Texas vs. Georgia score: Dawgs ride defense as Longhorns suffer worst loss at home by No. 1 team since 1982

The Georgia defense was dominant throughout in toppling the top-ranked team in the country on Saturday

No. 5 Georgia outlasted No. 1 Texas 30-15 to fight back into the SEC title race and pick up a marquee victory on the road. The Bulldogs used a sensational defensive performance, holding the Longhorns scoreless and to fewer than 50 total yards in the first half. The loss is the largest by a No. 1 team at home since Dan Marino's Pittsburgh in 1982. 

Georgia's defense controlled this game from the opening snap and gave its offense opportunities to create points. The Bulldogs forced an interception and a strip sack on Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers, both of which were caused by cornerback Daylan Everette. Georgia's five first-half scoring drives averaged only 17.8 yards as the defense created short fields.

The Texas offense was so poor in the early going that coach Steve Sarkisian benched starting quarterback Quinn Ewers for backup Arch Manning. While Manning had a 21-yard run, he surrendered a strip sack of his own to this dominant Georgia defensive effort. 

Texas had a strong counterpunch when Ewers came back in the second half. The Longhorns went on a 15-0 run behind a pair of touchdown passes in the third quarter. However, Georgia traveled 89 yards on a 5-minute drive to push the lead back out to 15 points in the fourth quarter, which was enough to take it home. 

Georgia quarterback Carson Beck threw three interceptions, two of which came in the first quarter, but responded with 175 yards in the win. Running back Trevor Etienne had a hat trick with three rushing scores and 110 yards from scrimmage. Ewers threw two touchdowns and finished with 211 yards. 

• Texas is the first AP No. 1 team to lose at home since Oregon lost to No. 14 Stanford in 2012. The loss was the largest by a home No. 1 team since 1982. 
• The 23-0 halftime deficit for Texas was the biggest by a No. 1 team since Notre Dame in the 2013 BCS National Championship Game, which ended in a 42-14 shellacking. It was also the first 20-point deficit since 2021 Kansas. 
• Georgia's victory means it has now won seven of its last eight games against AP top five opponents. Kirby Smart also became the fifth-fastest coach to win 100 games. 

[Oct 19, 2024 at 11:36 pm ET · Shehan Jeyarajah]

Georgia pass rush hitting new level

Frankly, Georgia's offense only had one or two great drives in them, but the defense ensured that wasn't a problem. Specifically, the Bulldogs revealed a pass rush against a pocket passer that they haven't flexed during most of their national championship runs. 

In the first half, it was linebacker Jalon Walker putting All-American Kelvin Banks into a blender. Walker posted three sacks in the first half before leaving the game temporarily with an injury. In his place, edge defender Mykel Williams emerged, picking up two sacks of his own to put Texas behind the chains. 

Kirby Smart defenses often focus primarily on stopping the run and try to let their elite secondary keep the game in front of them. Against Ewers and Texas, Georgia showed off the ability to scream off the edge. Even cornerback Daylon Everette got in on the fun with a blitz. 

[Oct 19, 2024 at 11:36 pm ET · Shehan Jeyarajah]

Texas wasn't battle tested

Heading into the season, Texas appeared to have a brutal early schedule. Thanks to collapses at Michigan and Oklahoma, suddenly the early season resume looks far less impressive. Instead, Texas played its first national championship contender in Week 8 and did not look up for the pressure. 

The first-half performance will last in the history books for all the wrong reasons as the Longhorns failed to reach the end zone. The 23-point hole for the offense was too much to overcome as Texas faced the biggest deficit by a No. 1 team since Alabama's obliteration of No. 1 Notre Dame in the 2013 BCS National Championship Game. 

But perhaps the most surprising aspect was the way that Texas' highly rated offensive line failed to hang with the Dawgs. Granted, Georgia is one of the greatest defensive lines in the sport, but tackles Kelvin Banks and Cameron Williams are both first-round prospects. This tape certainly won't be a highlight. 

[Oct 19, 2024 at 11:35 pm ET · Shehan Jeyarajah]

Georgia's path is open

No. 5 Georgia lost a shocker on the road against Alabama, a result that only continues to get stranger as the season goes on. After beating No. 1 Texas on its home field, the Bulldogs buy themselves some much-needed insurance heading into the tough finish of its schedule, which includes matchups with Ole Miss and Tennessee. 

Had Georgia lost to Texas, the Bulldogs would be essentially eliminated from SEC title game contention with conference losses to Texas and Alabama. Now, the Bulldogs pick up a pivotal tiebreaker. Furthermore, with a win, Georgia should shoot past Ohio State in the AP Top 25 and potentially even past undefeated Penn State. Everything is on the table.

[Oct 19, 2024 at 11:28 pm ET · Will Backus]

Texas gets another chance 

Late 4Q: No. 5 Georgia 30, No. 1 Texas 15 

Carson Beck scrambled for a huge first down on third-and-3 earlier in Georgia's drive, but the Bulldogs were forced into a fourth-and-1 situation on their own 40-yard line on the ensuing set of downs. Instead of punting the ball away and giving Texas a long field, Georgia coach Kirby Smart elected to go for it and potentially win the game. Instead, the Longhorns jammed running back Trevor Etienne in the backfield and took over deep into Georgia territory. There's plenty of work to do and not a lot of time to do it. Texas doesn't have any timeouts left coming out of the 2-minute timeout. 

[Oct 19, 2024 at 11:18 pm ET · Will Backus]

Georgia defense holds again 

Late 4Q: No. 5 Georgia 30, No. 1 Texas 15

Georgia's defense has dominated the night, and the Bulldogs just came up big again. Texas went for it on fourth-and-12 from Georgia's 29-yard line, needing a touchdown to keep its hopes alive. The Bulldogs pass rush, as it has all night, got in the backfield quickly and forced an underthrow from Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers. Ewers' pass did find wide receiver Ryan Wingo, but he stumbled a couple yards short of the line to gain. Georgia took over with a chance to drain some more time off the clock. 

[Oct 19, 2024 at 10:53 pm ET · Shehan Jeyarajah]

Georgia loses defender

Georgia safety Dan Jackson has been ejected from the game after he was called for a targeting against Texas receiver Matthew Golden. The penalty proved costly as it pushed Texas past midfield and cost Georgia one of its most important players in the secondary. 

[Oct 19, 2024 at 10:52 pm ET · David Cobb]

Texas fans shower field with trash

Texas fans at Darrell K. Royal-Memorial Stadium littered the field with bottles and cans after a controversial call initially went against the Longhorns in the third quarter of their showdown with Georgia on Saturday night.

WATCH: Texas fans pelt field with trash over controversial pass interference call that refs end up overturning

David Cobb

WATCH: Texas fans pelt field with trash over controversial pass interference call that refs end up overturning

[Oct 19, 2024 at 10:46 pm ET · Shehan Jeyarajah]

Bulldogs get insurance

4Q: No. 5 Georgia 30, No. 1 Texas 15

The Bulldogs finally got on the board for the first time in the second half as quarterback Carson Beck helped convert an 89-yard drive to push the lead to 15 points early in the fourth quarter. Georgia struggled to put together lengthy scoring drives early in the game and feasting on short fields, averaging only 17.8 yards per drive on their five scoring drives. However, Georgia put together a championship-type drive there, finishing with a one-yard touchdown run on fourth down to push the lead. 

[Oct 19, 2024 at 10:34 pm ET · Shehan Jeyarajah]

Massive swing

End 3Q: No. 5 Georgia 23, No. 1 Texas 15

The Longhorns dominated the third quarter to pull into a tight game entering the fourth quarter against Georgia. Texas found its first offensive spark of the day and used a controversial interception by cornerback Jahdae Barron – which was initially flagged for pass interference – to cut the lead to one score. Quarterback Quinn Ewers returned to the game after getting benched and threw two touchdowns in the period -- one each to running back Jaydon Blue and receiver Isaiah Bond. 

After converting on a key third down and hitting on a flea-flicker to tight end Oscar Delp, Georgia is pushing for a scoring opportunity for the first time in the second half. However, quarterback Carson Beck has three interceptions. He will have to play a clean finish to get the win against the aggressive Texas defense. 

[Oct 19, 2024 at 10:26 pm ET · Shehan Jeyarajah]

Can you do that?

After a discussion between the officials at midfield, the refs shockingly decided to overturn the pass interference call, giving Texas the ball on the edge of the end zone. The play was not reviewable, which means the officials have to make the decision in the huddle. It's very, very rare that you see plays swing like that. 

[Oct 19, 2024 at 10:24 pm ET · Chris Hummer]

A pass interference call against Texas cornerback Jahdae Barron looked to take an interception off the board for the Longhorns. The call was questionable as the Georgia receiver initiates the contact into Barron and pushes off before Barron picked off the pass. Texas fans responded with a series of boos and threw a bunch of water bottles on the field, briefly delaying the game. 

After the delay, in a surprising move, the refs overturned the call and its now Texas ball at Georgia's 10-yard line with just under three minutes remaining in the third quarter. 

[Oct 19, 2024 at 10:03 pm ET · Shehan Jeyarajah]

Walker to locker room

Georgia edge rusher Jalon Walker left for the locker room in the third quarter against Texas. Walker posted three sacks in the first half and dominated first round NFL offensive tackle Kelvin Banks. If he cannot return, it would be a significant loss for the Georgia defense. 

[Oct 19, 2024 at 9:59 pm ET · Chris Hummer]

Texas Responds

Texas reinserted Quinn Ewers as its quarterback after halftime and he quickly led the team's first scoring drive of the day. The Longhorns went 55 yards in just under four minutes with Ewers throwing a touchdown pass to Isaiah Bond to complete the drive. Texas converted a two-point conversion attempt to bring the score to 23-8 Georgia.  Ewers went 4-for-5 on that drive with his only incompletion coming on a tipped pass. 

[Oct 19, 2024 at 9:50 pm ET · Shehan Jeyarajah]

Ewers back vs. Georgia

Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers has re-entered the game against Georgia after backup Arch Manning failed to provide a real spark. Manning connected on only 6-of-12 passes and turned the ball over twice before getting benched. The Longhorns face the biggest halftime deficit by a No. 1 team since Notre Dame in the 2013 BCS National Championship Game

[Oct 19, 2024 at 9:29 pm ET · Shehan Jeyarajah]

Georgia defense rolling vs. Texas

HALF: No. 5 Georgia 23, No. 1 Texas 0

No. 5 Georgia dominated the first half of the marquee matchup against No. 1 Texas in Austin. The Bulldogs' defense has decimated the highly rated Longhorns offensive line, recording five sacks, including three from edge rusher Jalon Walker alone. Texas recorded only 38 total yards and was shut out in the first half for the first time since 2022. 

Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers had a miserable start to the game thanks to the protection issues, completing only 6 of 12 passes for 17 yards. He also threw an interception and gave up a fumble to help set up a pair of Georgia touchdowns on short fields. After his early struggles, Texas benched him for backup Arch Manning. On his second drive, Manning surrendered a strip-sack of his own, which Georgia turned into a field goal. 

Georgia's offense has been inconsistent and leaned heavily on quarterback Carson Beck, who has 100 yards and two interceptions of his own. However, the Longhorns offense has failed to capitalize. Running back Trevor Etienne has 61 yards rushing, 23 yards receiving and two touchdowns in a strong first half, but has only touched the ball 11 times. 

[Oct 19, 2024 at 9:26 pm ET · Chris Hummer]

Arch Manning Fails To Provide Spark

Texas' offense didn't move much better with Arch Manning under center. Manning's first drive ended in a punt and the second came to a close with a Manning fumble following a sack. Manning's legs did create a 21-yard run on the second drive, but Manning was not fast enough to get away from Georgia linebacker Jalon Walker, who made a crazy open field tackle the play prior to Manning's fumble. 

The Longhorns trail 23-0 entering halftime. It remains to be seen if it'll be Ewers or Manning as Texas' QB1 to begin the second half. 

[Oct 19, 2024 at 9:08 pm ET · Shehan Jeyarajah]

Ewers benched for Manning

No. 1 Texas plays Arch Manning, switches back to Quinn Ewers in second half of loss to No. 5 Georgia

Shehan Jeyarajah

Arch Manning replaces Quinn Ewers: Texas turns to star redshirt freshman amid struggles vs. Georgia

[Oct 19, 2024 at 9:08 pm ET · Chris Hummer]

Arch Manning Takes Over For Quinn Ewers 

Texas has made a quarterback change, choosing to insert redshirt freshman QB Arch Manning into the game over a struggling Quinn Ewers. The second-year QB from Louisiana was the No. 1 overall player in the 2023 class, per the Top247 rankings, and previously started two games for Texas this year with Ewers out injured. 

[Oct 19, 2024 at 9:04 pm ET · Will Backus]

Texas QB Arch Manning is warming up 

Following Quinn Ewers' brutal start to Saturday's game against Texas, Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning is warming up on the sideline. Manning earned the first two starts of his career while Ewers was dealing with an abdominal strain, but returned to the bench for Texas' Week 7 win against Oklahoma. However, Ewers completed just six of his 12 pass attempts for 17 yards in the first half and also threw an interception that Georgia was able to turn into a touchdown to take a 17-0 lead. 

[Oct 19, 2024 at 8:55 pm ET · Shehan Jeyarajah]

Another short field, another TD

2Q: No. 5 Georgia 17, No. 1 Texas 0

Georgia's three scoring drives have averaged 20 yards per drive on the back of a Quinn Ewers fumble, Ewers interception and punt return into the 30-yard line. If Texas keeps coughing up the ball, the Bulldogs can continue capitalizing all night. Texas' offense has been a complete disaster, mustering only 19 yards on 13 plays, including two total yards rushing thanks to a pair of sacks on Ewers. Texas has nothing so far. 

[Oct 19, 2024 at 8:51 pm ET · Chris Hummer]

Quinn Ewers Throws An Ugly Interception 

Texas needed a spark down 10-0. It got the opposite when Ewers threw a bad interception in his own territory. Steve Sarkisian forcefully shut down the Arch Manning versus Quinn Ewers conversation this week. But that's all Texas fans will be talking about Saturday evening as Ewers continues to struggle in his return from an injury that cost him two games. Ewers is just 5-for-11 with 17 yards and an interception so far as Texas stares at a 17-0 deficit. 

[Oct 19, 2024 at 8:46 pm ET · Shehan Jeyarajah]

UGA up double-digits

2Q: No. 5 Georgia 10, No. 1 Texas 0

Georgia's defense helped give the offense some tremendous field position after a defensive stand and strong punt return to the 28-yard line. Georgia leaned a little too hard on quarterback Carson Beck on the drive, calling six straight passing plays to travel only 13 yards. Still, the play ended in a field goal. Both Georgia scores have been off short fields. 

[Oct 19, 2024 at 8:39 pm ET · Shehan Jeyarajah]

'Dawgs starting to eat

After the strip-sack by cornerback Daylon Everette, the Georgia defense has started taking over this game. On the last drive, edge rusher Jalon Walker beat first round Texas tackle Kelvin Banks for Banks' first surrendered sack of the season. This is a different kind of challenge for the Texas offense, especially as the Bulldogs start to eat up the Texas run game. 

[Oct 19, 2024 at 8:31 pm ET · Shehan Jeyarajah]

Georgia strikes first

End 1Q: No. 5 Georgia 7, No. 1 Texas 0

No. 1 Texas and No. 5 Georgia are scoreless at the end of the first quarter as both defenses have made big plays. Facing a key third down defensive opportunity, Georgia dialed up a sensational cornerback blitz from Daylen Everette. The DB strip-sacked Quinn Ewers and recovered the ball deep in Longhorns territory, while running back Trevor Etienne converted for a score four plays later. 

Bulldogs quarterback Carson Beck had a quarter to forget, throwing a pair of interceptions. In the red zone, a tipped ball by tight end Lawson Luckie turned into an interception to kill the potential of points. Beck is completing only 6 of 12 passes for 46 yards, but Etienne is the program's leading rusher and receiver with 56 yards from scrimmage. 

[Oct 19, 2024 at 8:26 pm ET · Shehan Jeyarajah]

Georgia defense shows up

Texas has handled the Georgia defense well, but cornerback Daylen Everette ran a perfectly executed CB blitz around the edge of the defense to blast Quinn Ewers and force a critical fumble. Everette recovered the fumble, which gives Georgia the ball deep in Texas territory with a key scoring opportunity. The fumble was the third turnover of the game between the two teams, but neither has capitalized yet. 

[Oct 19, 2024 at 8:21 pm ET · Shehan Jeyarajah]

Tipped ball goes wrong

Quarterback Carson Beck has had a nightmare start for the second marquee game. He whiffed on a throw early and now a pass to tight end Lawson Luckie bounced off Luckie's hands and into the hands of Texas defensive back Jahdae Barron for a turnover. Beck also threw two interceptions in the first half against Alabama, a performance that continues to age worse as the Tide continue to lose down the stretch. The most recent interception came in the red zone and stole a rare scoring opportunity against the Longhorns' elite defense. Texas has allowed only one first half touchdown this season. 

[Oct 19, 2024 at 8:19 pm ET · Chris Hummer]

Texas' Defense Comes Up Big Again

Make that interceptions on back-to-back drives by Georgia quarterback Carson Beck. The Bulldogs were in the red zone with a chance to score but Beck's high pass bounced off the hands of tight end Lawson Luckie and into the waiting arms of cornerback Jahdae Barron. Barron made the switch from nickel to outside cornerback this season and was recently named a Midseason All-American by CBS. 

[Oct 19, 2024 at 8:13 pm ET · Shehan Jeyarajah]

Georgia offense diversifying

Georgia leaned heavily on quarterback Carson Beck in the early game, but an 18-yard run by running back Trevor Etienne helped open things up. On the next play, Beck was able to find Lawson Luckie for a 21-yard reception and the Bulldogs are getting their first positive movement of the game. Georgia is lucky that its defense was able to limit the damage off its slow start, but the Bulldogs are getting going. 

[Oct 19, 2024 at 8:05 pm ET · Chris Hummer]

Texas' Defense Strikes First 

After two short drives for both teams to begin the game, Texas defensive back Andrew Mukuba picked off Carson Beck to give Texas the ball in Georgia territory. That's exactly the type of turnover the Longhorns brought in Mukuba, a Clemson transfer, to create this offseason after up and down safety play a season ago. 

[Oct 19, 2024 at 8:01 pm ET · Shehan Jeyarajah]

Nothing easy

Texas and Georgia were both forced to punt on their first drives of the game, and each leaned on their quarterbacks to start. Georgia's Carson Beck threw on all three plays, just missing on two throws as the Bulldogs went three-and-out. Texas got two strong runs from new starting running back Tre Wisner, but Quinn Ewers threw five passes as the Longhorns reached two first down. Both are keeping the game close in front of them to try and control the clock and establish some passing consistency.