During his appearance Thursday at the Southeastern Conference’s football media days in Tampa, sixth-year Texas coach Steve Sarkisian was asked about the task of topping Georgia.
Kirby Smart’s Bulldogs have won the past two league crowns, defeating Texas three times in the process, including twice by at least 15 points. The one close call was the 22-19 overtime topping in the 2024 SEC title game.
Georgia used a 21-0 surge in the fourth quarter to thump the Longhorns 35-10 last November in Athens, but the two teams do not meet in this year’s regular season.
“There are a lot of sayings and quotes, and in the sports world in particular,” Sarkisian said. “This one probably is the most fitting: ‘If you want to be the champion, you’ve got to beat the champion.’ We’ve played Georgia three times, and they’ve beaten us each time.
“All the credit in the world goes to Kirby and their team. They’re tough. They’re good. If we want to be a champion, I’m guessing we’ll probably have to beat the champion to make that happen.”