When No. 6 Georgia fought back from three separate deficits to outlast No. 15 Tennessee in a thrilling 44-41 overtime victory on Saturday, it was more than just a win to keep the Bulldogs unbeaten. The game showcased a tactical shift that stirred memories of an older, high-powered offensive philosophy.
Josh McCray sealed the victory with a 1-yard touchdown run in overtime, capping a drive that was set up by a 21-yard burst from Nate Frazier. Georgia’s win marked its ninth straight over the Volunteers and lifted the team to a 3-0 overall record, including a 1-0 start in SEC play.
Is Mike Bobo Turning Georgia’s Attack Into a Modern Spread Powerhouse?
Following the game, former Baylor defensive coordinator and interim head coach Phil Bennett appeared on “365 Sports” and drew a striking parallel between Georgia’s offensive approach under coordinator Mike Bobo and the wide-open philosophy once made famous by former Baylor head coach Art Briles.
“I was disappointed for Tennessee because I have some friends there, but I was also proud of Georgia,” Bennett said. “Coach Bobo offensively, I mean, there were nearly 1,000 yards of offense in that game. Lot of Art Briles there, guys. Lot of Art Briles in that game.”
Briles, who made Baylor a national force more than a decade ago, was known for deploying spread concepts and using the entire field to create mismatches. Bennett reminded listeners that even the legendary Nick Saban once admitted he saw this offensive evolution coming to the SEC.
“I told y’all the story Nick Saban told me that day at Calgary in Shreveport,” Bennett recalled. “He said, ‘I know this stuff is coming to us. We need to get together and talk about it.’”
The implication was clear: Saturday’s Georgia-Tennessee shootout looked less like a traditional SEC defensive slugfest and more like the offensive track meets that Briles popularized.
Bennett elaborated further, explaining the shift in mindset. “You look at that game and of course I look at it as a coach, thousand yards offense and it’s who can make the last stop. That’s what it came down to. They had nothing about yards per play, total yards. It was who could get the last stop and who could make the play on offense. Coaches are using every inch of the field like Art Briles did 10 or 12 years ago. And let me tell you something, it’s hard to defend, it is.”
Can This New Offensive Identity Work Against Alabama?
While Bennett saw shades of Briles in Georgia’s attack, the Bulldogs still leaned heavily on their traditional ground game. Although some of Mike Bobo’s jet sweep concepts faltered, the relentless commitment to running the ball eventually wore down the Tennessee defense.
Georgia ran the ball 55 times compared to just 32 passes, with eight different players getting a carry. Nate Frazier led the team with 73 rushing yards, while quarterback Gunner Stockton and running back Josh McCray combined for three rushing touchdowns. Stockton also had a productive day through the air, throwing for 304 yards and two scores, including a game-saving 28-yard touchdown strike to London Humphreys late in regulation.
🎬 𝐕𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 | Game Three#GoDawgs pic.twitter.com/uiJRbMVLdj
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Ultimately, Georgia’s physicality and depth at running back proved decisive. Now, Kirby Smart and his team head into a much-needed bye week before what could be their toughest regular-season test: a primetime showdown with Kalen DeBoer’s Alabama on Sept. 27 in Athens. The Crimson Tide, now 2-1, have recovered well from a season-opening loss to Florida State and enter with renewed momentum after back-to-back dominant wins.
That clash will be nationally televised on ABC at 7:30 p.m. ET, setting the stage for one of the season’s marquee games.
Georgia’s thriller against Tennessee showed the team can adapt when its defense bends, but it also raised questions about sustainability. Whether Bobo’s offense leans on Briles-like spacing or the traditional Georgia ground-and-pound, the upcoming game against Alabama will reveal if this apparent identity shift is truly viable against the nation’s elite.
