Bulldogs handle Charlotte, now all eyes turn to Tech!
Greg Poole
Georgia’s 2025 win over an overmatched Charlotte team wasn’t about drama; it was about control. The Bulldogs walked into a game they were supposed to dominate and did exactly that, treating the afternoon like a live-speed lab more than a spectacle. The outcome was never in doubt, and more importantly, Georgia got out clean and sharper for what really matters next: Georgia Tech in Atlanta.
Now we find out what all those clean, low-stress reps were really for. The rivalry game against Georgia Tech at Mercedes-Benz Stadium isn’t just another nonconference finale; it’s a temperature check on where this Georgia team actually stands heading into the stretch run. Charlotte was about staying on schedule. Tech is about sending a message.
This matchup carries weight in three different rooms: the playoff committees, high school living rooms across the state and every office where a Georgia or Tech fan is waiting to talk trash on Monday morning. Georgia doesn’t just need to win; it needs to look like the better program in every phase—disciplined, explosive and relentless for four quarters.
Mercedes-Benz Stadium has gradually morphed from “neutral site” into something that feels suspiciously like Sanford West. Georgia fans show up, they’re loud, and they’re very comfortable under that roof. The fast track suits the Bulldogs’ roster, especially on the perimeter and in the front seven on defense.
Offensively, it’s a perfect stage for Gunner Stockton to look like the steady hand of a veteran quarterback. With playmakers like Zachariah Branch and Dillon Bell out wide and tight ends giving Georgia matchup leverage in the middle of the field, the Bulldogs have the tools to stretch Tech horizontally and vertically. The real question is whether the offense can stay ruthless once it builds a lead rather than drift into cruise control.
Up front, this is the kind of game the offensive line has to own. With its big bodies in the mix, Georgia has the size and talent to lean on Tech’s front until it breaks. If the Bulldogs start grinding out first downs with power runs, this can get lopsided in a hurry.
On defense, the assignment is unforgiving and straightforward: choke off Tech’s rhythm before it ever settles in. Georgia can roll out an imposing rotation on the defensive line. At the same time, edge threats bring heat. If Tech is living in third-and-long, that stadium noise is going to tilt heavily red and black.
The secondary has the talent to make that front even more dangerous. With Ellis Robinson IV, KJ Bolden, and a deep group of defensive backs, Georgia can tighten coverage, challenge throws outside, and sit on routes if the pass rush forces hurried decisions. One or two early takeaways could flip this from a rivalry game into a showcase.
For Georgia, this isn’t just “Beat Tech Week.” It’s an opportunity to plant a flag in Atlanta—again—and walk out of Mercedes-Benz Stadium looking like a team built for bigger stages still to come. Charlotte handled the timing and the tune-up. Now comes the test that actually echoes.