The Georgia Bulldogs are back at No. 1, and they’ll be hoping to stay there longer than last time.
The Bulldogs have been in this spot once already this season, an emotional road win over a team they lost to last year has them back in the top spot. Their task now is to avoid a repeat of their disastrous upset loss to Auburn when the Missouri Tigers come to town Saturday.
“We definitely knew that we could definitely be more honed in during the week,” wide receiver Talyn Taylor said when reflecting on Georgia’s preparation for Auburn. “More focused, more locked in. Little things like that just make the separating factor in the end game.”
Georgia can’t have a repeat of their loss to Auburn
In its loss to Auburn, Georgia struggled with turnovers, costly penalties and tackling. Its 42-7 demolition of Mississippi showed what the Bulldogs can be when they clean those things up.
Missouri is no slouch, however. The Tigers are coming off a hard-fought loss to Texas where they took the Longhorns into a tied fourth quarter before losing 34-20. There’s a lot to like on both sides of the ball with this team. Georgia head coach Kirby Smart said Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz does a “tremendous” job.
“I think this is one of his uh better teams. He's got an elite quarterback, he's got good talent surrounding him,” Smart said of Drinkwitz. “He's playing in a tough, brutal league just like we all are and has been in some really really tight ball games and uh had some close calls and they've got a tremendous team. They're playing really well, defense and offense. It'll be a great challenge for us.”
Quarterback Austin Simmons, the player who Smart called “elite,” has thrown for 2,204 yards, 18 touchdowns and just two interceptions this year. He’s a big, athletic passer with a strong arm, and he can make any throw.
“His accuracy, his arm strength, his anticipation of throws,” Smart said of what stands out about Simmons. “I'm a big baseball fan. He was an elite baseball player, pitcher. His throws are different. They get there really fast. He can whip it out. He can throw it anywhere.”
Missouri’s offense has a surprising amount of fire power
Georgia fans may remember Simmons from when he was playing for Mississippi and had to come in to relieve an injured Jaxson Dart for a brief spell when Georgia played the Rebels in 2024. He went 5-of-6 passing for 64 yards on a 10-play, 75 yard touchdown drive in the first quarter.
Simmons’ top target and former Mississippi teammate Cayden Lee leads Missouri in receiving with 62 catches for 835 yards and five touchdowns. He took a huge hit at the end of the Tigers’ loss to Texas but wasn’t listed on the team’s injury report.
On the defensive side, Missouri is 13th in the country in run defense. Their front has more of a chance than most defenses when it comes to stopping Georgia’s formidable running attack. The Bulldogs may have to take their medicine in the run game and live with some three or four-yard gains, before they can break off an explosive play.
“They got speed, size, they play really hard,” Smart said. “They know who they are. They have an identity. Just a lot of respect for how they play. That's how you stop the run— because you have a mindset, and they've got one. They do a really good job.”
However, Missouri has struggled against the pass, particularly in zone coverage. The Tigers’ 234.7 passing yards allowed per game is fifth-worst in the SEC. If Georgia can run the ball and keep the Tigers’ defense honest, there will be room for some big passing plays over the top.
The Bulldogs looked like the best team in the country, full stop, last weekend. When this team is humming and avoiding self-inflicted wounds, it doesn’t have any major weaknesses and can beat anybody.
However, we’ve seen this team shoot itself in the foot and lose to an inferior opponent— just after becoming the No. 1 ranked team, no less. This Missouri team is arguably better than Auburn on both sides of the ball. This isn’t a game Georgia can take lightly. It knows that.
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