Georgia positioned itself for a likely College Football Playoff berth—and a chance to secure its third national championship in four years—after a critical win. The Bulldogs now need to close out the regular season with victories over UMass and Georgia Tech to keep their hopes alive.

"Our kids showed resiliency. I'm proud of them," said Georgia head coach Kirby Smart. "A week ago, we were dead and gone. People had written us off."

Tennessee (8-2, 5-2) entered the matchup with aspirations of moving closer to an SEC Championship berth. Instead, the Vols find themselves in a much more uncertain postseason position following what felt like a playoff elimination game.

Carson Beck stepped up for Georgia in a pivotal moment, leading the Bulldogs to their 29th consecutive home victory—a streak that dates back to 2019 and leads the FBS. Despite a challenging season filled with ups and downs, Beck delivered when it mattered most.

"He gets judged on outcomes and stats, but we evaluate him on what gives us the best chance to win," Smart said. "He's got poise, he's got composure. He gets us in the right play time and time again."

Beck threw two first-half touc hdown passes to tight end Oscar Delp and scrambled for a decisive 10-yard rushing touchdown in the third quarter—his first rushing score of the season. He finished the game with 25 completions on 40 attempts, racking up 347 yards without an interception, a refreshing change after throwing 12 picks in his previous six games.

Georgia sealed the win with a 92-yard drive—their longest of the season—capped by freshman Nate Frazier’s 2-yard touchdown run with 2:26 left on the clock.

The Vols started strong, silencing the 93,000 fans at Sanford Stadium with a 10-0 lead early in the game. Quarterback Nico Iamaleava, returning after clearing concussion protocol, helped Tennessee strike first with Miles Kitselman's 1-yard touchdown run and Max Gilbert's 52-yard field goal. 

However, Georgia found its rhythm, with Beck connecting with Delp for touchdown passes of 19 and 4 yards to take the lead. Although Dylan Sampson briefly reclaimed the advantage for Tennessee with his 27-yard touchdown—his 21st of the season—Beck drove Georgia into position for Peyton Woodring’s 36-yard field goal, tying the game at 17 heading into halftime.

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