The No. 15 Tennessee Volunteers suffered a crushing 44-41 overtime loss to the No. 6 Georgia Bulldogs. Since 2022, Tennessee has lost only three games at home in Neyland Stadium, and all of those defeats have come against Georgia. Vols head coach Josh Heupel is now 0-5 against the Bulldogs since arriving in Knoxville in 2021.
Heupel vs. Georgia
- 2025: L 41-44 (OT)
- 2024: L 17-31
- 2023: L 10-38
- 2022: L 13-27
- 2021: L 17-41
Although Tennessee’s loss wasn’t the result that fans or the program had hoped for, the 41 points the Vols scored against Georgia were the most they have scored against the Bulldogs since Heupel became head coach. Previously, the most Tennessee had scored against Georgia under Heupel was 17 points.
First Quarter
The Volunteers came out firing on all cylinders. During the first quarter, Joey Aguilar showed excellent efficiency, completing his first 14 passes for 213 yards and three total touchdowns. The Vols held a 21-7 lead after the first quarter, but that would be the last quarter in which they outscored the Bulldogs.
| Team | 1st Quarter | 2nd Quarter | 3rd Quarter | 4th Quarter | Overtime | Total |
| Tennessee | 21 | 0 | 7 | 10 | 3 | 41 |
| Georgia | 7 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 6 | 44 |
On Tennessee’s first drive, the Vols marched 75 yards and capped it with a goal-line touchdown run from Aguilar. Georgia answered with a 75-yard drive of its own, ending in a rushing touchdown by quarterback Gunner Stockton to tie the game.
The Vols responded with a 72-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Chris Brazzell to reclaim the lead. Once Georgia got the ball back, the Bulldogs drove past midfield but turned it over on downs after a failed fourth-down conversion.
Tennessee capitalized with another touchdown pass to Brazzell, who had his best performance since joining the Volunteers. By the end of regulation, Brazzell had six receptions for 177 yards and three touchdowns. He was one of the few bright spots in a devastating loss for the Vols.
Second Quarter
Georgia quickly responded to start the second quarter with a 36-yard touchdown catch by wide receiver Zachariah Branch less than a minute into the period. The Bulldogs then forced Tennessee to punt on its next two possessions before making a field goal to cut the Vols’ lead to four.
On the next drive, Aguilar lobbed a deep pass intended for Mike Matthews, which resulted in his first interception of the season. However, the Volunteers answered with an interception by defensive back Ty Redmond that prevented Georgia from scoring before halftime.
Third Quarter
The Bulldogs received the ball after the half and scored on a 75-yard drive that drained nearly eight minutes off the clock. The touchdown gave Georgia its first lead of the game, 24-21.
Later, Aguilar threw his second interception of the game on a pass intended for wide receiver Braylon Staley. That turnover set up a Georgia field goal, extending the Bulldogs’ lead to six.
Tennessee responded on its next possession when Aguilar connected with Brazzell for a 56-yard touchdown, giving the Vols a 28-27 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
Fourth Quarter
To begin the final period, Stockton completed a 31-yard pass to set up a field goal, putting the Bulldogs ahead 30-28. On the next possession, Tennessee responded with a 32-yard touchdown pass to Staley to reclaim the lead.
On Georgia’s next drive, Tennessee defensive end Joshua Josephs forced a strip-sack that defensive lineman Bryson Eason recovered. The turnover led to a 48-yard field goal by Max Gilbert, giving the Vols an eight-point lead with less than seven minutes left.
Georgia answered with a 75-yard drive capped by a 28-yard touchdown pass to London Humphreys. The Bulldogs converted a 2-point attempt to tie the game 38-38 with less than three minutes remaining.
Tennessee got the ball back with all three timeouts. The Vols drove 50 yards to set up a potential game-winning field goal. However, the 43-yard attempt went wide right, sending the game into overtime.
Overtime
Tennessee had the first possession in overtime, which ended in a 42-yard field goal, giving the Vols a 41-38 lead.
However, on Georgia’s next drive, they ran the ball down the Vols’ throats, which set up a 1-yard touchdown run that was initially ruled short. After the officials’ review, they determined that the ball crossed the plane, and the Bulldogs won 44-41 over the Volunteers.
Tennessee’s Game Leaders
- QB Joey Aguilar: 24-36, 371 Yds, 4 TDs, 2 Ints
- RB Star Thomas: 9 Car, 60 Yds
- WR Chris Brazzell: 6 Rec, 177 Yds, 3 TDs
Georgia’s Game Leaders
- QB Gunner Stockton: 23-31, 304 Yds, 2 TDs, 0 Ints
- RB Nate Frazier: 14 Car, 73 Yds
- WR Colbie Young: 4 Rec, 73 Yds
