Georgia vs. Tennessee Score, Key Takeaways: Carson Beck Finds His Rhythm as Bulldogs Eye CFP Return

No. 12 Georgia defeated No. 7 Tennessee 31-17, keeping its College Football Playoff hopes alive. After Tennessee took an early 10-0 lead in the first quarter, Georgia responded with 31 unanswered points over the next three quarters to secure the win.

Georgia quarterback Carson Beck bounced back from a sluggish start and a series of dropped passes to lead the offense. Despite injuries to key players Travis Etienne and Dillon Bell, Beck threw for 346 yards and two touchdowns, adding his first rushing score of the season. He distributed the ball to 10 different receivers, showcasing depth and resilience.

Tennessee had some extended drives but struggled to generate big plays, failing to complete a pass over 20 yards and scoring no points in the second half. Running back Dylan Sampson posted 101 yards and a touchdown, but quarterback Nico Iamaleava managed just 167 yards passing with no touchdowns.

In the game’s final minutes, Georgia sent a strong message. The Bulldogs drained over six minutes off the clock on a 92-yard, 12-play drive that ended in a touchdown. Beck, along with running backs Chauncey Bowens and Nate Frazier, accounted for every yard. Key passes of 28 and 21 yards helped Georgia escape its own territory.

Georgia became the first team this season to score more than 20 points against Tennessee’s defense, surpassing Arkansas’s 19-point effort. Over the past five seasons, Georgia has a 6-6 record when facing a double-digit deficit, tied for the best mark in that span with Alabama. Utah follows with a .350 winning percentage.

For Tennessee, Iamaleava continued to struggle, failing to pass for 200 yards for the sixth time in seven SEC games. Last season, Joe Milton managed 200-plus yards in six of eight SEC games, while Iamaleava has yet to surpass 300 yards against any FBS opponent.