The Georgia Bulldogs pulled off the biggest upset so far this year in college football, defeating the Tennessee Volunteers 26-24 with a last second drive for a touchdown on Saturday.
With less than six minutes remaining in the game, Georgia kicker Billy Bennett hit a 31-yard field goal to break a 17-17 tie. On the ensuing possession, Tennessee set out for a game-winning drive as sophomore quarterback Casey Clausen and star running back Travis Stephens led the Vols to a go-ahead touchdown. With under a minute remaining, Clausen completed a screen pass to Stephens as the Bulldogs were blitzing. The screen countered the blitz beautifully and sprung Stephens to a 62-yard score.
The Volunteers left Georgia with only 44 seconds. After Tennessee kicked a short line drive that allowed Georgia to start with the ball at its own 40, a series of passes and first downs to stop the clock allowed quarterback David Greene to find Randy McMichael for a 17-yard pass that would set up the 6-yard game-winning pass to Verron Haynes.
Georgia had entered the game unranked, battling for recognition in the Southeastern Conference (SEC), while Tennessee was ranked sixth in the nation and looking to pad its bid for a berth in the SEC Championship Game.
Georgia had different plans for the Volunteers, though, and equaled Tennessee on all ends from the game's opening.
After Tennessee scored early on a touchdown pass from Clausen to freshman sensation Kelley Washington, Georgia responded with an equally impressive drive, led by redshirt freshman Greene, that stalled out at the 22 yard-line and resulted in a field goal.
Tennessee would score another touchdown in the first quarter after a costly Georgia turnover, but Georgia sophomore receiver Damien Gary ignited his team soon after when he returned a punt 72 yards for a touchdown.
The Bulldogs had momentum going into the second half, and continued to stymie the Tennessee offense, but the Volunteers' third-ranked defense stepped it up, holding Greene in check.
The emotionally charged win brought Georgia into the top 25 AP rankings - the team debuted at 19th - and dropped Tennessee seven spots. The loss hurts the Volunteers more than just in the rankings, though. A loss makes an SEC Championship appearance, as well as a chance at the national title, almost impossible. While no one expected Georgia to have a chance against Tennessee, the Bulldogs now have a 3-1 record (2-1 SEC) and have lost only to Lou Holtz's undefeated South Carolina Gamecocks.
Next Weekend's Thriller
At noon on Saturday, the Miami Hurricanes - ranked first in the ESPN/USA Today poll and second in the AP poll - face the number 14 AP (#13 ESPN) Florida State Seminoles in their yearly meeting.Last year, the Hurricanes beat FSU for the first time in five years when Seminoles kicker Matt Munyon missed a field goal wide right, a common theme in this series. This year, the 'Canes are looking to dominate the nation like they did in the '80s, and a win Saturday would help that end. On the flip side, Florida State and Bobby Bowden appear to have fallen from their untouchable '90s status.
Despite these opposite trends, this game brings perpetual excitement to the table. Ken Dorsey is making a strong Heisman Trophy run for the 4-0 Hurricanes, and the Canes just may break an FSU trend by winning in Doak Campbell Stadium, a place where the Seminoles have not lost in 54 games.
For FSU, this may be its only shot at redeeming the season. Having already suffered a 41-9 loss at North Carolina, even a loss to the one of the top-ranked teams in the country would put Florida State's hopes to rest.
