SEC Championship Game Breakdown: No. 2 Texas vs. No. 5 Georgia
The Georgia Bulldogs aim for another victory over the Texas Longhorns to secure a playoff spot.
As the 2024 college football season nears its climax, we’ve witnessed weekends filled with chaos, making it hard to believe things could escalate further. Yet, each subsequent weekend typically answered that question. Now, we find ourselves at conference championship weekend, where coveted spots in the new 12-team College Football Playoff (CFP) are up for grabs.
SEC Championship Game
No. 2 Texas (11-1) vs. No. 5 Georgia (10-2)
4:00 PM EST
Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
Team Offense
Texas
- 450.1 yards/game (4th in SEC)
- 34.8 points/game (4th in SEC)
- 274.6 pass yards/game (4th in SEC)
Georgia
- 425.3 yards/game (7th in SEC)
- 34.3 points/game (5th in SEC)
- 297.0 pass yards/game (3rd in SEC)
The Quarterbacks
Texas
- Quinn Ewers – 67.3 percent comp., 2,307 yards, 24 touchdowns, 7 INT
- Arch Manning – 67.8 percent comp., 939 yards, 9 touchdowns, 2 INT
Georgia
- Carson Beck – 65.1 percent comp., 3,429 yards, 28 touchdowns, 12 INT
Impact Players
Texas: RB Quintrevion Wisner—812 rushing yards, 214 receiving yards, four total TDs (three rushing, one receiving)
Team Defense
Texas
- 11.7 pts/game (1st in SEC)
- 247.5 yards/game (1st in SEC)
Georgia
- 20.5 pts/game (2nd in B1G)
- 332.2 yards/game (7th in SEC)
Best Win(s)
Texas
- 31-12 at Michigan (Sept. 7)
- 17-7 at Texas A&M (Dec. 1)
Georgia
- 34-3 vs. Clemson (Aug. 31)
- 30-15 at Texas (Oct. 20)
- 31-17 vs. Tennessee (Nov. 17)
Who Has the Advantage?
In their earlier matchup this season, Georgia traveled to Texas and secured a win, with the Bulldogs’ defense limiting the Longhorns to a mere 29 rushing yards, with only Wisner managing more than seven yards on the ground. Etienne played a crucial role, rushing for 87 yards and three touchdowns, despite Beck’s subpar performance with three interceptions and no touchdowns.
Nonetheless, it’s worth noting that Etienne has been battling a rib injury in recent weeks and was already hampered before that. Should he be unable to play, Georgia may rely on Nate Frazier, who concluded the regular season as the team’s leading rusher with 587 yards and eight touchdowns.
On the other hand, Texas’s Wisner had a slow start to the season but emerged strong in the last two games, amassing 344 yards on 59 carries in victories over Kentucky and Texas A&M. If he can surpass the 3.5 yards per carry he averaged in their first encounter, Texas could effectively manage the clock and reduce their quarterback(s)’ exposure to Georgia’s defense. Moreover, questions linger over which Longhorns quarterback should be at the helm, adding another layer of intrigue to the matchup.
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As the game takes place in Atlanta, it will undoubtedly feel like a home game for Georgia. With a previous win against Texas this season, they likely need to emerge victorious once again to solidify their playoff placement, even with their strong track record. The Bulldogs are challenged to bring their best performance to repeat their success.
