Tennessee at Georgia: Live updates, score, highlights
If the College Football Playoff started Saturday, Georgia would not be in the inaugural 12-team playoff. The Bulldogs were seeded No. 12 in the rankings Tuesday night, but because No. 13 Boise State would be the fifth highest-seeded conference champion, Georgia would not make the playoff.
That just adds more pressure to Saturday’s game against No. 7 Tennessee. If the Volunteers beat Georgia in Athens, the Volunteers will be in the SEC title game. But nothing is guaranteed. And for the Bulldogs, losing to Tennessee would have them squarely out of the CFP.
Tennessee at Georgia kicks off at 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC. Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit are on the call.
Arion Carter injured
11/16/2024 09:09:08 PMTennessee linebacker Arion Carter was slow to get up after a Georgia first-down run. Carter is one of the leading tacklers on the Tennessee defense. He has two tackles on the night against Georgia.
Georgia wide receiver ruled out
11/16/2024 09:07:03 PMGeorgia wide receiver Dillon Bell is on the sidelines wearing a boot on his left leg and has been ruled out for the remainder of the game, per the ESPN broadcast.
Tennessee forced to punt
11/16/2024 09:02:38 PMAfter two straight incomplete passes and a delay of game penalty, Tennessee punted on 4th-and-11. The Bulldogs will take over on their 13-yard line with 12:54 remaining in the third quarter.
Second half underway
11/16/2024 08:56:20 PMTennessee receives to start the second half and will begin with the ball at the 25-yard line.
Halftime: Georgia 17, Tennessee 17
11/16/2024 08:35:35 PMGeorgia and Tennessee are tied at 17 at the half, with the Bulldogs outpacing Tennessee on offense yards at 238-189. The Volunteers jumped out to a 10-0 lead before Georgia rallied and jumped ahead 14-10. A 27-yard touchdown run from Dylan Sampson put Tennessee back ahead before a Georgia field goal tied it at 17-17 heading into halftime.
Georgia ties game ahead of halftime
11/16/2024 08:33:39 PMThe Bulldogs tied the game at 17-17 before the half with Georgia kicker Peyton Woodring knocking in a 36-yard field goal. Carson Beck moved the Bulldogs offense down the field on a 12-play, 57-yard drive to get in field goal possession.
Dillon Bell taken to locker room
11/16/2024 08:22:49 PMGeorgia wide receiver Dillon Bell was seen limping to the locker room and has been ruled out as he undergoes further evaluation. He injured his left leg earlier in the second quarter.
Vols back on top
11/16/2024 08:18:10 PMComing out of the two-minute timeout, Tennessee running back Dylan Sampson broke free up the middle for a 27-yard touchdown run to put the Vols up 17-14 with 1:54 remaining in the first half.
Tennessee driving late in first half
11/16/2024 08:14:41 PMTennessee is facing a 2nd-and-3 on the Georgia 27-yard line with two minutes remaining in the first half. The Volunteers trail 14-10 and are in the midst of a 9-play, 48-yard drive.
Vols convert fourth down
11/16/2024 08:13:08 PMTennessee converted a 4th-and-2 with a Dylan Sampson 3-yard run to put the Volunteers on the Georgia 34-yard line.
UGA takes 14-10 lead
11/16/2024 08:06:28 PMGeorgia pieced together a 10-play, 84-yard drive that included multiple fumbles over 4 minutes and 26 seconds. The Bulldogs’ drive was punctuated by Carson Beck throwing a 4-yard touchdown pass to tight end Oscar Delp, his second of the game.
Georgia leads 14-10 with 6:36 remaining in the first half. The Bulldogs were trailing 10-0 at the end of the first quarter.
Dillon Bell injured
11/16/2024 08:00:15 PMGeorgia wide receiver Dillon Bell injured his left ankle early in the second quarter with the Bulldogs driving and on the Tennessee 4-yard line. He’s been targeted seven times so far and is in the injury tent.
Georgia fumble ruled incomplete pass
11/16/2024 07:56:37 PMGeorgia with a quick forward pass to wide receiver Dillon Bell, which was fumbled and recovered by Tennessee. After further review, the play was ruled incomplete.
The Bulldogs now face 2nd-and-10 from the Tennessee 48-yard line with 9:43 to play.
Georgia cuts into Tennessee’s lead
11/16/2024 07:40:01 PMGeorgia quarterback Carson Beck found tight end Oscar Delp over the middle for a 19-yard touchdown. The Volunteers lead 10-7 with 13:30 remaining in the first half.
End of first quarter: Tennessee 10, Georgia 0
11/16/2024 07:31:50 PMTennessee takes a 10-0 lead into the second quarter. The last play of the quarter saw Carson Beck find Dominic Lovett downfield, who bounced off two Tennessee defenders and gained yards after the catch for a 38-yard gain.
Georgia will start the second quarter with a 1st-and-10 from the Tennessee 35-yard line.
Tennessee extends lead
11/16/2024 07:29:47 PMAfter Boo Carter’s punt return, the Volunteers failed to pick up a first down but kicker Max Gilbert knocked in a 52-yard field goal. Tennessee leads 10-0 with 43 seconds remaining in the first quarter.
Boo Carter ignites Tennessee sideline with punt return
11/16/2024 07:27:07 PMAfter Tennessee forced another Georgia three-and-out, Tennessee safety Boo Carter returned a punt 26 yards to the Georgia 37-yard line.
Georgia sack forces Tennessee punt
11/16/2024 07:19:17 PMGeorgia linebacker Chaz Chambliss sacked Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava on 2nd-and-6 for a six-yard loss, putting the Volunteers behind schedule. With an incomplete pass on third down, Tennessee punted. Georgia will take over on its 6-yard line with 4:30 remaining in the first quarter.
Chambliss’ sack tripped up Tennessee’s second drive. Volunteers lead 7-0.
Georgia linebacker back in
11/16/2024 07:16:10 PMGeorgia linebacker CJ Allen missed the first series but is back on the field for the Bulldogs. He missed most of the week battling an infection, per the broadcast. He has 49 tackles and an interception this season.
Georgia’s drop passes force punt
11/16/2024 07:11:41 PMAfter converting on a third-and-four, Georgia quarterback Carson Beck and his wide receivers failed to connect on three consecutive plays. Facing a 4th-and-10, the Bulldogs punted. Tennessee will take over on its 18 with 8:14 remaining in the first quarter.
The Bulldogs lead the SEC in drop passes.
Tennessee punches it in
11/16/2024 07:01:53 PMNico Iamaleava led Tennessee on a 12-play, 78-yard drive over three minutes long. The quarterback was 4 of 6 for 33 yards, capped off by a 1-yard touchdown run by Alabama transfer tight end Miles Kitselman. Dylan Sampson rushed for 18 yards on four carries on the drive, too.
Tennessee leads 7-0 with 10:09 remaining in the first quarter.
Quick three-and-out
11/16/2024 06:52:39 PMTennessee’s cornerbacks stepped up on Georgia’s first possession as the Bulldogs went three-and-out. Both of Carson Beck’s passes fell incomplete. Tennessee will take over at its 22-yard line.
Josh Heupel update on Nico Iamaleava
11/16/2024 06:49:16 PMTennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava suffered a concussion late in the first half against Mississippi State and sat out the second half for precautionary reasons last Saturday. He’s dressed and practiced every day this week, sources have told On3, and is cleared to play against the Bulldogs.
“We expect him to play really well,” Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel said to ESPN moments before kickoff.
Kickoff
11/16/2024 06:47:31 PMTennessee won the toss and has deferred to the second half. Georgia will receive to start the top-15 showdown.
History of Georgia-Tennessee series
11/16/2024 06:35:25 PMGeorgia owns a 28-23-2 edge in the series history with the Volunteers. The Bulldogs are 7-1 against Tennessee under Kirby Smart including winning the past seven meetings.
The seven-game winning streak is the longest streak for the Bulldogs in the series which dates to 1899. Tennessee’s last win against Georgia came in 2016 in Athens.
College GameDay picks
11/16/2024 06:32:18 PMDesmond Howard, Nick Saban, Pat McAfee, Cody Rhodes and Lee Corso all picked the Bulldogs earlier today.
Final injury report
11/16/2024 06:04:54 PMTennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava is off the injury report and a full-go Saturday night at Georgia. One of his top wide receivers, Dont’e Thornton Jr., is also a full go. Georgia running back Trevor Etienne was ruled out earlier this week.
Final line for Tennessee-Georgia
11/16/2024 06:03:43 PMGeorgia enters Saturday night against Tennessee as the 8.5-point favorite at home, according to FanDuel. The over-under is set at 47.5.