ATHENS, Ga. — Tennessee State’s difficult start to the 2026 football season continued Saturday afternoon as the Tigers fell to No. 3 Georgia, 63-3, at Sanford Stadium.
Georgia wasted little time taking control, scoring touchdowns on each of its first four possessions and racing to a 28-0 lead after the opening quarter. The Bulldogs ultimately piled up 63 points while holding Tennessee State to just three points.
Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton completed 15 of 16 passes for 202 yards and three touchdowns in his one half of work, while running back Nate Frazier added three rushing touchdowns. Frazier opened the scoring with a 48-yard touchdown run just three plays into the game before adding touchdown runs of 14 and 3 yards. Frazier racked up 72 yards on the ground and the aforementioned three scores on just 4 carries.
Stockton connected with Eli Williams, Talyn Taylor and Jaden Reddell for touchdowns as Georgia continued to pull away. The Bulldogs led 35-3 at halftime after Tennessee State’s Parker Hurless connected on a 37-yard field goal late in the second quarter, which, unfortunately for the TSU cause, proved to be their only score of the matchup.
Georgia continued its offensive onslaught after halftime, adding two touchdowns in the third quarter and another two in the fourth. Backup quarterbacks Ryan Puglisi and Ryan Montgomery also saw action as Georgia showcased its depth.
The Bulldogs finished with 661 yards of total offense, while Tennessee State was held to just 119 yards. Georgia’s defense also kept the Tigers from recording a first down until midway through the second quarter.
For Tennessee State, the loss drops the Tigers to 0-2 to begin the season after opening the year with a 26-24 loss to Jackson State in the John Merritt Classic.
The Tigers will look to regroup next Saturday when they travel to Huntsville, Alabama, to face Alabama A&M in the latest instalment of the Legacy Series, which is a four year, alternation home and home series between the two institutions. Last season, in the series opener, the Bulldogs defeated the Tigers in Nashville , 23-21.
Georgia improves to 1-0 and begins its 2026 campaign with a dominant and expected victory.
