ESPN analyst identifies areas Texas must address on defense facing Georgia
By Derek Hryn
Published:
Roddy Jones says the key for Texas against Georgia starts in the trenches.
Jones highlighted the strength-on-strength battle that could define the matchup when No. 10 Texas (7-2) visits No. 5 Georgia (8-1) in Athens on Nov. 15.
“It’s the matchup between Texas’ run defense and Georgia’s run offense,” Jones said Wednesday. “It’s been the best in the SEC and second best in the country. And that’s really where it starts for Texas. They’re going to put you in bad situations in 3rd and longs. And then they’re going to get into their exotic pressures.”
Texas ranks No. 2 nationally in rushing defense, allowing just 78.2 yards per game, while Georgia’s ground game sits inside the top 25 at nearly 200 yards per contest. The Bulldogs also convert 48.3%of their third downs, good for 17th in the FBS — an area where their balance and discipline have kept drives alive all season. Georgia running back Nate Frazier is coming off a strong 12-carry, 181-yard performance against Mississippi State.
For the Longhorns, maintaining gap control and avoiding costly penalties will be key against an offense that rarely beats itself. The showdown kicks off at 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC from Sanford Stadium.
Interested in wagering on Texas at Georgia? Check out the Kalshi prediction market for the SEC showdown:
