Eight years ago, Oklahoma and Georgia clashed in a thrilling double-overtime Rose Bowl, one that sent the Bulldogs to face Alabama in the 2018 national championship.
The Sooners and Bulldogs haven’t met since. That changes Saturday, when a freshly unranked Oklahoma team heads to Athens to face No. 2 Georgia in what is now a Southeastern Conference matchup.
Oklahoma enters the outing with much to prove, having fallen 17-10 to Michigan in Week 2 and narrowly beaten New Mexico 14-6 the following week after entering the game as a 21.5-point favorite.
Georgia has yet to be challenged, with defensive line coach Tray Scott running drills during television timeouts against Arkansas as tangible proof. The Bulldogs have cruised to a 3-0 record and have a plus-138 scoring differential.
Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton boasts an 84.4 completion percentage this season, completing 38 of 45 pass attempts for 583 yards and nine touchdowns. He tied Georgia’s single-game record with five passing touchdowns against Western Kentucky in Week 2.
“Gunner Stockton, I love how he plays. This is another year that he’s started the year really, really well. He’s just a really good football player,” Oklahoma coach Brent Venables said Tuesday. “The guy’s been a winner his whole life — plays the game the right way.”
Stockton’s hot start has been complemented with lockdown defense. Georgia has yet to allow a first-quarter point this season, outscoring opponents 56-0 in the first 15 minutes and 105-12 in the first half. Backup quarterback Ryan Puglisi has played in all three games as a result, with Stockton calling it a day early after leading the team to a cushy lead.
Saturday’s matchup is Oklahoma’s SEC opener and the second of nine conference matchups for Georgia.
Oklahoma faces a daunting start to conference play, traveling to No. 2 Georgia before hosting No. 1 Texas two weeks later.
The Bulldogs kicked off SEC play last week with a 45-17 win over Arkansas and will face Vanderbilt, No. 8 Alabama and Auburn before an idle week leading up to “the world’s greatest cocktail party” against No. 21 Florida.
Georgia’s one remaining nonconference game is a rivalry week contest against in-state foe Georgia Tech.
Regardless of recent offensive woes, Oklahoma’s defense has held steady, allowing only two touchdowns over the past three games — both on the ground against Michigan.
The Sooners lead the SEC in passing defense (104.3 yards per game), scoring defense (7.7 points per game), third-down conversion defense (22.5%), tackles for loss (8.7) and red zone defense (57.1%). The unit ranks top 10 nationally in each category.
“It is fundamentally sound, aggressive and attacking. They are one of the top in the country every year in tackles for a loss and sacks, and I don’t think people give their coaches and their kids enough credit for how they play,” Georgia coach Kirby Smart said. “They play with unbelievable pad level and an intensity that’s kind of unmatched in terms of the way they play.”
Owen Heinecke leads the Sooners with 24 tackles. Adepoju Adebawore has a team-high 2.5 sacks. Peyton Brown has recorded four pass breakups.
Oklahoma’s offense hasn’t played up to its standard, and it starts with the passing game. Quarterback John Mateer threw a critical late interception against Michigan to set up the Wolverines for a game-winning, 6-yard touchdown drive. He finished the Week 2 loss with a 52% completion rating.
Mateer was picked off twice more in the first half against New Mexico, prompting boos from Memorial Stadium. He has 652 passing yards, six touchdowns and three interceptions through three games and has not yet shown the same flashiness in the run game.
Oklahoma has little room for error after its loss to Michigan and an uninspiring Week 3 win that knocked the Sooners out of the AP Top 25.
With No. 2 Georgia and No. 1 Texas looming in the next three weeks, Oklahoma could quickly find itself needing to run the table to emerge in the College Football Playoff conversation. Another loss wouldn’t end the Sooners’ chances, but it would make their path much more difficult with plenty of tough conference competition ahead.
Oklahoma earned the No. 8 seed in the CFP last year and was knocked out by No. 9 Alabama with a 34–24 first-round loss.
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