture because it was one of his final four schools.
The timing looked favorable for the Bulldogs, too. On the same day Matthews stepped away from Texas A&M, Georgia moved into the No. 1 spot in the country. Add in the program’s recent track record of sending offensive linemen to the NFL and its success during the NIL era, and Athens suddenly had some real appeal.
But that window may have been short-lived.
Just hours after Matthews’ decommitment, reports surfaced that Miami was already gaining traction in his recruitment. Rivals logged an expert prediction for the Hurricanes, and the fit is easy to see.
Miami is one of the top teams in the country, it just took its first loss of the season at Notre Dame on Saturday, and it reached the national championship game a year ago. Mario Cristobal also brings a reputation for developing offensive linemen.
There’s another factor in Miami’s favor, too: NIL resources. The source material notes the Hurricanes have more than Georgia, and if that becomes a deciding point for Matthews, the Bulldogs could be fighting an uphill battle.
For now, Georgia can’t count on good news. Still, with the Bulldogs rolling on the field after their win over Ole Miss, it would make sense for Kirby Smart to make the call and see whether there’s any room left to work with.
In Other News...
Georgia Fans Wont Like What The SEC Just Did To Sanford Stadium
Georgias road win over Ole Miss kept the Bulldogs rolling, and now the focus shifts back to Sanford Stadium for a Saturday matchup with Missouri on Nov. 14. Its the kind of home date Georgia fans usually circle early, with a midafternoon kickoff set for 3:30 p.m. ET and national coverage on ABC, plus streaming options on the ESPN app and Fubo TV.
The wrinkle is the line attached to the game, because Georgia is expected to handle Missouri and is listed as a 13.5-point favorite at DraftKings Sportsbook. For a program that has spent much of the season looking every bit like a heavyweight, the bigger question may be whether this turns into another comfortable afternoon in Athens or something that gives the crowd a little more to chew on. [Read more 🡒]
Georgia Defense Turned Ole Miss One-Dimensional From The Opening Series
From the opening series, Georgias defense made Ole Miss look like a team trying to solve a problem it never quite got a handle on. The Bulldogs pressure was immediate and relentless, with multiple sacks and tackles for loss helping set the tone in a 42-7 rout that left the Rebels chasing the game before it had a chance to settle in.
Trinidad Chambliss spent much of the afternoon under duress, and Ole Miss never found much balance without injured tailback Kewan Lacy to help take some of the burden off the passing game. The result was a one-dimensional attack that Georgia could attack on its own terms, turning a marquee matchup into a showcase for how quickly this defense can dictate the terms of a game. [Read more 🡒]
Kirby Smart Sent Georgia A Clear Message After Ole Miss
Georgias win over Ole Miss gave Kirby Smart plenty to point to, but the bigger message from the head coach was about what comes next. Smart made it clear the Bulldogs can appreciate the victory without lingering on it, especially with Missouri waiting in the next game and the schedule offering little room to settle in.
Smart also tied the moment back to a lesson Georgia has already lived through this season, pointing to what the team learned after its loss to Auburn. For a program chasing championships, the standard remains the same every week: treat each game like it matters, because at this stage, it does. [Read more 🡒]