The No. 5 Georgia Bulldogs are set to host the No. 10 Texas Longhorns in a critical Week 12 SEC matchup.Texas has struggled in road games this season, a key factor heading into the game in Athens.Experts suggest Texas’s wide receivers may have an advantage, while Georgia’s defensive line is expected to dominate.
The No. 5 Georgia Bulldogs host the No. 10 Texas Longhorns in a battle for SEC supremacy in college football Week 12. The Georgia-Texas game is a rematch of the 2024 SEC championship and the third time Georgia and Texas have face each other since the Longhorns joined the SEC.
Georgia and Texas have another high-stakes matchup on Saturday night in Athens with Texas facing a third-loss that could effectively eliminate the Longhorns from College Football Playoff contention. Meanwhile, Georgia is looking to finish their SEC schedule with a 7-1 record to have a path to the SEC championship. The Bulldogs would basically be a College Football Playoff lock with a win over Texas.
To analyze the Georgia-Texas game, we go “Behind Enemy Lines” with Longhorns Wire writer Tommy Breese to see the game from Texas prospective.
Road woes
Texas has two losses on the road this season and needed overtime in their two road wins to beat Mississippi State and Kentucky. What is happening to the Longhorns on the road?
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It’s hard to put my finger on one specific problem, because I think they have been different based on the game. To start the year, it seemed to be a simple case of a young QB being thrust into a tough environment in Columbus and struggling. As for the Florida and Mississippi State games, I think it had more to do with the struggles of the offensive line, and in Starkville, Arch Manning actually had to make “hero” plays to get the win.
The Kentucky game was all of the aforementioned issues combined, mixed with Mark Stoops being a master of shortening games. The Texas offense, which was still struggling at the time, possessed the ball for less than 20 game minutes which made it impossible to get into a groove.
Overall, it’s hard to know why a team that came into this year on a 10-game win streak in true road games to be struggling in 2025, but the issues I just described possibly could’ve turned a corner since that Mississippi State comeback.
Can Texas meet high expectations?
Texas entered the preseason with national title expectations. Do you still think the Longhorns can win it all?
It’s hard for me to say yes right now. While I do think the Longhorns are good enough to compete with any team in the country, it’s hard for me to see this Texas offense playing at a high-level for four straight games in the CFP. Now, if the Longhorns get a win Saturday night between the hedges, I could very well have a different opinion. Knocking off Georgia would prove the Longhorns have turned a corner and then everything will be back on the table for Texas.
Who has the edge?
Which matchup do feel Texas has a decided advantage? Where do you think Georgia has one?
I would say the Texas wide receivers against the Georgia cornerbacks is a place the Longhorns should be able to have success. Obviously, that predicates on the Texas OL protecting Arch Manning but if he’s given time, I trust the Texas WRs to make plays on the outside. The Georgia cornerbacks have begun to play better in recent weeks, but there are still openings the Longhorns WRs should be able to exploit.
For Georgia, the advantage lies on the interior of the defensive line. Georgia has not been a very disruptive front this year, but they have been a top 10 rush defense. The Texas OL has struggled all year long, especially on the interior, so Christen Miller, Elijah Griffin and company should be able to have a field day.
Texas player to know
Who’s a Texas player Georgia fans might not know now, but will by Saturday’s end?
The first name that comes to mind is edge rusher Ethan Burke . Burke has turned it on over the last two weeks, with 10 tackles, three sacks and a forced fumble. Burke is the best run defender on the Texas DL, so it’s likely Bulldog fans will hear that name called quite a bit on Saturday night.
On the other side of the ball, Emmett Mosley V might be a name Georgia fans aren’t familiar enough with. Mosley is a transfer from Stanford and after missing the first four games of the year, he’s come on strong. Mosley has 11 catches, 112 yards and three touchdowns in the past two games, including the game-winner against Mississippi State. I expect Mosley to be a major part of the Longhorns gameplan this weekend, so Bulldog fans should know the name.
Prediction time
What’s your score prediction and player of the game?
I have gone back and forth all week about this game, but I continue to come back to one thing: Kirby Smart. Last year, Smart and Glenn Schumann were able to totally bottle up the Texas offense, something very few teams did.
With all of the issues the Texas offense has had throughout the year, I have a hard time believing they can overcome Smart’s defensive gameplan and keep up with Gunner Stockton and the Georgia offense, especially in Sanford Stadium. I’ll take Zachariah Branch to make one or two massive plays and take home player of the game honors.
Prediction: Georgia 24, Texas 20
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