Georgia gets a chance to show off a new look against Western Kentucky, and the Bulldogs are doing it in style. For the first time in school history, No. 2 Georgia will take the field in an all-white uniform - helmets, jerseys and pants.
The matchup comes on the heels of a lopsided win over Tennessee State, where Kirby Smart’s team rolled to a 63-3 victory. Gunner Stockton sparked the Bulldogs with five straight touchdown drives before exiting, and Georgia kept pouring it on after that. Even with kickoff temperatures at 101 degrees, the Bulldogs finished the Tigers off with four more touchdowns.
Georgia’s depth at quarterback was on display in that game, too. Ryan Puglisi got the first work and finished 7 of 13 for 109 yards and a touchdown.
Ryan Montgomery also saw action, and while he attempted only two passes, one of them went for an explosive 54-yard gain to Jeremy Bell. Smart said all of Georgia’s backup quarterbacks need to keep developing, and Puglisi will need steadier play if he wants to hold off more chances for Montgomery.
Stockton said he enjoyed watching the backups get their turn against Tennessee State.
“I think we have one of the best quarterback rooms in the country,” Stockton said. “Not only players, but just the people - who they are.
It makes the room fun to go into every day. They all came out and played really good.
It was fun, too. Because I was in their shoes not too long ago, so I know how it feels to stay there, get ready thinking you're gonna play.
They all did great and they all played winning football.”
Georgia’s offense was especially explosive in that game, with 19 explosive plays compared to just one for Tennessee State. Nate Frazier’s 48-yard touchdown was the longest run of the day, and Montgomery’s touchdown pass was the longest play overall.
The biggest takeaway, though, may have been the variety of weapons Georgia showed. Chauncey Bowens, Jaden Reddell and Talyn Taylor all added explosive plays, giving the Bulldogs a look that suggests they may have more firepower than they did a season ago, even after the losses to the NFL.
Western Kentucky, meanwhile, is coming in after a rough outing of its own. The Hilltoppers lost 49-14 and were gashed on the ground, giving up 323 rushing yards.
In Other News...
Deion Sanders Signals Colorado Special Teams Changes After Week 1 Problems
Colorados Week 1 win over Georgia Tech came with a heavy special-teams imprint, from Daniel Gerlach drilling the go-ahead extra point to Boo Carter getting a blocked field goal that helped swing the game. Even in a victory, though, the Buffaloes left plenty to sort through in the kicking game, and Deion Sanders spent part of his weekly press availability revisiting why those units looked uneven despite the timely plays.
Sanders framed the issues as largely personnel-driven and said the staff has already adjusted in response, with an eye on both the kicking roles and the coverage groups. He also pointed to the need for cleaner practice work and better protection on kicks, a reminder that for Colorado, the margins on special teams are still very much a work in progress even after a game that had enough big moments to hide some of the cracks. [Read more 🡒]
Georgia Tech Defense Faces Early Test After Ugly Opener
Georgia Techs defense did not get the start it wanted in the opener, and the problems were easy to spot. The Jackets were pushed around on the ground, gave up nearly 200 rushing yards, and came away without the kind of game-changing plays that can cover up a shaky night. Against a Tennessee offense that can punish hesitation and mistakes, that puts even more attention on the players expected to steady things, including Daiquan White and Kelvin Hill.
Their individual performances only added to the concern, with both drawing poor grades after the opener, and White especially struggling in coverage and tackling. The bigger question now is whether the front can play with enough consistency to keep Tennessee from controlling the line of scrimmage and forcing Georgia Tech into a long night of chasing the play. [Read more 🡒]
Georgia Techs Upset Hopes Ride On One Offensive Problem
Georgia Tech heads into Saturdays matchup with No. 18 Tennessee carrying more than just the usual underdog label. The Yellow Jackets have enough encouraging pieces on offense to make this interesting, with Justice Haynes, Malachi Hosley and quarterback Alberto Mendoza all showing flashes that suggest the attack can move the ball well enough to stay in range.
The problem is turning those drives into the kind of scoring plays that can keep pace with a ranked opponent. Mendoza has shown he can improvise and work the intermediate part of the field, and the next step may be finding more reliable answers near the goal line, whether that comes from cleaner execution or a bigger role for tight ends like Kevin Roche Jr. if Georgia Tech wants to create a few mismatches and break through where it has fallen short. [Read more 🡒]