AUSTIN, Texas — Kirby Smart insists he doesn’t pay attention to ESPN commentators, yet he seemed well aware of their predictions for his team this week.

Many believed Smart’s Georgia Bulldogs would fall to No. 1 Texas.

Instead, Georgia used that skepticism as motivation.

“Our entire program was questioned,” Smart remarked after Georgia’s 30-15 win that silenced critics. “Did you catch the show this morning?”

The program he mentioned is ESPN’s “College GameDay,” where all five analysts voted for Texas to win.

Although Smart didn’t tune in, he was bombarded with “8,000 texts” about it.

“Someone doubted us,” Smart stated.

And indeed, many people did.

That’s when Georgia excels.

“No flinch,” Smart praised his team. “They refuse to back down.”

Georgia Relishes Doubt, Triumphs Over Texas

Two years ago, after Georgia’s back-to-back national championships, Nolan Smith famously told a reporter that their undefeated season proved the skeptics wrong who thought Georgia would end up 7-5. The identity of those skeptics remained a mystery, given that Georgia started the 2022 season ranked No. 3.

During the 2022 season, Smart and quarterback Stetson Bennett IV emphasized the idea of being underestimated, despite Georgia being among the favorites for the national title.

Last season, it became tough for Georgia to use doubt to its advantage, having been ranked No. 1 for three consecutive months before falling to Alabama in the SEC Championship.

This year, Georgia began the season ranked No. 1. Doubters were silent until after Georgia lost 41-34 against Alabama as slight favorites last month.

Georgia managed to win against Kentucky and Mississippi State, but not in impressive fashion.

Where had the dominant Georgia team from the season opener gone?

Unexpectedly, the Bulldogs were labeled underdogs against Texas.

“Nobody believed in us. Your entire network doubted us,” Smart told ESPN afterward. “Nobody thought we could do it.”

Should We Question the Texas Longhorns?

This outcome should reaffirm widespread confidence that Georgia has what it takes to compete for a national championship, while raising questions about Texas. Can the Longhorns prove themselves, or did they have an easy ride with their earlier schedule? None of Texas’s first six opponents will be ranked when the new standings are released on Sunday.

Texas dominated those lesser opponents, but Georgia’s defensive line dismantled the Longhorns’ strong offensive line.

Seven sacks, ten tackles for loss, twelve stops on third downs, and four stops on fourth downs created a nightmare for Texas’s quarterbacks.

Georgia’s defense set up the offense with easy scoring opportunities. This was crucial as Carson Beck threw three interceptions. Not one of Georgia’s first five scoring drives exceeded 34 yards or lasted longer than three minutes. The Bulldogs only needed 283 yards to achieve this significant victory.

Quarterback Situation: Quinn Ewers or Arch Manning? Steve Sarkisian Responds

Texas coach Steve Sarkisian dismissed any notion of a quarterback controversy with both his decisions and statements. He went back to Quinn Ewers at halftime after testing Arch Manning in the second quarter and confirmed that Ewers remains the starting quarterback.

“We need to do a better job around him,” Sarkisian commented.

In reality, neither quarterback excelled due to subpar protection from the offensive line.

The Longhorns’ defense kept Texas competitive and managed to rally after falling behind 23-0 at halftime. Sarkisian seemed eager about the possibility of facing Georgia again, whether in the SEC Championship, the College Football Playoff, or both.

“Hopefully, we get another shot at them,” Sarkisian said.

However, a potential rematch might yield similar results unless Texas can find a way to contend with Jalon Walker, who shone with three sacks, a fumble recovery, and notable confidence after pressuring Manning.

When asked about Texas’s difficulties in managing Georgia’s defensive front, Sarkisian began listing numbers—the jersey numbers of Georgia’s top players.

“You don’t recruit as well as Georgia has for six consecutive years and not have strong defensive talent,” Sarkisian acknowledged.

That’s true, but Texas had relied on a strong offensive line for six games. If that line cannot deal with high-level defensive fronts, it’s reasonable to question whether Texas is a top contender.

“We could sit here and feel sorry for ourselves,” Sarkisian mentioned. “But I’m not sure that would be beneficial. What’s our plan to adjust?”

To assist in making that adjustment, take a lesson from Georgia: a bit of skepticism can actually benefit a program.

“Perhaps they didn’t doubt us,” Smart commented while addressing the television analysts he claims to ignore. “They probably just had more faith in Texas than us.”

Know this: Georgia has reclaimed its position as the top contender in the SEC. After Saturday’s game, there should be no doubt about that.