Nick Saban thinks Georgia is well-equipped on offense to battle the tough Texas Longhorns defense. But he's a little concerned about how the Bulldogs look on the other side of the ball.
Saban sat down with Pat McAfee to preview the Bulldogs-Longhorns clash and said that while both teams are deserving of being in the playoffs, they both have weaknesses that need to be addressed. For Georgia, that is finding some more explosive plays on the defensive line.
"Texas has improved because Arch Manning is playing better and the offensive line has played better..
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) November 14, 2025
They still haven't been a dominant team and they still have some issues..
This Georgia offense can do it all but their defense has to improve" ~ Coach Saban #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/NtomcPWGA3
Saban wants to see more from the pass rush
The only thing that is Georgia's issue is they don't have a significant pass rusher and they don't create a lot of negative plays on defense and they haven't been able to get off the field on third down like they historically have been able and that allowed the other team to keep the ball," Saban said.
The thought of Georgia not getting plays from its defensive line is so surprising, but it's been a chore for Kriby Smart and defensive coordinator Glenn Schumann to figure out how to keep the defense functional without consistent pressure in the backfield.
Georgia typically has one of the best defensive lines in the country year in and year out. It's one of the staples of the program since Kirby Smart returned to the program a decade ago. But this year the juice just hasn't been there up front and the injury to Jordan Hall eliminated one of the few players that had shown the ability to cause some chaos.
Can the Bulldogs get to Arch Manning?
You have to believe Smart and Schumann have been in the lab extra hours this week figuring out what they can scheme to get pressure on Texas quarterback Arch Manning. The nephew of Peyton and Eli has shown he struggles when he's moved off his spot and to counter that, Steve Sarkisian has implemented a much quicker passing attack.
It's going to be one of those games of cat and mouse that both fans and football nerds should enjoy. Ten weeks into the season, we know what both teams are about, and now we want to see how they have been able to adjust.
Georgia can give Texas the boot
Georgia will face a desperate Texas team on Saturday night. The Longhorns have fought their way back into the top 10 of the College Football Playoff rankings and cannot afford another loss, even on the road against a top five team like Georgia. The margin of error for a three-loss team to get into the 12-team bracket is too fine to risk.