In the 244 combined seasons that Texas and Georgia have played football, the teams have only ever faced off five times. Now for their sixth matchup in history, they will not only be competing in the same conference, but both as top-five teams.
The Longhorns lead the all-time series with the Bulldogs 4–1, with the first four games occurring in 1949, 1957, 1958 and 1984. Legendary Longhorn head coach Darrell K Royal led the team to victory in 1957 and 1958. In the 1984 matchup, Georgia secured its only win in the series with a one-point, 10-9 win with a last-minute touchdown in the fourth quarter.
In their most recent game appearance, the then-No. 5 Bulldogs and then-No. 15 Texas played in the Allstate Sugar Bowl in 2019.
Texas started out the bowl game hot, scoring 20 points in the first half and holding the Bulldogs to just seven. However, in the fourth quarter, while Texas was able to score eight more points it let Georgia score two back-to-back touchdowns closing the score gap to just 28-21. Luckily, the Longhorns were able to hold the Bulldogs scoreless for the remainder of gameplay, sealing a Texas victory.
The then-sophomore quarterback Sam Ehlinger was named the MVP of the game, throwing for 169 yards, rushing for 64 and had three rushing touchdowns.
Ehlinger, after the game, famously shouted “Longhorn Nation, we’re back!” into the microphone, signaling what many hoped was a return to Texas’ football dominance. However, in the seasons following that victory, the Longhorns struggled to capitalize on the momentum, finishing the next four seasons with records of 8–5, 7–3, 5–7 and 8–5.
But Ehlinger’s comments after the game were not the main cause for controversy. Before the game, the Texas Silver Spurs tried to line up Bevo for a photo with Georgia’s live bulldog mascot, Uga. Bevo was being friendly and decided he wanted to get closer to say “hi”, taking out a barrier and several photographers in the process. It is unclear if Uga will be in Austin this weekend.
Despite those ups and downs, Texas has reasserted itself as a national contender over the past two seasons, demonstrating its resurgence as an elite program. This renewed status couldn’t have come at a more fitting time, as Texas has joined the SEC, a move that guarantees more high-stakes matchups with powerhouse programs like Georgia. The Longhorns, once limited in their encounters with the Bulldogs, now look forward to regular meetings, with both teams competing at a top-five level. As they prepare to face off again, the anticipation is not only for their sixth head-to-head matchup but for an emerging new rivalry.
