Thanks largely to his explosive offense, coach Josh Heupel has helped Tennessee turn the tide in previously lopsided rivalry series with Alabama and Florida. He has also done a great job of protecting home-field advantage at Neyland Stadium, where he owns a sparkling record. The one big thorn in his side? Georgia.

Dating back to Nov. 20, 2021, Tennessee has won 23 of its last 24 games at Neyland. The lone loss came in 2023 – to Georgia. Not only have the Bulldogs beaten the Vols under Heupel; they’ve done so comfortably, winning each matchup by at least 14 points.

In fairness to Heupel, this Georgia problem pre-dates him. The Bulldogs have won eight straight over Tennessee and this weekend in Knoxville (3:30 p.m. ET, ABC) could become only the second SEC team ever to win nine consecutive games by at least 14 points against one opponent (the last to do so was Florida against South Carolina from 1994-2002).

To finally get over the hump, Heupel and the Vols must solve Kirby Smart’s defense. Between Smart’s tactical acumen and Georgia’s deep roster, Tennessee’s fast-paced, high-scoring style has consistently faced challenges in this annual battle.

By the numbers, Tennessee’s offense has excelled under Heupel – except against Georgia, where yardage and point totals have dramatically declined.

	Heupel vs. All Opponents	Heupel vs. UGA
Points/game	38.9	14.3
Yards/game	478.7	316.5
Pass yards/game	265.2	210.3
Rush yards/game	213.5	106.3

The most disappointing performance by a Heupel offense against Georgia’s defense came in 2022. Tennessee had just been crowned the No. 1 team in the College Football Playoff rankings, Heisman Trophy contender Hendon Hooker was leading the offense, and Biletnikoff Award winner Jalin Hyatt headlined a group of skill position players that also included Cedric Tillman, Bru McCoy, and Jaylen Wright.

In a 27-13 loss, Hooker threw for just 195 yards and an interception while Hyatt and Tillman combined for 13 catches and 131 yards. Most of that already meager production came late in the fourth quarter with Tennessee down by multiple scores.

How Georgia has stifled Tennessee

CBS Sports college football analyst Blake Brockermeyer analyzed the 2022 matchup to uncover how Smart has consistently frustrated Heupel’s offense.

What Brockermeyer observed was a masterful defensive strategy accompanied by plenty of self-inflicted wounds by Tennessee:
“Smart limited Tennessee’s explosive offense in various ways during a stifling defensive performance, but it was also a well-executed game by the entire Georgia team to manage game control in field position, ball control, and lead maintenance throughout the game,” Brockermeyer said. “Crowd noise and penalties were significant factors, as Tennessee struggled to keep ahead of the pace.”

The good news for the Vols? This year’s game is at Neyland, where Gunner Stockton and the Georgia offense will have to contend with the noise.

The challenge? Much of Smart’s strategies from 2022 can carry over to this Saturday’s clash with Joey Aguilar and Tennessee.

Here’s what stood out most to Brockermeyer on film:

• Georgia found success with simulated pressures that kept Hendon Hooker off balance.
• Smart limited the Vols’ explosive plays by employing split safeties and altering the defensive looks.
• The Bulldogs forced everything to stay in front of the safeties while using man coverage on the line.
• Georgia’s defensive line consistently overpowered Tennessee’s offensive line.
• The Bulldogs excelled at tackling effectively in one-on-one situations when Tennessee’s playmakers got the ball.

It wasn’t all negative for Tennessee. Brockermeyer mentioned receivers open over the middle that were overlooked, moderate success on runs, and a few plays Hooker generated with his mobility.

3 ways Tennessee can improve

So, what will it take for the Vols offense to break free against the Bulldogs? For starters, the revamped offensive line must hold its ground against Georgia’s defensive front. In the last four meetings, Tennessee has given up a total of 18 sacks while managing only 3.0 yards per carry. That won’t suffice.

So far, Tennessee’s offensive line has fared decently in these aspects. Over two games, they’ve facilitated 505 rushing yards, and no sacks have fallen on Aguilar. However, this performance was against Syracuse and ETSU, but the line has done its job adequately.

The big test for Tennessee’s offensive line will be to capitalize if Smart’s team opts for a lighter box. Over the past four years, Smart hasn’t needed to flood the box because his defensive line has consistently overpowered the Vols upfront.

Receiver Breakouts
In the last three matchups against Georgia, Tennessee’s longest completion was a mere 28 yards, achieved by Jalin Hyatt in 2022. Finding success through methodical drives against this Georgia defense will prove tricky, so Tennessee’s receivers will need to create opportunities for significant plays.

Entering the 2025 season, there were lingering doubts about the Volunteers’ wide receiver corps. These questions rise as Georgia approaches. Mike Matthews and Braylon Staley, former four-star recruits, have exhibited strong potential in the initial two games. If either or both realize their potential, it would significantly enhance Tennessee’s offensive game.

This holds true for Chris Brazzell II, a Tulane transfer now in his second year with the team. Brazzell had promising moments in 2024 but finished with just 333 yards and two touchdowns. Can he step up in Heupel’s system?

If Georgia opts for man coverage against Tennessee’s wideouts, one or more of these players must succeed in gaining separation downfield. If Aguilar has to linger in the pocket waiting for receivers to break free, Georgia’s defensive line could dominate.

Aguilar’s Performance

Ultimately, Aguilar needs to put forth the best game of his career for Tennessee’s offensive success. Over his first two games, Aguilar has displayed accuracy and confidence while directing the offense, yet Smart will likely have tactics ready to challenge the UCLA transfer. If Smart’s defense can cause serious issues for Hooker, who had 21 games worth of experience in Heupel’s setup, it may present Aguilar with numerous challenges in only his third start with the Vols. That could spell trouble for a quarterback known for turnover mistakes at his former program.

Having said this, there were several promising elements from Brockermeyer’s analysis that might work to Tennessee’s advantage. He pointed out that the Vols achieved success tossing passes in the middle, matched the slot receiver against the safety on vertical routes, and found openings. Brockermeyer noted that Hooker “struggled to throw accurately,” which prevented Tennessee from capitalizing on those chances.