ATHENS - Georgia spent Saturday looking every bit like a team playing above Tennessee State’s level, and the Bulldogs didn’t need long to prove it.
Using its second-, third- and fourth-stringers for much of the day, Georgia rolled to a 63-3 win and treated the matchup like the kind of lopsided game that can be useful for experience, even if Kirby Smart wasn’t interested in overstating what it meant. The Georgia coach made clear that the value of the day had its limits, especially when it came to quarterback reps.
“It’s really not so much about the development because they get those same reps every day in practice,” Smart said. “Like, what’s the difference in when we go out there and do eight third downs against our defense or we do eight third downs out there? I think they get better work in practice, honestly.”
Smart also kept the spotlight off individual standouts like Khamari Brooks and PJ Dean, pushing back on any urge to read too much into their production.
“They just played Tennessee State, they didn’t play an SEC opponent,” Smart said. “They got to grow up and they got to get better.”
Now Georgia turns to Western Kentucky, with the Bulldogs opening as a 40.5-point favorite for the 12:45 p.m. game on Saturday. And while the scoreline against Tennessee State was never in doubt, there are still a few things Smart will be watching closely.
One of the biggest is Gunner Stockton’s deep ball. Earlier in practice, Smart had already taken a shot at his quarterbacks for being “0-for-30” on passes over 30 yards. Against Tennessee State, Stockton’s longest completion traveled about 24 yards from the line of scrimmage and came on an underthrown but caught ball to freshman receiver Craig Dandridge.
The offense was built around quick throws, efficient execution and play-action off a run game that did most of the heavy lifting. There was no real reason to stretch the field vertically in this one, though that part of the offense has clearly been part of the work behind closed doors.
Georgia is also still searching for a clearer answer on the backfield’s big-play ability. Nate Frazier did flash it with a 48-yard run, but Smart downplayed the moment, pointing to the blocking and the space the defense gave him.
“Really, it just hit right where the looks they gave us the times he was in, and some big holes opened up,” Smart said. “And he did a nice job being explosive through them.”
The next test will be different, because an SEC defense won’t be waiting on the other side. That means the Bulldogs’ backs will need more than open lanes; they’ll need more burst, more breaking tackles and more production when the running room shrinks.
Then there’s the broader question of whether Georgia can bring the same “FPE” - “Fire, Passion and Energy” - when Western Kentucky comes to town. It’s another early kickoff, another opponent that comes in beaten up after Nevada handled the Hilltoppers 49-14, and another chance for Georgia to show the same edge it carried into Saturday’s blowout.
Smart wasn’t about to promise a repeat of the substitution pattern from the Tennessee State game, either. When asked about pulling starters, he said the flow of the game would decide that.
“I can’t predict that, I mean, I can’t predict how the game is going to go,” Smart said when asked about pulling his starters against Tennessee State. “I would be remiss to sit here and tell you that we want to get a X number of plays.
How do we know how it’s gonna go up in these games when they’ve been tight before? So just adjust on the fly.”
In Other News...
Jeremy Bell Gave Georgia A Moment Fans Wont Soon Forget
Jeremy Bells fourth-quarter touchdown was the kind of moment that can cut through everything else happening around a game. The Georgia receiver hauled in a 54-yard score in the win over Tennessee State, and for a program that has spent the season balancing expectation with emotion, it stood out for more than just the yardage. Bell has recently been dealing with the loss of his brother, U.S. Army Specialist Elijah Tiller, yet he stayed with the team and continued to contribute when Georgia needed him.
Kirby Smart praised Bell for the way he handled such a difficult stretch while remaining committed to his teammates. In a sport where availability is often treated like the only measure of toughness, Bells performance carried a different kind of weight for Georgia. His touchdown added to the win, but it also gave fans a reminder of what perseverance can look like when football and life collide. [Read more 🡒]
Former Georgia DB Finds Another Path As Bulldogs Depth Evolves
JaCorey Thomas is taking another turn in his football journey after leaving Georgia and landing at West Virginia for the 2026 season. The former Bulldogs safety, who went undrafted in the 2026 NFL Draft and later got a look in Carolina Panthers minicamp, is using a granted fifth season of eligibility to keep his college career going after a long run in Athens.
Thomas leaves Georgia with plenty of experience behind him, having played in 47 games and finished with 63 tackles during his time in the program. For a Bulldogs secondary that keeps evolving, his departure is another reminder of how much turnover can follow in the wake of roster movement, even for players who spent years building themselves into dependable depth pieces. [Read more 🡒]
Georgia Just Added Intrigue To A Massive Running Back Battle
Georgias season opener against Tennessee State brought more than just the usual kickoff buzz, as the Bulldogs also hosted one of the most closely watched young backs in the country. Kevin Hartsfield, the No. 1 running back in the 2028 recruiting class, was on campus for the visit, and Georgia remains firmly in the thick of his recruitment as one of his top options.
The timing only adds to the intrigue, especially with Kemon Spell already committed to Georgia in the 2027 class. Spell could end up being a major factor in how Hartsfield views the Bulldogs future backfield, and this visit may have nudged Georgia into an even stronger position as the race for Hartsfield continues. [Read more 🡒]