Trevor Etienne ran for three touchdowns, the first two by quarterback Daylen Everette, and fifth-ranked Georgia running back Quinn Ewers and No. 1 Texas 30-15 on Saturday night.
Etienne’s final point was a fourth down with 12:04 left. That came after an ugly series in which Texas fans littered the field with water bottles and other trash after the referees called a passing penalty that initially led to a long interception and return, before a flag was taken and a Longhorns TD was set up.
Georgia (6-1, 4-1 Southeastern Conference), which started the season at No. 1, has won three in a row since a 41-34 loss to then-No. 4 Alabama, where the Bulldogs overcame a 28-0 deficit and went ahead late on a long TD pass exchange.
The Bulldogs never followed through on their first trip to Austin since 1958 to take on the new SEC who had made it through the first half of their schedule unscathed.
Texas (6-1, 2-1) won at reigning national champion Michigan in Week 2 and had trailed by less than four minutes all season before Saturday night against a team that had won back-to-back national titles before the Wolverines.
The 15-point loss was the worst for the No. 1 team. 1 home run since Notre Dame’s 31-16 win at Pittsburgh in 1982, according to Stradar, when Dan Marino was a Panthers player.
Georgia quarterback Carson Beck improved to 19-2 as a starter, including a 7-2 mark against ranked teams. He was 23-of-41 for 175 yards and three touchdown passes, though Texas missed two of his first-quarter throws. The Longhorns had just 38 yards when they trailed 23-0 at halftime.
Jahdae Barron’s pick and 36-yard return late in the third quarter came after contact with Arian Smith drew a pass interference penalty. Longhorns coach Steve Sarkisian got angry with the officials, then went to the far corner of the field where the students were sitting, and told them to stop throwing things.
During the trash pickup, the officials were discussing the game and picked up the flag. Two plays later, Ewers threw a 17-yard touchdown pass to Jaydon Blue to put the Longhorns up 23-15.
Ewers completed 25 of 43 passes for 211 yards.
Everette’s blindside sack late in the first quarter stripped the ball from Ewers, and the linebacker recovered at the Texas 13 after other teammates attempted a fumble. That led to Etienne’s 2-yard TD for a 7-0 lead.
Etienne’s 15-yard TD run, late in the end zone, made it 17-0 after Everette got in front of a receiver to be blocked at the Texas 34.
Peyton Woodring scored three goals before halftime for Georgia, the last of which kept the score at 44 as time expired after Arch Manning, on the second series, fumbled while being sacked.
The takeaway
Georgia: The defense set the tone for the Dawgs, including seven sacks and forcing four Georgia turnovers that turned into 17 points.
Texas: This was the Longhorns’ biggest test so far in the SEC, and it turned out to be a stunning reminder of how difficult things can be in their new league. The Longhorns have lost their last five home games against top-five opponents, dating back to a win over No. 3 Nebraska in 1999 when they were in the Big 12 together.
Survey results
Texas will fall to No. 1, it’s just a matter of how far. Oregon (6-0) may take over from the No. 2 seed, but Georgia may replace the Ducks. No. 3 Penn State and 4 Ohio State, Oregon’s only loss, were both absent this weekend.
Next
Georgia: Faces Florida on November 2 in their annual game in Jacksonville, Florida.
Texas: At Vanderbilt on Saturday.
It is reported by the Associated Press.
[Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily.]
Find out more about College Football Follow your favorites to get information about sports, news and more
Source link